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Date: Nov 18, 2004

This word is submitted by Jane Larsen (jlarsen65@hotmail.com)

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		Standing Imperfect (Before The Lord)

You are not perfect.  I do not expect you to be.  Do you think that I 
would be happier and it would be easier for you to come before Me if 
you were perfect?  What, in your eyes, is perfect?  Think of these 
things.  Perhaps it is a statue that is carved by the hands of man and 
has no flaws and no life?  It cannot move so it can do nothing.  It 
cannot feel so it can cause no harm.  Yet for its outward perfection, 
it is but a lump of cold stone.

There is a battle on earth between good and evil and you are in the midst 
of it.  There is a way through, there is a way to victory, and it is when 
you keep your eyes on Me and do not listen to the lies of the enemy.  I 
have told you this, that he searches and seeks as a roaring animal, 
seeking who he can devour with his lies, his words of guilt, his tricks.  
When you listen to Me, when you hear My word, when you immerse yourself 
in My word, you will know his lies and you will see clearly what he is 
doing.  Does anyone go to war unprepared?  Do they not go forward after 
great preparation?  This is your time of preparation.  Every day you are 
being prepared, you are learning more, you are accomplishing more, you 
are standing taller, you are stronger.  The arrows are being flung back 
one by one.  This is not a war that will end when you know it, always be 
prepared, always stand on your guard, always look to Me.  I will bring 
you through all of this.  I will set you in a safe place.  I will give 
you the words to speak, the wisdom to walk on, the peace to continue.

I have watched you.  You have stood in damaged places and wept.  You 
have been in the eye of a great battle.  You have seen your families 
damaged, health damaged, peace damaged.  I tell you that from ruins I 
can build a city.  From the dust of the ground, I can create.  From 
whatever is left, I can bring times of refreshing and rejoicing and I 
can restore a hundredfold all that has been damaged in this war.  Do not 
look at the dust and the chaos anymore, but to Me, Who is the light, 
Who makes a way through the desert and a path in the wilderness.  Look
to Me, Who takes your hand and leads you through and will not let you 
trip over a stone.  

Look to Me, you who are the apple of My eye, whose very hairs on your 
head are numbered and known by Me.  I seek a loving and willing heart.  
I do not turn away from your imperfections, I work in them.  I do not 
lock you out because of your sins, I wash them away in blood and leave 
you clean.  I set you free.  Nothing can harm you for your Father is 
ever with you.

I know the thoughts of your mind and the desires of your heart.  I will 
answer you before you finish speaking.  I will restore what has been 
damaged.  I will keep you through the battle and deliver you from the 
mouth of the enemy.  In a while, a little while, a short time, I will 
move you away from this to fields of restoration.  Your eyes stay on Me 
and Mine are focused on you.  I am your safe place, your calm in the 
storm.  In Me you will find refuge.