Manifested Presence of God

I traveled to San Francisco last week to be honored at the Rodan & Fields national convention.

I was fortunate enough to get a window seat on the flight to California. Looking at the cloud formations, there is no way a person cannot be moved in feeling God's presence. To know God's eye was on that cloud as it was building higher and higher into the sky was an overwhelming thought.


Psalm 32:8-9 says, "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you."
God is everywhere, but He doesn't turn His face and His favor everywhere. That is why He tells us to seek His face. Yes, He is present with you all of the time but how long has it been since your hunger for Him caused you to crawl up in His lap like a child and take the face of God to turn it toward you? God desires intimacy with you and His face should be our highest focus.

The Israelites referred to the manifest presence of God as the skekinah glory of God. When David talked about bringing the ark of the covenant back to Jerusalem, he wasn't interested in the gold-covered box with artifacts inside it. He wanted the blue flame that hovered between the wings of the cherubim on top of the ark. That's what he wanted because it signified that God Himself was present. And wherever that glory or manifested presence of God went, there was victory, power and blessing.

I want the restoration of the manifested presence of God in my life. Just as when Moses was exposed to the glory of God, the residue of that glory caused his face to shine so much that when he came back down from the mountain, the people said, "Moses, you must cover your face. We can't bear to look at you."

Whatever or whoever is exposed to the manifested presence of God begins to absorb the very matter of God.

Who or what are you allowing yourself to be exposed to today?

(Barbie will be speaking in Oxford Saturday at Noon for "Girls Day Out" sponsored by Baptist Memorial Hospital. This event is SOLD OUT.)

Barbie is away on business for a few days, but will return on Friday, Sept 30. You can check out www.barbiebassett.com to see where she will be next!

Are You A Hot House Christian?

When I was growing up, my aunt had a greenhouse business. We often referred to it as a "hot house" because it was! During the busy planting season, or just to play around some days, I would help transplant tomato, marigold, periwinkle and numerous other vegetable and flowering plants in her hot house.

We would usually start by opening old pint sized milk cartons, fill them with soil, then separate the "baby plants" individually which had been grown in a larger container and place them into the milk cartons to grow bigger on their own. It didn't take me long to realize how easy it is to uproot one of those baby plants. Why? Because their roots weren't sturdy and deep yet.

Joshua 1:8 says, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it." And just before Joshua was about to go into battle, God told him in verse 5, "No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life."

If you aren't staying in the Word daily and reading books that increase your faith, your roots can't grow deep. When the winds of change and criticism blow, you are easily uprooted just like those plants in the hot house.

There was a time in my life when the anonymous emails, letters, voice mails and even posts right here on my personal blog bothered me and hurt my feelings. Now that my roots in God's Word and my faith in Him is stronger, those critics don't bother me anymore because I know who they are and more importantly, who they are being manipulated by.

It's time we stop being hot house Christians!

(Barbie's speaking schedule is booking up quickly! Go to www.barbiebassett.com and click on "Contact Info" to contact her publicist if you're interested in Barbie speaking at your church conference, convention or banquet.)

This Kind of Faith

Faith is trust.

God responds to your faith. He doesn't respond to need. If that were true, God would wipe out sickness and poverty in the blink of an eye. Neither does God respond to our pleading. But God responds to the faith He sees in our heart---to those who are 100% committed to trusting Him in all situations, at all times and for all things.

James 1:6 says, "But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."

Faith is not about what we can do for God. Faith is about what God desires to do for you, in you, and around you. Faith is believing God will act in His infinite wisdom and power on your behalf.

The devil's fiery darts are no match for this kind of faith.

It's Time To Trust Him

I've been away for a while and had quite the adventure including hitting a black bear, meeting Christian singer Kari Jobe, spending time on the beaches of Destin and speaking to a sold out crowd of over 300 at Clear Branch Baptist Church in Wesson! It's good to be home.

I was able to have plenty of quiet time while away which was good for my spirit--moments to reflect and press ahead to where I feel God is leading. That doesn't come without some questions and thoughts of worry and anxiety, though.

One of the simple past times we enjoyed on the beach was watching the birds and their daily activities. The cutest were these younger birds which would race close to the water when they receded, but run as fast as their little legs would take them away from the surf when it pushed to shore. They would peck at the sand for their meal and the children had fun watching them operate.
All I could do was think of how anxious I was in knowing what the next step was for me in many different areas. In watching this little bird, I felt the Lord say "Trust me." When I tried to negotiate with the Holy Spirit and convince the Lord that I've always trusted Him and surely there was something else I needed to do? I kept hearing, "Trust me. If I provide for this little bird, I know the plans I have for you."

Numbers 23:19 says, "God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he not speak and then not act?" Whoa! When God speaks to you about a situation in your life or a promise that He's given, be sure He will act upon it.

So, why don't you trust Him!

Barbie will be away for a while, but will return to the blog in a week. She will be the guest speaker at Clear Branch Baptist Church in Wesson on Sept 10.