No Storm He Can't Calm 266

"That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.”  Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him.  A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped.  Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” "
Mark 4:35-41

The disciples were among the very first to follow Jesus, but prior to this they had not yet believed or grasped fully that He had power and dominion over everything! Most of these men were fisherman, accustomed to storms, but the severity of this one had them really frightened! Jesus is more than able to quell every storm... There is no unrest, no disturbance, no upheaval, no uproar in our own lives, that The King of Kings cannot overcome.
He is the Prince of Peace!
The Lord asks the questions;" Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?".
Beloved, He is the anchor that will hold us, even as everything else crumbles, and we can trust Him! We must trust Him- "without faith it is impossible to please God", and "because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind."
James 1:6
Jesus brings peace in the midst of every storm- weather borne, financial, emotional, health/sickness, and all others. As the storms of life pop up cling to Jesus; there is no other name under Heaven by which we can be saved...and no other name by which we need to!

In Him Alone

Psalm 16

 1 Keep me safe, my God,
   for in you I take refuge.
2 I say to the LORD, “You are my Lord;
   apart from you I have no good thing.”
3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,
   “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
   I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
   or take up their names on my lips.
 5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;
   you make my lot secure.
6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
   surely I have a delightful inheritance.
7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
   even at night my heart instructs me.
8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.
   With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.
9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
   my body also will rest secure,
10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
   nor will you let your faithful[b] one see decay.
11 You make known to me the path of life;
   you will fill me with joy in your presence,
   with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

David's words in this psalm re-enforce what our hearts know: that God alone is our Lord, God alone, there is no other that we will worship or adore. Apart from Him I have no good thing, and no good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. To take up idols or serve other gods, knowingly or unwittingly, will increase sorrow! I will keep my eyes focused on Him alone- my Abba is at my right right, always with me, I will not be shaken. Gladness and joy comes from relationship with Him alone. Right counsel always comes from the Lord, and in His presence is fullness of joy! Cast your cares on Him, and draw near to Him... All of the longings of our hearts are fulfilled in our Father/ Bridegroom/ Master/ Lord alone.

An Amazing Morning

 1 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.
 2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

 5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

 8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

HE IS RISEN!!!!

Jesus = Abundant Life

"I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies"
John 11:25

"In him was life, and that life was the light of men."
John 1:4

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
John 14:6

You shall also say to this people, 'Thus says the LORD, "Behold, I set before you the way of life and the way of death.
Jer.21:8

"I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
John 10:10b

I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."
Mark 10:15, Luke 18:17

The purpose of Jesus' mission here in the flesh is to give life abundantly! As the scriptures read: in Him was/is life. There is no "real life" apart from Him. Only indescribable longings that cannot be filled or satisfied! Without Him there is simply no way to the Father. But because his thoughts and ways are higher than our thoughts and ways, we can over analyze the simplicity of receiving salvation... We must come to him as little children, having released vain and empty philosophies, doubting mindsets, and just take Him at His Word. God is not a man that He should lie, He is trustworthy and true. Today is about abundant life, receive Jesus and all that He is.

This Blood's for You

 45 From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. 46 About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli,[c] lama asavtani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).[d]
 47 When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.”
 48 Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49 The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”
50 And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split 52 and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and[e] went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54 When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Matt.27:45-54

For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Heb.12:2b-3

"Deep calls unto deep at the noise of Your waterfalls; All Your waves and billows have gone over me. The LORD will command His loving kindness in the daytime, and in the night His song shall be with me--a prayer to the God of my life." Psalms 42:7,8


Today is Good Friday, a day of reflection for me. A day of pain, anguish, torment, and death by crucifixion for Jesus. The Word says, though, "for the joy set before Him endured the cross"- the joy is our salvation- yours, mine, all who receive Him- that we are on His mind, that He would've endured this awful day for the sake of one soul. That He paid the full price for me ...He is our Saviour, Redeemer, Deliverer, Messiah. I want to really dwell on these words today, on some of the titles we use for the One we also call Immanuel (God with us). We hear them frequently as believers, Christians, but today I want to slow down, meditate, chewing on these amazing facts: MY SAVIOUR, MY REDEEMER, MY DELIVERER, MY MESSIAH. I find myself at the foot of the cross looking up at Him, and see Him looking down at me...although he is battered and splattered with blood, his eyes are peaceful, reassuring, joyful, loving. His love sweeps over me like billows...
I was a condemned man, awaiting execution, stretched out on the cross, as the nails were about to be driven into my hands and feet, when Jesus took my place, releasing me...He is always on my mind, and it is no longer I who live, but Jesus in me...
One of my prayers today is that I would not do the things that put Jesus on the cross, that He redeemed me from, there is no cheap grace. I desire to walk in a manner worthy of His calling, to keep the Commandments and His commands, that others would see a reflection of my Master in me.
Make every day a Good Friday, dwell on Him today- and everyday.


 

Disturbing News

 1 When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, 2 “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”
Matthew 26:1

 31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
   “‘I will strike the shepherd,
   and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[c]
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”
33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”
34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”
35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.
Matthew26:31-35

"For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans for your hope and a future"
Jer.29:11


In the midst of Jesus' last week before being crucified, as He poured into His disciples, He shared some disturbing news: not only would He be handed over to be crucified, betrayed by one close to Him, but the disciples would all flee in the moment of adversity, despite their own grand proclamations. This must've really thrown the men for a loop, and in fact Peter and the rest stated that they would never disown the Lord... Their proclamations would be blown apart that very night. At the moment of truth, in the face of adversity and evil, they caved in and ran away...how their hearts must've been broken, I'm sure that Peter was not the only one who wept bitterly at their failures.
But after Jesus' death, these broken men remembered Jesus' promise to be ahead of them in Galilee. He told them because although it went right over their heads at the moment they remembered later on... They understood that the Lord had plans for them, even scheduling a meeting in advance!
Beloved, even after setbacks, when situations arise when our love and resolve may be weak, when we are struck down and stumble, when we are broken and weep bitterly because of our failures, Jesus promises to go ahead of us, and meet us right we are at! He will never leave us or forsake us. His lovingkindness endures forever, broken and contrite hearts He will not despise,

Cram Week

 1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
   5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

   9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
John 15:1-17

Since Passover, I have been reading from John 12-17, as the Lord Jesus, in the last week before His suffering,death, and resurrection, poured into his disciples preparing them for their "final exams". Everything that they had observed and experienced with Him during His ministry was being summed up by Him, as he told them the secrets to the kingdom life using the various parables. I am amazed at how dull (daft, as the English would say) the disciples were at this time, prior to the baptism of the Holy Spirit(like I was any different!).
But in reading these words of life, the Vine and the Branches leapt out at me! The essence of my Christian life- to abide in Him so I can bear much fruit, that my prayers will be heard- and answered, that Jesus CHOSE me (I didn't choose Him), that Jesus knows me and calls me FRIEND...that He shows me extravagant love and teaches me to love extravagantly...not just a love for God, but for my brothers and sisters, and a burden for the lost/ /wandering hearts. Remain in His love, keep His commands, watch and experience the refreshing of the Lord's unspeakable joy made complete.
He is our shelter and dwelling place, in this life and the life to come...abide in Him.

Dining at Passover

"With a mighty hand and an outstretched arm..."
At the Passover Seder, there is usually a frenzy of activity in the vast majority of Jewish households, quickly reading through the Hagaddah, (which means literally "The Telling", reading the "Magid" -the Story)from the Torah book, B'Midbar (meaning "In the desert"-what we know as Exodus) and rushing through what is viewed as the perfunctory ceremony, drudgery to most, let's get it over with mentality, in order to get to the meal.
But this story is richer and more nourishing than any culinary delight, if you have ears to hear! The actual dinner is dessert to me, after meditating and devouring every word of this incredible story of deliverance and redemption- 430 years to the very day, God Himself-not a seraph-delivered His people, performing miracles never before witnessed by humans, the sheer logistics of moving 600,000 men, plus women, children, livestock, possessions, ahead of a really angry Pharoah!
God's Word is the meal- Jesus said, "Man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God"...it is no coincidence, of course, that the Last Supper, was the last Passover for Yeshua in that body- the topic of which I'm sure was about God's deliverance and redemption. (I have read between the lines with God's holy spirit assistance!) Today, read Exodus 1-15, if you are not celebrating Passover at an actual Seder, dine tonight, relish every word, topped with a deeper understanding of what a might, awesome, loving and engaged Abba/Master/ Bridegroom we serve.

Trials, Joy, Strength

   33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33

 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song."
Psalm 28:7

Today another giant squared off in front of my wife and I; a certified letter from the landlord of a failed attempted business, making demands for a huge sum of money which there is no hope (in the natural) of resolving. Another giant, another trial. What should we do, how should we respond? As we talked and prayed, the scriptures and the Holy Spirit provided the answers ...Jesus told us, braced us for the truth- in this life we will have trials and troubles. But he has told us to TAKE HEART, He has overcome the world, overcome our circumstances, financial problems, health issues, given us joy unspeakable. The kind of joy that is what the Word calls the JOY OF THE LORD, that makes it possible to keep going, that strengthens us, not becoming miserable, depressed, or embittered.
This giant will fall. I don't know how, and that's not my concern or worry. My heart trusts in the Lord, and I am helped, in this trial and all that this life brings, be it trouble, tribulation, or victory. I will praise Him and continue to keep on thanking my Conqueror.

The Only Safe Place

 66 From this time many of his disciples turned back and no longer followed him.
67 “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve.
68 Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.”
John 6:66-69

From the end of the earth I call to You when my heart is faint; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
Psalm 61:2

When things get dicey, and the world as we know it (TEOTWAKI) crumbles, when health, finances, people, relationships, government- everything - fails us, where else should we go but to the Rock? There is nothing else, no one else, that can-or should-be counted on. The only peace, the only security, in this world and the life to come, the only Foundation, all else is sinking sand. If you are fearful, sick, wondering about the days ahead, cast all your cares on Him.
In Him is the only place to be.

Selling Out

 29 Once when Jacob was cooking some stew, Esau came in from the open country, famished. 30 He said to Jacob, “Quick, let me have some of that red stew! I’m famished!” (That is why he was also called Edom.[f])
 31 Jacob replied, “First sell me your birthright.”
 32 “Look, I am about to die,” Esau said. “What good is the birthright to me?”
33 But Jacob said, “Swear to me first.” So he swore an oath to him, selling his birthright to Jacob.
34 Then Jacob gave Esau some bread and some lentil stew. He ate and drank, and then got up and left.
 So Esau despised his birthright.

Today my daughter, Peri, and I were talking about the escalating price of oil and fuels, and how there is a tremendous transfer of wealth that has been taking place, as the west continues to buy oil from middle East oil producing nations, and as greedy corporations have closed American factories outsourcing millions of jobs, etc. Although we ourselves are sitting on vast natural resources-iron, minerals, petroleum, natural gas, & coal resources and have pioneered new forms of energy, we have allowed ourselves to be put in the place of selling our birthrights, for something that cost the sellers next to nothing. America was once the world's industrial leader, a Judeo-Christian nation seeking and trusting God, producers, lending to other countries, with no trade deficits, budget deficits- because we did not have moral deficits. Supreme Court Justice Earl Warren in 1954 wrote, " I like to believe we are living today in the spirit of the Christian religion. I like also to believe that as long as we do so, no great harm can come to our country." ... but no longer. So many have gone their own ways ("there is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death"), this country mirrors biblical Israel, as God's chosen people turned away from him, chasing idols and forsaking the Lord. Esau traded his God-given birthrights, and all that it implied and its promise, for next to nothing, a moment of satisfying a hunger craving, feeding his belly and instant self gratification. Esau had the power and the resources, but he failed to use his knowledge (My people perish for a lack of knowledge), he chose to do things his way. Ya'acov (Jacob), the "trickster", did not just happen to be making this delicious aromatic stew coincidentally, it was purposeful, he had premeditated this plan, layed a trap of sorts for Esau, he desired to gain the birthright...he understood it's power, privilege, and he wanted it.
As born again awakened followers we have a birthright, we are the sons and daughters of the living God, and it is not for sale!
Remember who you are in the Lord, and remember to use the resources and gifts you have according to the purposes of the One who gave them to us. Let's not sell out to the world, but instead be SOLD OUT for God alone.

One thing I ask from the lord, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the lord and to seek him in his temple.
Psalm 27:4

The Importance of Reconciliation

   23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.
Matthew 5:23-24

rec·on·cil·i·a·tion [rek-uh n-sil-ee-ey-shuh n]
-noun
1. an act of reconciling or the state of being reconciled.
2. the process of making consistent or compatible.

com·pat·i·ble [kuh m-pat-uh-buh l]
-adjective
1. capable of existing or living together in harmony

Cain's sacrifices were not accepted for a number of reasons, and amongst them was that the enmity that had developed between Abel and him that was never resolved. Sometimes in our lives there are situations that happen where a brother or sister becomes offended. How we interpret the cause as to whether or not we share the blame is not the point, or justification. Jesus makes no mention here of who caused the offense. This is a heart issue, and a prideful heart (when we are selfish and egocentric) will keep us from receiving the blessing that our Abba wants to bestow on us. Pride causes unforgiveness & disharmony to be cultivated, and with that, incompatibility - the inability of brothers and sisters to dwell together, which to say the least is "unpleasant". Psalm 133.
Jesus said "blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God..."Matt 5:9
To be called sons and daughters of the Living God is to dwell in harmony, and worth swallowing and squashing prideful fleshly instincts. These are days, today is the time for the rebuilding and mending of things torn down and damaged, starting with relationships, earthly and spiritual. If you have some that need fixing, step forward, be the fixer.
You'll be blessed!

Not Too Difficult

11 Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. 12 It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 13 Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” 14 No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.
Deuteronomy 30:11-14

Every time the children of Israel faced trials they would inevitably become discouraged and either shrink back or want to shrink back. I certainly understand that, not because I am a son of Israel, but because I'm human. Setbacks, hardship, "swimming against the tide", the seemingly daily struggles of life and the demands put upon us can just grind us down.
God commands us to love, obey, and follow Him with all our heart, mind, strength, soul. It is not too hard, and we don't have to go on a transcontinental "vision-quest" to find "it". God have given us the Word and the keys to the revelation of the knowledge of Him in personal and powerful ways. His yoke is easy, His burden is light. The Word is very near to us, it's in our mouths and He has written it on the tablets of our hearts. Our Abba is near to us, and is always a very present help in difficult and troublesome times. Cast your cares on Him today-and every day.

Remembrance

"Remember Him before the silver cord is broken and the golden bowl is crushed, the pitcher by the well is shattered and the wheel at the cistern is crushed, and the dust returns to the ground it came from, and the spirit returns to God who gave it."
Ecc. 12:6-7

God has given each of us life, the balance of which is uncertain. There is no one who knows the number of his/her days ; if you had just been told that you have only 6 months, perhaps a year to live, how would you spend it? Would you seek the pleasures of this world, eating, drinking, partying "like it's 1999"? Perhaps as Christians, assured of our eternal address and destiny, we would do all we could to be vessels of God's purpose, maybe make up for lost time... feeling the weight of mortality here, and seeing the fields as they are, white with the harvest"-...perhaps we would do all we could to make sure those we love know that we feel about them, more importantly, making sure that they know how the Father feels about them- lavishing them with affection and more, leaving nothing undone. When we close our eyes for the last time in this world, and open them to behold the Father/Bridegroom, will he be able to say , "Well done"?
Dwell on the Lord, make sure that He is indwelling you, and remember your Creator all the days of your life, whatever span that is.

Golden Calves

 1 When the people saw that Moses was so long in coming down from the mountain, they gathered around Aaron and said, “Come, make us gods[a] who will go before us. As for this fellow Moses who brought us up out of Egypt, we don’t know what has happened to him.”
 2 Aaron answered them, “Take off the gold earrings that your wives, your sons and your daughters are wearing, and bring them to me.” 3 So all the people took off their earrings and brought them to Aaron. 4 He took what they handed him and made it into an idol cast in the shape of a calf, fashioning it with a tool. Then they said, “These are your gods,[b] Israel, who brought you up out of Egypt.”
 5 When Aaron saw this, he built an altar in front of the calf and announced, “Tomorrow there will be a festival to the LORD.” 6 So the next day the people rose early and sacrificed burnt offerings and presented fellowship offerings. Afterward they sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in revelry.
Ex.32:1-5

Every time I read this, I am always amazed and disturbed. Moses was up on Mt. Sinai for only 40 days ... and in just this brief time these people totally turned their backs on the Lord God Almighty, fashioning an idol in the shape of a calf of gold to worship instead! God Himself had delivered them with a mighty arm and outstretched right hand, led them in the desert by pillars of cloud by day and pillars of fire by night, fed them supernaturally day by day, but yet in just a few days without Moses these people were clamoring for Aaron to make an idol for them to worship, and he complied, later lying to his brother about where the calf came from. Just a few days...and these were the actual folks that crossed the parted Red Sea! How could this have happened to these people, and so quickly? If it happened to them it can also happen to others...
The scriptures read " draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8), "a broken and contrite heart God will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). But if our eyes and our hearts are not fixed on God, we too will find ourselves worshipping idols, maybe not a golden calf, but maybe other forms of gold, perhaps a career, perhaps another person we are obsessing about or a thousand other idols...no, maybe not the calf, but not less harmful and dangerous.
Moses utterly destroyed that calf. He didn't melt it back down and turn it into earrings again, he burned it in the fire and ground it to dust, making the faithless drink the remains.
But I encourage you, fix your eyes on Jesus, destroy the idols...worship God only.
Remember, there is nothing we desire that compares to Him.

Keep Going

But those who trust in the LORD will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4


Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
Gal.6:9

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.
PSALM 27:14

It has been said, "When the going gets tough, the tough keep going." I have blogged before on perseverance, the need to push forward and the supernatural encouragement that the Lord gives us through His word when we face giants, when there are minefields in our paths, and when promises made to us by others turn out to be lies (thank you Michael W. Smith). We have not finished the race yet, we serve a mighty God, and even when we can't see the light at the end of the tunnel hope is never lost. So don't give up or give in...God's strength and power is perfected in our weakness, and our Father/Master/King will never, not ever, leave us or forsake us. Rejoice in the Lord, and remember : THE JOY OF THE LORD IS OUR STRENGTH!

Patching Gaping Holes

I had Nehemiah and Jesus on my mind all night...as I slept, awakened, slept, dreamed, I could see Nehemiah and his brethren working shoulder to shoulder, tools in one hand, sword in the other, and then fading to Yeshua, both rending the veil and simultaneously "making the two one". Ephesians 2:15
Nehemiah, with the King's permission and authority, came to repair Jerusalem, city of his ancestors, that had been assailed and destroyed, burnt by fire and walls broken down with huge gaps in them, with no protection from her enemies. The destruction was a result of God's chosen people turning their backs on Him, taking up idols and going astray. He was a forerunner.
Jesus with the King's authority and power, came to repair and fill the gaping holes in our hearts and lives, remove the wreckage, restore our sin scorched consciences, renew everything that was ruined. We are called and equipped to work alongside Him- with a sword in one hand(the Word), his gifts in the other.
Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem in just 52 amazing days, with the Lord's help and guidance, even as numerous adversaries, accused, lied, and tried to attack, and Jesus does the same, only supremely better, even as the accuser tries to lie and use every trick to keep us from finishing the work. He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it!

My Desire

"Zeal for my Father's house has consumed me"

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,"
Phil.3:10

"What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ"
Philippians 3:8

These scriptures succinctly sum up my desires...to know Him, commune with Him, hear his voice, climb into His lap, lock gazes with Him. My life is hidden in Him, I want to be consumed by His all consuming fire, and nothing I desire compares to my longing for my Bridegroom. Truly there is nothing that can compare. In His presence is fullness of joy.

No Box Will Hold Him/Misconceptions

 12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand,
   or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?
Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket,
   or weighed the mountains on the scales
   and the hills in a balance?
13 Who can fathom the Spirit[d] of the LORD,
   or instruct the LORD as his counselor?
14 Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him,
   and who taught him the right way?
Who was it that taught him knowledge,
   or showed him the path of understanding?

 15 Surely the nations are like a drop in a bucket;
   they are regarded as dust on the scales;
   he weighs the islands as though they were fine dust.
16 Lebanon is not sufficient for altar fires,
   nor its animals enough for burnt offerings.
17 Before him all the nations are as nothing;
   they are regarded by him as worthless
   and less than nothing.

 18 With whom, then, will you compare God?
   To what image will you liken him?
19 As for an idol, a metalworker casts it,
   and a goldsmith overlays it with gold
   and fashions silver chains for it.
20 A person too poor to present such an offering
   selects wood that will not rot;
they look for a skilled worker
   to set up an idol that will not topple.

 21 Do you not know?
   Have you not heard?
Has it not been told you from the beginning?
   Have you not understood since the earth was founded?
22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
   and its people are like grasshoppers.
He stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
   and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
23 He brings princes to naught
   and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
24 No sooner are they planted,
   no sooner are they sown,
   no sooner do they take root in the ground,
than he blows on them and they wither,
   and a whirlwind sweeps them away like chaff.

 25 “To whom will you compare me?
   Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.
26 Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens:
   Who created all these?
He who brings out the starry host one by one
   and calls forth each of them by name.
Because of his great power and mighty strength,
   not one of them is missing.
Isaiah 40:12-26

8 “For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
   neither are your ways my ways,”
            declares the LORD.
9 “As the heavens are higher than the earth,
   so are my ways higher than your ways
   and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Jer.55:8-9
 
Many doctrines in church denominations and other religions swirl around their ideas of who God is, and since we have human minds, putting limits on what the Uncreated, Shoreless Ocean, father/Master/Creator/Bridegroom can or cannot do. People often do in their minds exactly what the Lord spoke through Isaiah here- making God into cute little figurines, a genie in a bottle, or in their minds putting a box around God to keep up their "shelf"- putting it away if they don't need Him or taking it down when they do need Him, when there is trouble or difficulty , to fill their shopping list, as they see fit. What is your concept of God? Whatever it is, it is too narrow, too small...He is boundless, endless, the Alpha & the Omega, He began everything, and everything He will bring to it's conclusion. As a new believer, I was told that if I wanted to understand how big God really is, go stand at the bottom of the biggest skyscraper I could find -and look up - then imagine that expanded by 10 to the infinity! Everyday I am blown away by this amazing God who hung all the stars, positions this planet exactly for life , surrounded us with such beautiful creation, and created us in His image, loved us first so that we can love Him and have real relationship with Him, gave us free will to come to Him compelled by His love, not by His wrath or fear of impending judgement, and sent His Son, JESUS, who paid for each of our death sentences and redeemed us with His own blood.
Today, think on these things, His thoughts and ways are much higher than ours.
 

Wielding

1Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the desert, 2where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry.
3The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell this stone to become bread.”
4Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone.
5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, “I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours.”
8Jesus answered, “It is written: "Worship the Lord your God and serve him only."
9The devil led him to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. “If you are the Son of God,” he said, “throw yourself down from here. 10For it is written:
“‘He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully;
11they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
12Jesus answered, “It says: ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’
13When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time."
Luke 4:1-13


Notice how the King of Kings refutes the devil here! He does not use the innate power bestowed to Immanuel- he uses the power contained in the Scriptures, the very same Scriptures, with all the power Jesus utilized. All He had to do is to utter IT IS WRITTEN. "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
The Word is our Sword, crafted by the Lord in holiness, to be wielded by His soldiers(that's us, Beloved!), but you must take the sword out of the scabbard and use it!
GOD'S Word goes out and never returns void, without accomplishing its purpose! Is.55:11.
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."
2 Timothy 3:16-17
Today in the face of any and every situation declare: IT IS WRITTEN.