Merry Christmas 2015

Galatians 4:4 - 6 " But when the fullness of time was come, God sent for His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because ye are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, Crying, Abba, Father.

"Wow! -- Here it is Christmas 2015 sitting right on our door step. The same old minions of Hell have slithered out once again to sing their songs of denial and to plant their slimy festering spores of doubt into the hearts of the double minded; but what they cannot account for is the great need of men for Everlasting Hope.

The words of the scripture above - "In the fullness of time" allows us to understand the amazing complexity of what God did so many years ago and is still doing today. Think of Hope as a massive sailing vessel that has been fortified to withstand the crashing waves of adversity, to stay refreshed in the droughts of history, and to sail through the devastatingly abrasive winds of time. This Ship was being painstakingly prepared before creation; and its Architect carefully continued building and supplying through the Fall, the Flood, and the rise and fall of Nations. The Captain, the Crew, the Cargo and time of departure was an amazingly orchestrated event that moved all men, all historical events and all Kingdoms into place to create an undeniable portal of entry for a Salvation that "whosoever believeth" would have the full security provided by the Hand of God.

Oh -- you can find the loveless heresies that float out of the stinking heart tombs of Faith Rejecters. You can trust that they have ignored the obvious in an attempt to make truth oblivious. You can hear their broken bias and their totally depraved depurative methods to oppose the obvious miracle of God. They conjure up remote erroneous historical references as their proof to stand in opposition to the greatest love story the world will ever know.

Oh how embittered these unbelieving hearts must be; and how fain their joy is in light of eternity. So much wiser they claim to be, but unlike the "Grinch who stole Christmas" -- They may never give Christmas back; they reject it and do not want it for fear that they may become as naïve and ignorant as "those truths" that they are fighting against. What a sad existence! Merry Christmas sorrowfully empty hearts!

Hey, Kids of the Father! -- Do not be shaken by the rumors of "so called scholars" ;who have squinted at gnats and swallowed camels; who have studied error until they have emptied their lives of truth ... Let your faith burn brightly from the bow of HOPE -- shining God's Salvation because of the Birth, life, death and resurrection of the One - Jesus.

Final Biblical Note:

Faith and Free Will are two amazing gifts endowed upon us from Creation. These two siblings should never have been separated, because alone they actually separate and isolate mankind from Eternal Glory ("For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God" Rom. 3:23). These two were separated at the fall, and the distance between them could only be closed by a Savior; and that Savior is the Lord Jesus Christ. The dis-connection between faith and free will can only be revived by true Spirit Birthed Son-ship.

Faith = Hebrews 11:1 - "Now Faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen."

Free Will = Romans 7:19 - "For the good that I would I do not: but the evil that would not, that I do."

Reconnection = Romans 10: 9, 10 - "That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and believe in thine heart that God hath raised Him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with mouth confession is made unto salvation." and Romans 10:13 = "For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord, shall be saved."

Freely Receive Him and He will freely save you --- Forever!

Openly Share Him - and let others enjoy Him also - Forever!

Merry Christmas!

HLFA,

Jeff

Ask Anything!

"Ask anything..." This challenge, if given to the fearless heart of a child, would definitely encourage a response that would be shaped by the child's world of influences, but the child's imagination would be the only limit. Years and tears added to the blitzkrieg-like media assaults on this fearless heart, in many cases, has rendered it numb and dreamless. So sad ... that even in this Season of the potential culmination of millions of childhood dreams... there is a blank expression on the faces of the misdirected masses of humanity. We can't even begin to lift our disappointed hearts to expect a miracle, let alone move our lips to request one ... for the thought of one more unanswered prayer is just too painful.

BUT please don't give up ... "Behold!" (1275 verses in the Bible contain this word - "Behold" -- which means see this, don't miss this) Chapter 7 of Isaiah tells a story that parallels the emotions of many a heart today -- The days carried all sorts of tremendously horrible rumors of death and destruction.

There was a massive assault from an enemy that had absolutely no mercy... BUT In these dark war filled days of King Ahaz - God sent Isaiah to him to bring an amazingly unbelievable message of hope (one of those almost "too good to be true" event promises), AND on top of this message was an offer of a proof "sign" -- Verse 10,11 (don't miss this) "Moreover the LORD spoke again to Ahaz, saying --- Ask thee a sign of the LORD thy God; ask it either in the depth, or in the height above" ... Ahaz... had a heart that had been hardened by the combination of lust, sin and pride ...( like all of us )... but God still gave him an amazing opportunity for a personal connection -- the LORD himself spoke to Ahaz --- Ask anything! Ask for the earth to move, ask for the stars to dance, ask anything below or anything above... But you check out the story: Ahaz wearied the LORD with a pompous "adult-like" answer, "I will not ask, neither will I tempt the LORD".

God knew how bogus this answer was, but this offer of a sign was not going to be wasted on a moment of eternal anger, but was going to expand the scope of its offering to generations of "Believers" - those who were willing to become as little children once again by the miracle birth from above provided by a miracle birth below... AND THE SIGN WAS GIVEN: Isaiah 7:14 "Therefore the Lord himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel."Ahaz and his generation would now have to look forward in faith for an event to come, just as we have to look back in faith to an event that happened. The key at this juncture of our history is to BEHOLD -- BELIEVE-- and LIVE!

Every Christmas season has the drone of the discord of selfish temporal gathering, while the song of Emmanuel still sends out its pure sweet eternal refrain. Every generation has the opportunity to reverberate the sound or resist the sound. LET US REVERBRATE THE MESSAGE!

"Merry Christmas!" - The war cry of those who have brought their sin and shame to Him to find full cleansing and restoration because of the "Sign".

"Merry Christmas!" - The heart cry of "hopeful reciprocation" from the "seekers" who are taking the risk to be associated with the "Sign".

"Merry Christmas!" - The greeting of those in agreement with God as to the fulfillment of the "Sign" that causes such celebration.

"Merry Christmas! - The challenge to all to "Ask Anything!" God's Promises are not too good to be true ... God's promises are true.

Behold Jesus in this hour of great need.

Behold - do not miss this opportunity.

"Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angel voices!

O night divine, the night when Christ was born;

O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!

O night, O Holy Night, O night divine!

Did you know that the words to "O Holy Night" were written by a Wine Seller by trade? Though Actually not the most noble of trades, Placide Cappeau de Roquemaure (1847), being challenged to write a poem for Christmas by his parish priest(though he himself was not a church goer), upon looking at the Luke 2 - and the Christmas "Sign" again -- He wrote words that still stir our hearts today.

OK, it is in our hands once again -- Here is the Christmas Choice: 

Stay anesthetized by our sin, shame and unbelief;

or BEHOLD!!!

Ask Anything!

HLFA -

Merry Christmas!

Jeff

Emergency Exit UP

Strange sight (probably just to me)...as I was on an airport shuttle on my way to a rental car facility, I noticed that directly above where I was sitting there was an emergency exit hatch. I had to catch a picture of this because at first it made me chuckle ..."Emergency Exit...Up?" ..."Use in case of a trumpet sound ... Cool!" With the click of the phone on my camera it went into digital memory and out of mind. All it took was One incoming personal phone call of worldly trouble, (that literally opened the flood gates of the heart through my eyes) and I was crying for a Heavenly escape hatch.

"There hath no temptation taken you but such is common to man, but GOD IS FAITHFUL, He will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make a way to escape that ye may be able to bear it." I Corinthians 10:13 

The phone receiver to my ear had me groping for some Words from the Father. I just wanted to find a strategic place to nail in a rescue karabiner, to hook and to secure a life-line to and through an emergency exit. Oh the cruelties that can be hidden in the heart. A heart that was meant to be the reserve for multidirectional love. A heart that could be reached by the Spirit of God to be challenged to great acts of compassion and kindness. Without an emergency exit UP, a heart felt trapped and abandoned will lash out at those who just happen to be in the way at that moment in time. Anger (which is only one letter short of Danger) loosens the very fires of Hell because of the flawed bridle placed on the tongue. The biggest temptation in life is to justify our existence out of anger, and then from that trench of destruction, verbally abuse the lives of others "because they had it coming" or "I'm not gonna take it anymore" or "I'm in a bad mood"..

"But will with the temptation make a way to escape" - As the flames begin to burn inside... in the smoke of self-justified, so called, righteous indignation, sitting next to each other is my Sin and my Escape. Their difference is so obvious that a child can figure out which to choose. Let's take a breath ... look at them ... and then choose wisely the way of escape; because it is the Way that leads to life ("For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" Romans 6:23). Choosing to turn from your Sin is the way of our Lord Jesus Christ. There they sit "Hate" and "Love". Breathe ... Look carefully ... choose LOVE. The Father chose love. The Son chose love. The Spirit chooses love. The choice of Hate may give you a momentary feeling of victory, but when you turn and look...you will see the carnage left behind when you unknowingly beat and crucified Love.

Christ's cross was not only the mark on the planet that frees trusting humanity from the ravages of eternal Hell, but look carefully at Jesus' sacrifice: The cruel cross is a display of what the choice of sin really looks like, and how devastating it truly is. Christ became sin for us on the cross that we might become the righteousness of God through Him. Although the words of Christ from the cross ( written below) have deep connective meaning - the face value of these words place a different spin on the reality of sins devastation:

"My God, my God, why has though forsaken me?" (Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1) - The Choice of sin will make us feel abandoned by God.

"Father forgive them for they know not what they are doing." (Luke 23:34) - The Choice of Sin will make us feel others can be forgiven but not us.

“I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise" (Luke 23:43) - The choice of sin will make us feel we deserve death today ("It would be better for everyone if I was dead").

“Woman, behold thy son!” and “son behold thy mother!” (John 19:26-27) - Sin will turn our loved ones over to others to care for them.

“I thirst!” (John 19:28) - Sin never satisfies, it always leaves us thirsty.

“Father, into Your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46) - Sin will cause us to give up.

“It is finished!" (John 19:30) - Sin will convince us that there is no hope, the only victory is to give up... don't even try to make it right.

None of Christ's wounds on the Cross were self inflicted but examine the wounds and the placement of them for a further sense of Sin's devastation: The Crown of Thorns -- sin's reign of physical and mental anguish. The Beating - sin scars beyond recognition. The Nails - hands and feet that will never feel soundness again. The Pierced Side - a broken heart. BUT BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S RESURECTION WE CAN BE RESTORED AND WE CAN BE USEFUL AGAIN --- BUT WAIT A MINUTE!!!!

Today we may be sitting at anger's crossroad and there are two phantoms pleading with us to go their way - HATE and LOVE. Hate will lead us to sin, but love will lead us to the Cross.

Breathe - take a good look at the Cross - and choose love!

"Be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Eph. 4:32

Love - God's Emergency Escape - UP!

Don't hesitate - Choose love!

HLFA,

Jeff

May 1984 - Chorus from "Little Child"

"Little Child, with the heart to please the Father.

Little Child, wanting so to be loved.

Was it that your heart --- was made to be broken.

Was it that your eyes --- were for tears and not joy, and not joy ... and not joy?"

Half an Hour

Phil: 4:6 -"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

"Revelation 8:1 - "And when he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in Heaven about the space of half an hour."

One Scripturally noted "half an hour" - and a silent "half an hour" at that; and it happened like a snapshot portrait of and "in Heaven". Lets look at the portrait:

There is a scroll like book that has the focus at first by the Heavenly photographer and it's seventh seal has just been broken ...The seal's opening brings a half an hour of silent preparation for the next Apocalyptic sequence of events. Seven angels that are standing before God are given seven trumpets. And another angel comes and stands before the alter with a Golden Censor for Frankincense; and he is given much incense that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden alter that is before the Throne of God. The smoke of the incense mingles with the prayers of the saints and ascends upward before God out of the angel's hand. The angel then fills the censor with the fire from off of the alter and hurls it to the earth...at that point there are voices, thundering and lightning and an earthquake on earth.The finish of the portrait refocuses on the Seven angels that are preparing to sound their trumpets.  (Read - Revelation 8:1-6)

I had to stop and realize that all the prayers of all the saved culminate in this moment in a royal fragrant ascent before the face of God. A silent half of an hour -- where all Heaven's focus is the frankincense mingled prayers of God's kids. God pauses the cataclysmic events of judgment to let all of Heaven's witnesses and all of Earth's readers of Revelation know that HE RELISHES THE PRAYERS OF HIS PEOPLE.

How do we value our time of prayer with our God? Is it a duty? Is it a repetitive labor? Is it a time of regretful wording of phrases? Do we hesitate because we feel unworthy to request anything from God? Have we agreed with the discouraging whispers of Hell saying ... "who are we to presume upon the goodness of God"? Do we even pray at all?

When the disciples heard Jesus pray -- They desired that He teach them...They must have sensed there was a power filled connection there ... He gave them an outline (that some call the Lord's Prayer or "The Our Father"), and then encouraged them over and over again throughout His time walking with them... to pray. He knew that life would fill in the burdensome details, and that they could learn to cherish the time as much as He and the Father have cherished their time together throughout all eternity.

Think about it: A "half an hour" out of the "thousand years as a day and a day as a thousand years" --- Eternity stopped for a measure of time that we understand, so that we would know that God values our prayers ... they are the cherished royal scent of Love's connection between Earth and Heaven.

Please come boldly to the Throne of Grace in these days of growing need -- and you will find GRACE to help in yours and others time of needed supply.

PRAY!!! And let God love you.

HLFA,

Jeff

PS - 1/2 hour as 20.83333 years or 20.83333 years as a 1/2 hour.

Fallen Entertainment

"Emanuel - God in the Midst of us". My thought in writing this weeks devotional challenge is not to offend the reader and definitely not to embarrass those who may have been involved in the narrative portion of the diatribe. (Take a deep breath and follow along if you will, bear with me because this may be stark and even offensive).

The early morning lower decibel endearment was broken by the sound of a harsh piercing voice of a female who had definitely had too much to drink, way too early in the morning. She was having real trouble maintaining her posture and not slurring her words. She wasn't trying to hide it, in fact she loudly announced to all near the exact potion of choice and her triple abuse of it. She let every one know that she was physically hot, but "not that way" with a laugh. She could barely hold her eye focus in any one direction.

Fortunately to her surprise and pleasure, she was standing right in line where she needed to be to catch her flight... (of course she needed help by kind bystanders to get her phone ticket in place for boarding). "Do I look ok? Man am I hot! Am I slurring my words...laugh?" Was repeated over and over as we boarded the plane.

Those near her in line did all they could do to avoid eye contact; and once on the boarding ramp, they did their best to leave her behind and scatter into the belly of the plane.I was one of those ... but ... her place in line was right behind me and she must of made a strong mental note of that. I was able to duck into the plane under the stowaway bins of the plane into a window seat, and immediately stare out the window like I had always been there. Hopefully, safe from embarrassing interaction.

Then I heard that same irritating voice ... "There you are!" and to my initial dismay she chose the seat right next to me. And it wasn't long that she cajoled another "male" passenger to take the aisle seat next to her. His first question to her was "You been drinking?" And so with awkward laughter she proceeded to brag on the volume of her "fire balls" and how hot she was and how numb her lips were. It turned out that he was a fan of her choice of drink.

For some reason I became deeply burdened but knew that serious communication was out of the question... she was ready to flirt with any male that would show her attention. Her laughter was only a guise for the real pain that had created her choice for over-medication. The banter was so broken and disconnected that it was hilarious to passengers and crew all around her - she became the flight entertainment.

Before long though, her plan and her pain was being revealed. Three failed marriages, and an "ass-hole(quoted by her 3 times in a row)" 21 year old son, and she was on her way to a lewd weekend getaway with a "friend"{that she met through work communication where they both overly revealed each other through e-mail, texting and nude pictures}. "But I am not a bad person, I am an honest CPA, and my mother used to make me go to church and I used to play the autoharp." WOW what sad fragmented thinking. Although she was laughing this all off, the undertone was breaking me somewhere inside of the Father's shared heart.

As one more drink on the plane led to her momentary sleep; I was given a glance of an unveiled past, and I saw a tiny little blond haired, blue eyed girl ... with a stare and a smile that would fill a room with innocence, but the image was immediately shattered by the nightmarish reality of her adult choices without Godly guidance. She slept; I stared out the window and let the tears of God's Spirit work on my soul. She was so in need of a rescue ... "Jesus, you intervened and changed the life of a woman who had gone through 5 husbands and the one she was living with was not her husband ...please rescue this fallen princess, I know you care."

Just that morning I had read through every 20th chapter of the New Testament, Psalms and Proverbs (My day of the month plan); and Proverbs 20:1 came to mind, "Wine is a mocker and strong drink is raging, whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." Then my heart saw a fallen princess - "It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, nor princes strong drink. " Prov. 30:4. "Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto that is of a heavy, harlot's heart." Prov. 30:6 . My eyes clouded as I prayed for this dying, heavy hearted fallen princess. "O is there not a Father to care? Oh yes there is, and I will continue to intercede for this one fallen princess for she told me that her name was Laura."

In the last days there will arise many deceivers, false prophets, and parroting followers of those that go about leading by the dilution of the Words of Scripture with educated opinions and claims of offering a cafeteria style approach to solving Theological divisions. These dark clouds without healing rain purport to offer unity, but then choose what and who to berate and belittle. Rather than seeking unity among believers based on firmer foundations of scripture, and a "both, and" approach to interpretation of the words, this empty dreamers reflexively name and mark those (in mocking disrespectful fashion) who may not see it their way .

We need to rise up Oh people of God with greater personal devotion to the reading and study of God's Word, to times of more compassionate outward living, and seasons of more passionate prayer. Having hearts full of his Word and lives full of His Holy Spirit let us intercede in the presense of our High Priest, Jesus, for the souls of humanity.

In light of His Coming -
Live fervently,
Love undivided,
and stand amazed at His daily rescue!

HLFA,

Jeff

The Vanishing Dream

"Now, it should have been a lot more fun than this. Everyday as I left my office I passed into the alley of broken dreams and wasted years. Everyday I reasoned within myself: I have everything, every opportunity, every break and I took hold of my own destiny ... only to find time wrapping its tentacles of spent years around my vision and tightly restraining my slowing steps. As I gained recognition and prestige, I had to face the unavoidable --- was losing liberty and sacrificing rest; and with no such occupants visiting my house, my life was waning for lack of lasting purpose. I had gained the whole world, but I fear I may have lost my own soul." The Vanishing Dream of the Scarlet Sinner.

"Blessed is he that is reading to understand, and they that are hearing the words of this prophesy, and are carefully attending to the details written therein; for the measure of time is closely enfolding"... Revelation 1:3 --- This is truly the challenge found with the reading of every word of scripture, but this verse spells out that the devotional and passionate reading of the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ will bring a blessing.

Where is the reading and study of the Bible in your life?

Where are you in this moment of "Thy Kingdom come"? Where is your Heart in the midst of His desire "Thy will be done"? ... "On Earth as it is in Heaven" .. Are you open to a daily overwhelming sense of His presence in your life, that carries with it the burden for the souls of others? Do you have a tough time with passing the moments of potential eternal opportunity by spending them in the muttering of superficial non-consequential sentences shared with others?

Real life in Christ is the game changer, will you live it?

A heart addicted to The Truth and engrained by the passion of God (to reach lost men, women, and children with the Good news of His Son Jesus Christ), will always find itself in "the middle". There will seem to be a inequity in the lifestyles of those who are oblivious to the nearing end of time (whether by death or by the "catching away"). Why does the Christ Follower have to always sense the perilous position of one not connected to Christ?

Why do those in love with Jesus fear for the lives of the disconnected, but at the same time fear being targeted for demotions or overlooked for the promotions of the world?

NOTE to the listening heart: BECAUSE The Truth is so obviously simple and devastatingly compelling, it is often shoved out of the way in order to not risk it growing in control over our lives, or hidden away to not risk offending someone that could be our opportunity to the acquisition of temporal "success". The "Now " needs of this life weigh heavily on every life - "What will we eat, what will we drink, and what will we put on?" Eternity presses us also but with a different force of reckoning - "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." A life without a connection to Real Life has no lasting purpose here and forever; and sooner or later will implode with the realization of the vanity of vanities, all is vanity. Truly without Christ "all is vanity" now, and without Him is Hell forever.

2 Peter 3:9 - "God is not slack concerning His promises, as some men count slackness; but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." His promises are sure -- whether promises of eternal joy, or promises of eternal sorrow...what appears to be a delay in either is called long-suffering.

What He says - He will do!

Trust His word, don't resist His word.

Don't Live the Vanishing Dream!

HLFA,

Jeff

Fade Away

Sometimes we fade away in the midst of the focused agendas of others, especially if we are perceived as "outsiders"; or if we are judged as gift-less or useless in the advancement of their cause. If each and everyone of us have unknowingly entertained angels unaware...how much more inept are we to recognize the true gifts among us. If we can't own our day by day heart responsibilities without the utilization the "blame others tool", how do we expect to even begin to understand our own part in a tragic collision of selfish life choices.

Psalm 110 is an extremely prophetic passage of scripture that paints the picture of the character of Adonai(the Lord) and the promises that surround His authority and the events of His Eternal Reign. I hear all to often the word "Sovereignty" carried around as a burden cover up, when all we really want to do is blame God for the events in our lives and the lives of others that seem un-fair from our vantage point (fear not; get alone with Him and open the wounds and scars). The embarrassingly private, unexplained situations and events that jar our world can easily be tossed into the "Sovereignty of God" bucket as an excuse for relinquishing personal responsibility. We can even decide to throw aside our iniquitous part in the events by dusting ourselves of with bristle-less brushes of fain holiness and move to the next irresponsible adventure of our lives.

Are we Connected by love to the King? Are we in submission to the Son? Do we continually allow ourselves, through devotion to His Word, to be set apart? Do we wear Holiness as an adornment of splendor; or a veil of shame? Do we truly want God's way to be our way? Is it joyous or painful to pray "Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven"?

As the battle dust began to clear, there stood the snarling self-avenging warrior in the midst of his own carnage. His near-hardened heart was not wanting to surrender; his resolve to "fight-on" was momentarily interrupted by a strange sensation...there blew across the battlefield the sweet smell of distant exotic sweetness that startled his forward resolve. His battle bruised ears also were captured and diverted from the confusion of the moment by a melodious refrain that seemed to float in from a not too distant past. The scent and song carried the memory of promises of soul stirring thrills of a glorious future that potentially he was disqualified from and possibly banished from because of his unfathomable iniquity. The atom-sized moment was nothing but a shiver, but it brought a strange flash of a memory of unearthly comfort that loosened a uncontrolled tear.

Then a terrifying clap of thunder shook the earth beneath him, and a bolt of devastating lightning hit the battlefield blinding the shaken wounded warrior. Trying desperately to raise up his rattled frame (that was now helplessly on its knees), horrified, he looked through tear blurred eyes to see a form running at him. He groped helplessly for his blood stained weapon only to sink deeper in despair when it was not to be found. He finally bowed his head and submitted to the eminent death blow; ... but it did not come.

Intruding upon the senses of his massive warrior frame was the strangest sensation; the feeling of the gentle but firm arms and frame of a small child embracing his broken body. The shock of this sneak attack seemed to be too good to be true ... but in that split second all his senses collapse in love's attack; it was not a trick, it was not a test; and the embrace remained in control ... gentle, assuring, strong and true. He was conquered.

Psalm 110:3 - "Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning; Thou hast the dew of Thy youth."

Be willing to come to the LORD in this day of the power of His love, in this age that is covered by His Grace like the birthing of a new age of potential; join Him in the morning dew of eternal life ... HE NEVER OVERLOOKS YOU. No matter how far you have gone, you are only a breath away from His forgiving love.

Become ... Young forever in concert with Him, by His invitation ... "Come unto Me."

HLFA,

Jeff

Will I Come

"If it is You say ...Come...I will come." O to truly grasp who we are in Christ, knowing Him intimately, and understanding the "Authority" He has gifted us... We would rush to His opening opportunities to conquer and rescue those fading away amidst the Kingdom of Darkness; those who have "fallen among thieves" ... Bringing them to wholeness..."Shalom"..found only in a deepening and fully dependent walk with Jesus in the Kingdom of His Marvelous Light.

The Storm was threatening and the flight was experiencing the threat, As the winds began to rattle the jet cabin (and no one even dared to ignore the "fasten seat belt" sign), I began to pray...the winds calmed immediately(the Darkness whispered "It's just a fluke of your imagination"; and of course my flesh surrendered; but my spirit soared in unbounded joy and gratitude).

We will not fully realized what we are nor what we will be - but we have been promised authority in our "becoming" as Sons of God. Let not the enemy whisper ..."helpless" - "powerless" - "defeated" - WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS , through Jesus Christ our Lord! The true test and demonstration of power is in our struggle for the needs of others ... those "fallen among thieves".

Prayer: Now I break, now I cry for my brother, my sister... for he or she has fallen among thieves. And with this sigh, my heart is lifted to Thee. Let Love's abundant redemption blow into my brother's and sister's torrid and sordid dimensions of sin's ravaging deception. Break the chains that have bound them and the veil of guilt that covers their eyes. Similiar to the deliverance of the Maniac of the Gadarenes, bring him home once again to Thy love and Thy family. O please Jesus, Amen.

We may ache because of the limitations of the flesh, but intercessory prayer moves us nearer to God as His active rescue is already in place. Does God want my brethren bound in this iniquity? NO! I have two choices - AVOID: by analyzing, judging, and then justifying my pathetically weak offering of nothing; or ACTIVATE: knowing that my flesh has a pathetically weak offering, I turn to the power of the Almighty and thrust my faith into His infinitesimal love and resources for His rescue of my family.

It is not for me to label my brother or sister as fallen, lost or found, but for the scraping of the potsherd ...my brethren's only resource is also mine .. the Grace and Mercy of God. My God is sufficient, willing and able to deliver us.

Search our hearts Lord and wash away the stains that we judge through. Pull us close to Thy side so we can hear the words of your rescue. Amen!

To all who are facing deep and threatening wind or water - He is saying "Come to me!" all we need to do is "Come,............. I will!"

HLFA,

Jeff

Fearful Rejoicing

Stop and ask yourself - Why is there such a fascination in our day with death, dying, gore, and the undead? Could if be a distraction that anesthetizes us to truths that can challenge us and change us -- "And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment." With this thought do you experience "terrifying sorrow" or "fearful gladness"?

Psalm 97:1 - "The LORD reigneth;" This is absolute truth -- THE LORD IS KING; there is no other.

"let the earth rejoice;" This is the intense desire for the earth -"fearful gladness".

"Let the multitude of isles be glad thereof." No where is it too remote to be not affected by this intense desire for "fearful gladness"...that is caused by the Absolute truth - THE LORD IS KING; there is no other.

Psalm 97:2 -"Clouds and darkness are round about him:" The mystery and majesty of the "God Clouds" surround Him. Give Him the Glory of the mystery ... trying to figure it all out may not be a faith venture - wait on the LORD ... His revelation of truth is sure.

"righteousness and" - Right and just is what He is.

"judgment" - Righteous Justice is what He does.

"are the habitation of His throne." -- What He is and Does encompasses His throne room dwelling place - He abides in righteousness and judgment.

Darkness and the mystery of darkness have always kept us on the edge of our seats. The edge is not necessarily a bad place to be ... but waiting for Christmas morning as opposed to waiting for a murderous monster to break through the darkness are two completely different "edges" of seats. This has been intensified over the years by a subliminal movement via the voices that oppose and rulers of wickedness in high places. These hissing deceivers play on the original temptation that opened the way for the fall in Eden - "For God doth know that in the day that ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil." (Satan says - "God already knows that you are bent on eating the fruit - so eat, lay back and enjoy the opening of your eyes, and behold ...you will be able to determine what is right and wrong ... oh, sorry you will experience right and wrong in a depredating way.)

These image benders both dig their talons deep into the minds of those who do not believe; and also claw, scratch and scar the vision of those (with a childlike faith) who truly love Jesus .

"Horror" , terrifying sorrow, is not to be compared to the "rejoicing", Fearful Gladness associated with waiting on the Goodness of God... in His time.

- Is it good for little ones to experience the Fearful Gladness found in creation's glory, that puts them in awe of God's character and enables them to carry the wonder into their adult lives?

or

- (Some would risk saying is not good for pre-school little ones to be exposed to "Horror" that can cause detrimental nightmares,) In the name of "balanced education", as children mature, shouldn't they be exposed to horror so that they can differentiate the real from the make believe? Huh?

CHILDREN ---This is the crux where arguments begin to fly and emotions begin to flare... and the level of engagement in the argument that can be caused by these two questions above is heavily dependent on the personal investment into either side of the argument. --- "Considering the Child" is always a personally touchy subject, especially when it is your child. (The heat is already rising in me!)

-- Even in Jesus' day there were sights for the eyes and sounds for the ears that could cause the hearts of children to wander. Jesus stated in three of the Gospels (after He was displeased with the disciples trying to chase away the children) - "Suffer (Never hinder) the little children to come unto Me; forbid them not... for of such are the Kingdom of Heaven."

Inside of each of us is the heart of a child that desires so much to know Heaven's pure love. Are we hindering or welcoming the opportunities to know Him?

Today the truth remains - THE LORD REIGNS - the positioning of our hearts and minds is critical to the growth of fearful gladness or terrifying sorrow. Let His truth be the song of your heart that keeps you on the edge of your seat waiting for His day to break and His glory to shine on you.

Trust Him and terrifying sorrow will flee away.

Don't be de-sensitized --- Awake!

HLFA,

Jeff

Power Is Out

Several Nights ago while traveling for business- I started receiving texts - "Half the house is without power." "What should we do?". It was a little scary for the occupants of the homestead because of their inability to correct the situation. There had be a storm earlier in the evening AND my wife's cell alerted her to a lightning strike close to our house (although we were miles away - technology is amazing).

Daylight brought the opportunity to call the electrician, who responded quickly and was able to temporarily resolve the situation. There was a main connection between the house and the meter that was burnt to the point of hampering full electrical contact and could disconnect with too much usage. He stated that he would go ahead and prepare for the repair though he would not be able to perform the task until the following week. Between us, we felt that we should be ok, but his parting words were - "TRY NOT TO RUN TOO MUCH POWER!" .

This crazy life always seems to divvy up burnt power connections, power outages, and moments of helpless disconnects. The bigger problem happens, when in those times of fractional power usage, we still want to drive on at 100% not realizing that greater damage and injury that could be caused by not heeding the Electrician's admonition ..."TRY NOT TO RUN TOO MUCH POWER!". We may even be down for the count, oppressed by the carnal image of success that demands us to "give it your all", which can weigh so heavily upon us that we go down in flames trying to give it our all... instead of trusting Him for His all.

Some have said that - "When we get to the end of ourselves, then He has the opportunity to begin". Nice thought, but we seem to be endowed with the inability to know when to quit (it may feel to soon or too late depending on the size of the failure we face). The problem with that statement is that our humanness causes us all to focus more on the human failure as an infraction, than the human failure as God opportunity.

We would sooner take up the mantle of "failure" than to surrender the moment to God as a moment of working toward a greater victory. Power outages, weak times, care-less moments, temptations fall, and any other of the multitude of words that could define our interruption to usefulness, make it easier on our hearts and minds than admitting to the finger prints of God found all over the event. We need to quit closing our eyes to God's advantageous positioning of us for the next great victory in the Kingdom.

"A just man falleth seven times, and rises up again, but the wicked falleth into mischief." Proverbs 24:16 - A child of the King, justified by the full Gospel of Jesus, has a character trait of rising up though intensely bent to fall. His "God" falls, the seven times, bring with them a potential resurrection with all the proof that He is for us and with us. "Try not to run too much power" -- your efforts are only needed in surrender to His resurrection during your most helpless moments... surrender to Him in those moments of weakness.

 I climbed into a beautiful antique phone booth to find total disconnect ... no power and no phone.

 A sad picture of a life with no horizontal power and no vertical communication. I pulled out my cell - I couldn't stand the disconnect.

Be careful, O people of God to make sure that you "Let the Word of Christ Dwell in you Richly" -- and encourage others to love The Words that are eternal.  

"This is my comfort in my affliction: for Thy word hath quickened me." Psalm 119:50  

HLFA, 

Jeff

The Gate

Acts 3:10 - "And they knew that it was he that sat for alms at the Beautiful Gate of the Temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him."

"You may not have known my full story but for the only recorded moment of my healing and the events that followed me in scripture for all to see" ...words from the former Beautiful Gate paralytic (remaining anonymous for this interview) for the Jerusalem Gazette... as he spoke on to Gazette Reporter Shalmon Truleehope :- "You see ... timing prior to this event had me mad because all the rumors of Jesus healing people never blessed me; because I never made it to see Him until that pitiless day that He was nailed to the Cross. My helpers that would normally carry me to the Beautiful Gate decided to take me to the entertainment of the day. Truly I was horrified by what I saw, but was soon sucked into the chanting - "Crucify Him!" I was so mad because any hope for my healing was now being nailed to a Roman cross." He stopped to sob as if he was still there ...then his face began to radiate --- "Never in my hopeless dreams would I expect, weeks later, to be begging at the temple after my cursing on that horrible day ... to find that this Jesus still would love me through His believers ... hey no apologies and I was healed: I choose to now love Him openly in the Beautiful Gate!" ....excerpt from the interview in the Jerusalem Gazette August 1, AD 33.

There are passageways and vestibules to life events that lay before everyone of us; these "gates" will bring change. At the approach of any of these passageways we will be meet headlong with promise, potential, provision, and temptation. This is common to every living being, but there is a uniqueness in the gate for each individual. That unique moment to each individual is an invitation to draw close the Extravagant Lover of our Souls, Jesus. It becomes a moment to experience the reality of His active involvement in the feelings of our infirmities and His tender care in our time personal need.

Whether we are positioned to be a provider at the gate, or desperately in need of provision at the gate ...the clearest and greatest need at that moment is an eternal connection that increases our faith in Him. To pace back n' forth instead of entering ...without lifting our fears upward or throwing our burdens down, is just another moment lost in the sea of forgetfulness instead of being captured by a memory of God's timely love intervention for us. Let Go, and Trust God!

In all avenues of life: walk with the King. With every blind side turn: trust His "preparing the way before you". When approaching the Gate ... bow your head in trust and become a miracle by moving through the Gate with Him or by helping another through the passage while trusting the power He has bestowed on you.

                       O Beautiful Gates lift up your voice of welcome from the King.
                            Stretch out your arms of love and pull us closer to Him.
                                  Call us to Fear not to move forward in the way,
                                   Open to a new hope and the dawn of a new day.

Hebrews 13:12 - "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without (outside of) the Gate."

HLFA,

Jeff

Focus from the Ledge

God is my Cliff!

On the ledge it all becomes clearer, when the mist of me subsides, and I am left to face my fear.
On the ledge it all becomes clearer, when faced with my impotence, eternity's desire draws nearer.
Be Still my soul, and know Thy God, on the ledge.

 I, like most devoted lovers of God, am (potentially) a practicing idolater. (You may say "not I") {WARNING -- "Little children, keep yourselves from idols" - 1 John 5:21}.   I really don't mean to be this way but "doubt" is woven into the fabric of my human existence. I constantly try to fall back on things that don't belong to me for my daily living. I constantly try to control the situation with the use of my frustrated version of omniscience (I know even if I didn't see), omnipresence (I am there even if I am not), omnipotence (I don't need anyone, I can take care of myself!). Armed by my misguided fears, and crippled by my non-reflex to trust, I step into impossible situations even more confused; and that breaks my spirit all the more. What a mess I am!

The root problem is that we rarely understand God's Will. The reason: We put His will (His desire) in the context of what we are supposed to do. That in place; now there arises a valuation or devaluation system out of our idolatrous hearts that places more or less worth on the way we "do" His will, instead of focusing on - "What is His desire?". We also may go to the extent of defining levels of His will for us that we "do"; and we use terms like - "missed", "perfect", "preferential" or "permissive" will. This all depends on human perception, and is spawned by the whispers of Hell that were first heard in the Garden, and have reverberated throughout all mankind ever since that first divisive whisper ... "God hath not said" ... "you will be like Gods determining what is good and evil". Don't keep going back to the Garden ... face the ledge.

The truth of God's Will and our connection to His Power in our prayers is found on the ledge: (Listen carefully to these two very powerful parallel passages)

1 John 5:14,15 - "And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything ... according to His will He hears us. And if we know that He hears us, we know that we have the petitions that we have desired of Him."

Psalm 116:1,2 - "I love the LORD, because He hath heard my voice and my supplications. Because He hath inclined His ear unto me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live."

Both the Apostle and the Psalmist had been to the ledge. Both understood "there" that God's Will ...His desire... is to "hear us". God, who is all knowing, who is always present, who is all powerful ... desires with an intentional and intense focus to HEAR US.

Miss this and miss the opportunity to unshackle love.
Miss this and miss the point of prayer.
Miss this and you turn the image of the Living God into a performance art idol.

Have you come to the ledge? Have you come to safest place on this side of Heaven, though seemingly so precarious? Have you come to the Father through His Son? ... HE HEARS YOU!! There is no misunderstanding on His side of the HEARING -- you can TRUST that HE eternally has your best interests in mind --

Here is where we see sin for the separator that it is.
Here we learn to understand the difference between His voice and the world's.
Here is where Satan has no place, no power.
Here is where death no longer threatens.
Here is where we can take and leave our most devastating conflicts.
Here is where we know the only One that can bring forgiveness.
Here is where there is only room for the true God and Eternal Life.
Here is where we LOVE the LORD because HE HEARS US.
Here is where trust is truly grounded in His Word.

On the Ledge - Little Children, Keep yourselves from idols for they have ears but hear not.

HLFA,

Jeff

Random Thoughts from the Ledge

Read Ezekiel 36:27,28 - A heart of flesh is always founded in a brokenness...the power of the broken that rely on Jesus is their life of a love offering to and for Jesus.Psalm 113: 7,8 - "He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill; That He may set him with princes, even the princes of his people."

God's ways are not like ours, and His thoughts are so far above ours that without His Living Word, His Written Word and His Spirit... all men would live as scattering ants at any sign of His presence. God always shows up in the most unlikely places ... And in the most unassuming fashion ... And His timing is always paramount in the lives of individuals whose hearts are captured in That Encounter. And then, like the ripple and sway of the tides, the lives nearest to the shore of the ocean-effect of these "Strategic" individuals will also bear the consequence of the "God" encounter.

The individuals chosen and who choose to be caught in the encounter were never perfect but they all had one thing in common ... a single heart caught in awe of God of the Encounter. These Soul Redirected Individuals must find that becoming truly effective means that they must set their hearts due north by focusing their lives on Him instead of the shifting sand of this world around them. In fact - God is their cliff.

He has taken them there and they have learned the safety of the "edge of eternity". The ledge, the Crag, the cliff... This fragile life was not meant to be built to last here, but to be built solidly in such a way that when the shaking comes we are on the edge of eternity. My firmness in this life doesn't come from founding my life on temporal shifting and sinking sand fortifications, but from founding it on the edge, the ledge, the cliff of God's Word. Petros ...Petra...

Where in our relationships do we find the greatest trials? Where is Faith tested to the max? Possibly where are our actions to bring resolution and words to persuade have all but failed. Perhaps it is when we have been forced to flee and we have had to unload all protection, all defense, all tools, and all supplies in order to run with no earthly weights to slow us down; we stop to catch our breath only to find our run has taken us to the edge of a cliff or put our backs up against the base of an un-ascendable shear jutting of unmovable rock.

And then we wake up to the light that forces its way through the curtains that are never thick enough or drawn tight enough to keep the light completely out. The light has us sit many times on the edge of our night resting place only to wait for "nothing".

 O the clamor of the of the enemy hordes that keep pressing on our heels, and the glamour of the enemy whoredoms that keep flashing to draw our gaze away from our forward movement and the prize that lay before us; both the clamor and the glamour are there to cause us to stumble, fall, deter, and discourage. The enemy's great hope is that we quit before we get to the place of full trust in our God.

 All of a sudden my race forward stopped in unbelief as I tottered at the edge of a cliff above the clouds. The sheer vision of the immeasurable distance below and the fear of the bottomless fall was enough to stop the heart of the most experienced mountain climber. What a cruel joke, that God would lead me on to this seemingly impossible end to my journey! But echoing from the vanishing point ahead came a very resolute, small voice that said "Fear not I have been here, I am here, be still!"

But the cliff was never the plan that we carried in our hearts. There was supposed to be the miraculous turn of events that would stop the angry enemy tide right in its tracks. There was to be total devastation and annihilation of the enemy hordes done in such a way that the fear of God was elevated, and that the joy of the LORD would be left blowing away the residue of guilt and shame.

Didn't happen ... not even remotely in the context of what I would have liked to see. Instead, I have found myself on this precarious ledge with absolutely nowhere to run, no place to hide, and no one to turn to. The voice came to again and said "You are safe, wholeness is near!"
 
What happened next felt like something right out of the "weird" play-books of the unsolved mysteries of the universe. I turned and where the lines of the enemy pressing me to the ledge had been impenetrable, now there appeared a passageway and there was One much like the Son of Man saying "Follow Me!"

It was like the enemy was frozen in place with absolutely no power to disrupt my forward movements following the Way.

HLFA,

 Jeff

The Clamor

Psalm 97: 1 - "The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of the isles be glad thereof."

You could tell at a glance that she had been weeping. Her clothes were disheveled and torn; and to match, was the soil and the bruises covering her body that were unavoidably seen from any direction. Her eyes reflected that look that you see in eyes of the defenseless victim of a horribly senseless crime.(BUT rainbow colored lighting was now spotlighting her so as to disguise the truth of her torn and ravaged visage).

There seemed to be a strange confusion in the air surrounding her as she struggled to rise up still from the ashes of yet another cataclysmic assault on her royal connection. She now appeared the refugee, though she has been the loving, adoptive mother for so many tired, poor, huddled masses who yearned to breathe free. She had rarely turned away the wretched refuse of the teeming shore. Her lips were still moving but faintly crying, "send these, the homeless tempest-tossed to me , I lift my lamp beside the golden door."

This would be the cover-up of yet another atrocity by a sad and duped group of individuals who felt that they were the heralds of a new day. These modern day evangelists, with eyes glazed with power, and ears which only hear the rhetoric of strangers, were doing their best with the limited biased information given to them. Many may not have been aware that they were being coddled by a more ancient and sinister force solely bent on misguidance, misdirection and murder. This would create the "buzz" and "distortion" to the masses so that the raping and plundering of the past would be seen as a necessary removal of "old fashion bigotry", and the introduction of a better world.

While the clamor of complaints filled the air waves, there continued an assault on the ground in this battle. The enemy troops seemed to be led by one hellacious cry (that for the most part was not understood by the enemy hoards nor discussed by most of the duped, assaulted and complaining masses): "At all cost, do not let Her lift her lamp beside the golden door!"

The assault continued to raise such a cloud of dust and debris that very few could see the real battle was a struggle at the root system. Under the cover of the debris cloud was a hacking, chopping , cutting, sawing, burning, and disfiguring of the foundation. There was a relentless disconnecting excavation effort by the enemy to sever the distracted masses from the TRUTH. The hole left behind by the excavation was constantly being back-filled with open apathy, self preservation and selfish ambition.

So loud and distracting was this excavation that most didn't see nor recognize the Lifted lamp, nor the Golden Door as JESUS. Look and Live!

Psalm 119:105
John 10:9

God Continually reigns ... rejoice and be glad.
Live openly and loudly in love of Him and loving others.

HLFA,

Jeff

The Love and The Glory (Father's Day 2015)

Most of the time in our lives, we grovel in the small grooves of the finger prints of the Father. We are caught by the surprise that there can be dirt and sorrow there. We rarely take the time to lay on our backs, gaze up into the sky, and see that His finger print on our lives is so much bigger than us. O we long for those few brief moments in the busy, burdensome days of our lives that we are able wipe the smudges off of the window pain, look out through the rain to see Him dancing with His kids in the puddles of the fearsome storm.

We will never even begin to understand the Father if the only filter we use is our sin and shame. Our filter should be the Cross, the empty tomb, and the clouds of Christ's returning. Without His Spirit and His Word, the clearest voice we will respond to is the pain; whether self inflicted or life inflicted. Let's take the time to arrange the puzzle pieces of our shattered and discontiquous lives in such a way that "all things that have been working together for good" will shout His love to us, and sing His glory to others.

"O satisfy us early, early with Thy mercy
that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
Make us glad! According to the days wherein Thou hast afflicted us;
Make us glad! And the years wherein we have seen evil.
Let Thy work appear unto Thy servants
and Thy glory unto their children." Psalm 90:14-16

The hand of the Father ... is stretched out still.

The prayer of the Father ... is a continuous invitation to walk beside the Heart of God.

The love of the Father ... is a gentle but firm place to trust the safe keeping of our troubled hearts.

The desire of the Father ... is His children. He desires us.

Fear not in the events ahead; trust, O children, in His loving care for even the smallest events in our lives, for He loves us with an ever enduring and endearing love.

Dedicated to the days of June 18-24 in the lives of the Jeff and Yolanda Redding Family
and to the scars that so many of us bear until we se the only Scars that Remain ...in Heaven.

God keeps pouring love into the painful gaps.


HLFA,
  
Jeff

The Zit

As most people who have known me for some time ... they soon realize that I have never given up on childhood with all its wonder, thirst for living, unquenchable zeal for adventure and its unending supply of irritating questions, usually asked at a volume level that can embarrass the most patient and prepared parent figure. Some are of the belief that childhood must be left at the door of parenthood or exchanged for it... NOT I!

 Matthew 18:3 - "And (Jesus) said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of Heaven." {not an excuse for my behavior, just an amazing way to position our lives at the feet of Eternity.}
   
And so begins the discussion: Random Topic chosen by my brain while driving with my Wife? ZITS ...{for whatever reason?)

"Will we have zits in Heaven?" The retort..."Are zits perfect?" The return ..."They think they are; they also must think they are always welcome; showing up at the most inopportune times, and the awkward years (which for some can be a lifetime). We all have them or will get them." The audio at this point turned off but the brain kept on humming.

(Bear with me because of my medical expertise - I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night) What is a zit? It is a biological reaction to a foreign object that is introduced to a well established bio-system (introduced externally or internally). The reaction justifies itself as being the Greeters of the (un)Welcoming committee.

Here is a rough outline of the Events that follow the introduction of the foreigner into the Bio-system: 1. The greeters are waiting in a non-discriminative fashion.
2.The foreigner is detected and profiled.
3.The bio-defense system alarm goes off and the agents of defense wrap their rejection serum around the foreigner.
4. The expulsion process begins with a capture of the foreigner in holding cell.
5.The festering between the two factions create a pressure within the same limited space, until the event begins to elevate to an unsightly protrusion.
6.This expansive pressure allows the surface of the ZIT to thin out to cause the foreigner with his new found fester friends to "burst through" for a rescue and relief to those welcome within the body of the bio-system.
7. The foreign object is expelled from the well established bio-system and clean up and cover up begins.

Sounds like a well oiled organizational plan. This may also sound like most clubs (that we join to beat people over the head with), fellowships (to strengthen our bonds against "them") and even families (an obvious system to contain embarrassment). The problems that arise in each of these organizations may stem from its vision of "how to control" others(control is too constrictive for real love).

Is your fellowship of choice a Permission granting life-system that chooses what "others" to serve; or a Permissive Atmosphere Bio-system that is busy creating to serve others? Does your "follow-ship"(not fellow-ship, think about it leader!)  or leadership create unnecessary zits? Zits are normal, zits will happen... more important; what we do with the foreigner...the stranger, the out cast, the un-lovely, the unfamiliar will determine the health of our living in the Kingdom.

Don't become part of the Un-welcoming Committee. 1 John 1:7- "But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin," In the Light we all see our mutual strengths and weaknesses and realize that we need each gift that comes into our lives. In the light our greatest need is not for control but for cleansing.

Have an awesome life!

HLFA,
  
Jeff

Just Three

Just three. What is the big deal? Only 3 in the midst of billions on the planet – thousands passing into eternity daily unnoticed. They aren't actually missed outside a few family and friends. They made no real mark on their days. The ways of the earth and time has swallowed up their memories, but Tony remembers as he stared at me in my car from a Taco Bell Drive through Window.

This is not meant at all to embarrass anyone or have you searching for who these people could be – they are not to be found on this planet, so don't go looking. The scarey thing is they were loved by God, but no one can truly testify of the condition of their relationship with God before they slipped away because of how quickly they left. I hope as little ones that they Trusted Jesus.

In liberal and conservative Bible believing circles there is a Sunday School default verse that is known by most every child where the Bible is even remotely spoken - “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16. So many have heard this and will say, “I know that verse!” Knowing a verse has never saved a single soul from the condemnation of sin. No amount of faithless memorization of the words of the Bible ever rescued any man from Hell Fire (Hey HELL is in the Word --- Jesus was pretty straight forward about the subject – The cruel cross of Jesus was the payment for sin and its consequences – God was pretty serious about this matter of Hell).

Satan can quote and twist God's Word to his advantage to sway men to unbelief. Bibles are everywhere in the USA it is amazing, but our nation seems to grow further away from a daily devotional, and love accountable life before the Living God. Are we growing numb or anesthetized because of our willingness to listen to every voice but God's?

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16.  DO WE EVEN BEGIN TO REALIZE THE GRAVENESS OF THE DECISION WITHIN THIS VERSE THAT MEN MUST MAKE IN ORDER TO LEAVE THIS PLANET WITHOUT ETERNAL HELL AS THE CONSEQUENCE FOR THEIR SIN? Maybe this will help ...“He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life; and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on Him.” John 3:36.
A non-condemning God of love, grace and mercy is awaiting all those who by faith receive His Son whom He loves; But those who will not believe … stand already condemned.

Now back to the Three, if it even matters:
Mark committed suicide 2011.
His sister, Candy, a few years later died because of surgical complications 2005.
His brother, Bud, died a year later in his sleep 2006.

Tony’s first words after remembering who I was in the life of his family (after at least 20 years of MIA - I was still the “pizza preacher”)… “You heard what happened to my siblings?” Like I had??? When he mentioned them by name and how they died … the memory of their faces came back so clear … {I had to get alone and cry. Only Three little ones, no earthly mile markers to discuss except for their mode of leaving the planet.} But before I pulled away from Tony … I had to let Him know that in the midst of these tragedies, God loved Mark, Candy, and Bud … "and as many as received Jesus, they had been given power to be Sons and Daughters of God … even to them that believe on His Name."

 I will seek out Tony again, he need not leave this planet without Jesus. Pray for him with me.

Do you care? Pray for those you encounter. Do you care? Speak the truth in love as you have liberty … Share the good news of Jesus everywhere you are, because you never know when One of these little ones will quickly slip away unnoticed.

“How shall they call upon Him whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?”   Romans 10:14.

HLFA,

 Jeff

Before the Door

There before me was "The Door". I knew that upon opening it there would be no turning back. This was not the first time, nor would it be the last time that I would find myself here with great heaviness. So I stood momentarily, clenching the Love Letter close to my breast.

Be it known, this Door was not a barrier like fear that can paralyze me and keep me from moving forward. Nor would it cause me to hesitate because of a negative prophecy that I potentially could be carrying on my fragile shoulders. For daily, and many times, I would race to "The Door", burst right in, and climb into the Daddy Chair without even a jot of inhibition. "The Door" was a moment, a breath, a transition point that reminded me that not only did I have full access to what was beyond, but that when the door was closed behind me it would be just me and Our Pater (Father).

Here I was again ... no guarded feelings, no words reserved in caution. Here I was with the opportunity within my grasp to be loved extravagantly by the LORD of all Eternity; for He is my Father.

As I paused, I pulled the Love Letter away from my tight grasp and looked once more at His Words. {Please understand, I was in great duress. My life, as I knew it, was being ripped to shreds because of facial expressions, words, feelings, current events, suspicions, body language, past memories, and fear of a cursed and wretched future. The events of my current living were almost too oppressive to bear. They were like riding an unending nightmare of a rollercoaster with no way to get off.}

As I read over My Father's written words, I could hear His Voice saying, "Don't talk to me like you are an outsider or an outcast throwing useless accolades and oppressive psycho-babble my way... I am your Father." Wow! I almost stepped into that one because the events of my life had caused me to question if I even belonged to Daddy. Now my heart was settled enough to read on and let Him establish my thoughts ... Here is His outline to keep me on track before I moved through the door:

"Our Father, who art in Heaven" - I do belong to you and your influence is above me.
"Hallowed be Thy Name" - I can be still, because even at the sound of your Name I am in awe of how You are so wonderfully different than All of your creation.
"Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven" - Your pattern of Love from Above is your desired pattern for Love Here Below; and you will have your desire... And your desire is me.
"Give us this day our daily bread" - First steps to living here below is to trust You with our daily needs, You will provide and You have provided.
"Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors" - Forgiveness is to be our mode of operandi, not an oppressive lifestyle of keeping the books for repay or retribution.

HOLD ON! Wow!! I had to stop here because this is where I needed to start. I was not planning to forgive, and it was seriously affecting my view of the Father's forgiveness of me. Now I can claim what is ahead in the Love Letter "knowing" He will take care of me.

"And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from Evil" - Father, You don't want to just be there bearing us as we crawl helplessly in our own strength through trials and troubles, but You want to rescue us from the divisive impact and oppressive addictions that can cling to our lives when "trusting You" is out of our focus.
"For Thine is the Kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever... Amen!"

Forgive me Father, for I lost sight of the fact that this whole life is so much bigger than me, but Your care for me comes from Your Unfailing Love that always welcomes me in with everything You are and all You have to offer...
O sweet eternity, kiss this fragile and broken time with hope from the Father, to keep me on my way until I am finally Home with Him, forever.

I pushed, The Door opened, and I raced into the arms of Our Father, He was there for me.
He is there for you!
Come to Him!

HLFA,

Jeff

Ref: Matthew 6:7-15

Beyond Our Wildest Dreams

Small children dream, and play. Teens dream, and play harder. College and Career age are taught that if there are no steps to a goal it is just a dream?? "What's up with that? Young adults put the dream on a "post-it note", and look at it from time to time. Young married couples try to merge and nurture each others dreams, until the "little one" arrives; and then the dreams may get transferred to the little one.

 

Empty nesters once again try to travel back in time and find the starting point of the dream, and then assemble the pieces that might have been collected on the way ... in an attempt for full re-assembly. The elderly shut in - has the dream in a frame and with eyes closed, sojourns in what ever "mind dimensional" direction sleep brings. LIFE is rarely what we dream, but that doesn't mean we can't live to the fullest in the moment and live a life beyond our wildest dreams.

 

BUT here is the secret if you can hear the words of the Psalmist in Psalm 63:1,2,3: 

"O God, Thou art my God ...early will I seek Thee:" (Knowing Him can cause a gnawing desire to seek Him ... first thing, early, before and because:)

"My Soul thirst for Thee," ( "My Soul" - Self needs Identity . Life needs Breath. The creature needs Creation. A person needs Purpose. An appetite needs Fulfillment. A mind needs Understanding. A living being needs a Validated Life. Desire needs Focus. Emotion needs Direction. Passion needs Love. Thirsting after God, brings it all ... and causes more thirst.)

 "My flesh longeth Thee," (This temporary fleshy body that we get to dwell in, has a longing to put on something more than fatigue, pain, hunger, sweat, dirt, tears, age, impatience, anger, worry, etc... God has caused us to long for Him. Seeking Him early satisfies the longing of the Flesh because He is the MORE that we long for."

"In a dry and thirsty land where no water is." (The need for Him becomes even more intense as we continue on our journey through this dry and water draining land. For what is your life - without Him - it is but a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.)

 

"O God, Thou art my God ... early will I seek Thee" Why? ...

"To see Thy power, and Thy glory, so as I seen Thee in the sanctuary." ( You will know that the dream is drawing closer as you find the most desired and precious time in this world is when you spend time alone with Him - in your sanctuary. Early you will be caused to desire to seek Him and you can experience His awesome strength and abundance to take care of you.)

 

 "O God, Thou art my God ... early will I seek Thee" Why? ... because there I find Thy Grace ... "Because Thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee." (And there I truly learn to praise Thee, because beyond my wildest dreams is His loving kindness and it carries me way beyond this life!)

 

  Dream early, dream daily, before the Almighty; commit your way unto Him, He will cause you to dream , and He shall bring it to pass.

 

 Early will I seek Thee!

 

  HLFA,

 

  Jeff

 

  Take time to remember - Memorial Day 2015

Peeking Through The Wall

This may not seem to fit what comes next but it needs to be carried through to the end of this devotion... How do you value others?

Awake my love - Come into the Garden of the Redeemer. As the hedge is pulled aside you will find a wonder. There is a Scarlet Worm that has stretched herself out and attached herself to a tree. She will never leave that tree alive. As she attaches herself to the tree she gives her life in the birthing of her young.

Once the birthing process is complete, she continues to be the protective covering for the newly birthed larva. As her life drains from her, a costly scarlet flow secretes from her body that hides her young as they begin their cycle of life. O the amazing images that we can find in the Garden of the Redeemer to keep our hearts close to His and His to us.

But my eyes kept straying toward the Western Gate, where the sun seemed to be forever setting. As my eyes strayed, so my body wandered; and there I would find ... "the Wilderness". God knows that our lives are either spent wandering in the wilderness or in fighting the battle of the land(or so some of us have been told). In the Wilderness God offers reminders of His provision -- Isaiah 41:19-20 – “I will plant in the wilderness the cedar, the shittah tree, and the myrtle, and the oil tree; I will set in the desert the fir tree, and the pine, and the box tree. That they may see, and know, and consider, and understand together, that the hand of the LORD hath done this, and the Holy One of Israel hath created it.”

My first glance was the planting of trees and the setting in place of other trees ...trees - trees - trees! What is in this planting of trees that can cause me to see, to know, to consider, to to understand that the Hand of the LORD has done this? Done what? The death ... the burial ... the resurrection - year after year in its season.

Day after day the provision that extends because of Our Scarlet Worm's sacrifice. Think upon each tree and watch Him plant and place the provisions into our lives as His Desire.
  
The Cedar - "Strength" - Courage for the Soul,
The Shittah Tree - "Scourging" - Discipline
The Myrtle - "Sweetness" - Shelter/Home
The Oil Tree - "Security" - Anointing/Position.
The Fir Tree - "Stateliness" - Royal Access to the Throne Room
The Pine - "Strength" - Fortitude for the Body
The Box Tree - "Straighten" - Direction - purpose.

All these are pictures of the provisions of God in the Wilderness. Not just seeing these trees in the Wilderness - but knowing their symbolic connection, considering and understanding that these are there by the Hand of God.

This life is not just a "hit and miss" timeline of disconnected events. This life is meant to be a Walk with the King. This life is meant to be a blessing vertically and horizontally. A life of daily, Heavenly provision of which His kids are partakers and distributors.

What wrong do you commit in imagining and believing that God is in this for your good and for His glory? Trees - Trees - Trees! All pouring provision and praising ... of the tree that Jesus died on for you and me. Partaking of these provisions will change you and the way you look at others – everyone’s value will be weighed in the fact that they are souls for whom Christ Died.

Can’t see it yet? --- Look to the trees in the Wilderness!

HLFA,

Jeff

Watch Your Step

Stress - Frustration - No one to help - No one really listens, and even if they do...it is just another conversation with no real solutions. WATCH YOUR STEP! In my analysis of most human stress filled situations; going to God for help is definitely not a reflex; and many times it is way down on the list of options especially when we are under the gun. Even when positioning ourselves as a receptor of the burdens of another ... just watch the reaction to - "Have you prayed about it?". What is that look you get? and what does "Yeah but" mean? YEAH BUT --- WATCH YOUR STEP!

YEAH BUT - There are a multitude of excuses/reasons that we don't go to God immediately with our "issues". AND if we were to take the time to analyze the excuses/reasons ... they would all funnel into the realm of "fear of the Unknown that is involved in trusting the Unseen." My heart aches for this generation because of the speed and ease accessibility to information and resources. Easy button answers and plastic card solutions many times cause us to sacrifice our future on the altar of the immediate. Their ease of access have taken the place of waiting, working, and saving... "I want it NOW and deserve it NOW" seems to be the perspective of this entitlement generation. Patience and trust is an archaic notion, so with the abandonment of these Godly attributes, God is no longer an option because we may have to wait and have faith... and that is not fair!

Someone lied to me and told me "It is an unhealthy obsession to always talk about God". "People who have a fixation on the Voice of God all the time, may be on the verge of a mental illness." Although I don't believe this, it has made me self-conscious of my God Talk and it has dampened the courage that I should have. We are not odd-balls because we believe - it actually talks more denial of reality to not believe.

Psalm 29 has been shouting through my soul all this week (I am enjoying my "illness") ... I have sent it on to more than a few people because of its focus -- The Voice of God, and mans need for Real Strength and effectual Peace that can only come from the Voice of the LORD.

Psalm 29:1,2 - "Give unto the LORD, O ye mighty, give unto the LORD glory and strength. Give unto the LORD the glory due His Name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness." In what ever area of life that you have conquered and feel self-sufficient ... this is the area that you must watch your step -- ascribe all the glory and honor of any of your earthly success to Him.

Vs. 3 - The Voice of the Lord is the Stabilizer over the uncontrollable depth of the oceans...it thunders above in the uncontrollable depths of the vast sky above. He is upon the many waters. Trust Him with the uncontrollable depths of your life.

Vs. 4 - "The Voice of the Lord is powerful" - strength and power in your life., it is the royal adornment that is "full of majesty" and splendor...The voice of the Lord is the desired adornment.

Vs. 5 - "The Voice of the LORD breaketh the cedars; yea, the LORD breaketh the cedars of Lebanon." His Voice is the only thing that can break through Pride - we need Him to break the pride of our personal purity that conflicts with trusting His purity.

Vs. 6 - "He maketh them to skip like a calf; Lebanon (Whiteness) and Sirion (Breastplate) like a young unicorn." This is amazing when you get the picture of destructive pride, dancing away like the young playful animals of the field.

Vs. 7 - "The Voice of the LORD divideth the flames of fire." Get this hidden gold: Like the skilled builder of noble palaces, His Voice will dig, cleave, hew, cut out, dig out, cut down, quarry, line up, and engrave His Name on the turmoil, the burning, and the testing in our lives to present us as a beautiful habitation for His Presence. God empowers those who hear His Voice in the flames of life.

Vs. 8 - "The Voice of the LORD shaketh the wilderness; the LORD shaketh the wilderness of Kadesh (Holy)" - Some times our personal holiness puts us in a wilderness of uselessness, His Voice will drive you out of that wilderness -- but it may be painful, hypocrite (oops - any time our trying to be holy eclipses God's Holiness, we have created an embarrasing blindside in our lives!)

Vs. 9 - "The Voice of the LORD maketh the hinds to calve, and discovers the forests: and in His Temple every one speak of His Glory." New Birth, New Truths, and glorious conversations among those in His temple ... are all brought to you "by the Voice of the LORD".

Vs. 10 - "The LORD sitteth on the flood; yea, the LORD sitteth King forever." Challenge Him and face the flood; or be challenged to be changed by Him and bow before the King of Glory.

Vs. 11 - "The LORD will give strength unto His people; the LORD will bless His people with peace." Constantly given Strength and continually being blessed with Peace ... O we need these especially when at the end of our resources.

Understand and trust this: God's intense endeavor to give us these is intentional, continual, powerful, and personal ...

WATCH YOUR STEP,

and HEAR HIS VOICE.

and Live!
 
HLFA,

Jeff