I Love You

It really didn't matter one bit when the neighborhood bully shouted in the face of the four year old boy. The bully truly thought that his fierce facial expressions and 100 decibel screaming would shake the little boy loose and send him crying home to his Momma. Surprisingly, the four year old stood firm and smiled into the face of the much older madman. When the bully's screams didn't phase the little one, he shook his monster sized fist in the face of the child saying "What is your problem, aren't you afraid that I will trounce you into smithereens?" 

Still smiling and seeming unmoved, the little boy motioned with his tiny finger for the bigger than life bully to come closer because he was whispering something that he wanted him to hear. The bully moved in to see the smile broaden even more... as the little one whispered "My Daddy is standing right behind you!" 

"My sheep hear My Voice, and I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My Hand. My Father which gave them Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's Hand. I and My Father are one." John 10:27-30

There seems to be a notable tenderness sown into the fabric of a child that has that simple contagious faith that moves the mountains of the heart. That tenderness if nurtured and strengthened can become an incredible growing source of hope, as well as a living example of the Kingdom.; And yet ... I wish it weren't so .. that same tenderness is very fragile and can easily be violated, making it a source of darkness that stains the steps of the little one as he moves through life. 

This is potentially the reason that a Millstone Neck Tie accompanied by a deep sea dip has been offered in three of the Gospels (Matthew 18:6, Mark 9:42, Luke 17:1, 2) to the offender as declared by Jesus. Offend one of His little ones "it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea." This ...May seem harsh, but O how He loves His little ones! 

Jesus desires us all to turn to Him, and turn away from the distractions that so easily crowd in on us while we are trying to establish the vanishing foundation of this temporal mirage ... Let's live for things that Last Forever! In the swirl of affairs of this life, live to offer His Love... little children thrive on love and potentially die without it.

"And said, Verily I say unto you, Except you are converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven." Matthew 18:3 

There was a pain filled trek to the top of a bloody hill purposed for torture and such a cursed death. There was a royal Spirit that surrounded the One upon whom "This Day's" violence had been so savagely focused and ordered. The battle had been fought with a strange lack of concern for His own welfare, in so much that it would truly appear that "One Man, would die for the nation ... the world." 

The testimony of His duty bound persecutor was amazing ... wow could so many other be so oblivious of this "Surely this Man was the Son of God!" Oh yes ,,, what appeared to be defeat by calloused on-lookers... three days later ended up in a terrifyingly awesome victory - He lives!!! But that Victory doesn't have Jesus forcing His way into the lives of people. 

Picture this - Jesus stands and whispers to the heart of every soul ... "For I so love you!" Will we truly love Him in return... 

As the door closes to another day ... and He watches over what is left of that tender child, will we hold back the words in silence or will we let our hearts move our lips upright to speak the words He desires to hear ... "Jesus, I do love you!" 

"For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Speak the words of Love ... in response to the Lover of your Soul. 

HLFA, 

Jeff 

PS. If you cannot love and forgive those whom you can see, how can you even begin to tell Jesus that you love Him?

Mary!

No ... Your soul doesn't have to be ransacked and reduced to total spiritual depravity to understand the brokenness within the heart of a demon possessed soul. BUT in order for you to become remotely challenged by the Resurrection Story ... You must break a little for those who have been burdened beyond belief ... Imagine your position in life spiraling out of control and no one hearing your cries for help; instead of your name being attached to the voice of a Comforter, you now constantly hear it as the most abusive word in your history, over and over again, in the midst of continuous daily devastation of soul and spirit ... Your Name feels like a whip, a club, a dagger being twisted deep into your heart, mind and soul ... 

Mary: You will never amount to anything; 

Mary: You are lost, and we possess your soul; 

Mary: All have abandoned you: you worthless piece of human rubbish; 

Mary: There is no hope, never, ever, for you - just look in the mirror, you don't even want yourself;

Mary: Because of the abominable sins you have committed against earth, heaven, and your own body there is absolutely HELL awaiting you at the end of this living death; 

Mary: You have no friends, you have no family ... The only ones that love you are these Seven voices ...And Mary: we hate you too! 

BUT JESUS, DROVE OUT THESE ENTITIES, DELIVERED HER FROM THEIR TORMENT, AND HE GAVE HER LIFE!

In the midst of our pitiful little world of examining the Easter story, and trying to find comparisons of different levels of faith... We forfeit a blessing by not seeing the obvious. All of us have the same level of doubt filled faith ... without resting in the Power that He has when He speaks our name. The intimate connection to Jesus is the only true game changer for all. In Him, Mary now had life worth living. But was it now over?

John 20:1,2 - It was Mary and the women that were at the tomb first, BUT only Mary ran with the emotionally disappointing message after finding the stone rolled back and the tomb empty. Picture Mary Magdalene ... known as the Women that Jesus "drove out seven devils"; there is no doubt that her personal change, because of her Jesus rescue, was so life changing that she actually was now "believable". 

Picture the broken hearted Apostles cowering together in fear of their own their own potential crucifixions; and this frantic woman comes running to their hiding place. Out of breath, and emotionally devastated she cries out ..."They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulcher, and we know not where they have laid Him!"... Her message is so believable that Peter and John take immediate flight to check out her story ... (Don't casually walk right by verses 8 & 9) - Peter went in first "Then went in also that other disciple, which came first to the sepulcher, and he saw, and believed. (Don't stop here) ... For as yet THEY KNEW NOT THE SCRIPTURE, THAT HE MUST RISE AGAIN FROM THE DEAD." 

Their need to see and fully perceive the TRUE Story had not yet been completed ... it was still under construction. They only believed what Mary had said to be true ...Everybody went home, except Mary ... 

She "stood without at the sepulcher weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and looked into the sepulcher". She saw two angels, and was still wanting to find His body ... a Moment later she would see "Jesus", supposing He was the gardener ... And not recognizing Him ... Still craving the preparation of His body for burial ... Until she heard her name from the lips of her Redeemer - "Mary!" Game changer! ... Now she would deliver the message of Her Alive Lord Jesus ... To the disciples... And soon they would see Jesus also, and "know" the scriptures. 

Will we finally allow ourselves be so awed by His rescue of us, that His Voice calling our name will be the sound that restores us to renewed faith in His Word ... moment by moment, day by day? 

Life on the other side of the tomb, has endless possibilities ... Wait! He is calling your Name.

Mary - I eternally value you - you are worth my death for you.

Mary - You are fully rescued, and I live to preserve your life.

Mary - I will never leave you, nor forsake you. You are my treasure.

Mary - There is full hope, daily ... awaiting for you in the mirror of my Word.

Mary - You are fully forgiven - your sins are gone, AND there NOW awaits treasures of darkness giving you real purpose ... Powerful weapons to break chains and give life to others in the Kingdom. Your captivity was not in vain.

Mary - You are my child ... Heaven is your Home.

Mary - I Love You!

Jesus - softly speaking these truths to us ... also.

HLFA,

Jeff

Devotion Wept

For sure, he was the head Worship pastor of a large growing congregation ... and as the team gathered together holding hands, as tradition deemed, within the circle of prayer (committing to the Sunday morning time of music for the LORD) ... And as they were all depending on his leadership; he had hidden well that there was a brokenness in his soul... a brokenness that he was terrified to reveal. He felt that the revelation of his soul constraint would interrupt and negatively change the course of their morning and all future perception of worship. Both Hype and Devotion were standing there waiting. He gave into the terror to rely on Hype, and he left Devotion standing there... once again... And weeping. Devotion wept.

(John 4:4-26) True Power and Glory was momentarily resting and thirsty next to a strangers well, opening an opportunity for devotion ... But the issue of the superficial differences had to be conquered first. "There will come a time when they that worship God, will worship Him in spirit and in truth." ... This leveled the playing field; but the argument that had ensued because of pride, finally crumbled and folded when the Savior revealed that he knew her secret hypocrisy and still loved her. For this moment, Pride was left in the dust and Devotion rejoiced.

Pride, disappointment, hype, provocation, position, prescription, possessions, passions, expectations, perceptions ... Will all jockey for the rightful key to the kingdom because it can only be fully realized through devotion.

John 11:35 - "Jesus Wept." He saw all the wrong connections at the funeral of Lazarus ... There were professional ... Friends, mourners, traditions, reality's song; and feelings of disappointment and grief that could not be conquered by any thing other than devotion. Jesus tried to help Martha and Mary to connect the dots ... But neither of the women had realized the salvation connection yet, let alone the open arms of devotion. 

They were very close to understanding but six inches away is all it takes (from the head to the heart) ..."If only You had been here ... (questioning His devotion)." Later the cross would cry so loud it would shatter all questions as to how devoted Jesus truly was to "whosoever". Oh How He loves us ... totally devoted.

Love, loyalty, fidelity, faithfulness, trueness, steadfastness, constancy, commitment, devoutness, ... "Truly active unbroken loving connection" ... Not a Religious Service and not a time where we pause with the Lord in prayer and scripture and call it "Devotions". If we don't catch anything in this diatribe - I pray the Spirit challenges us to move ... from assigned moments of efforts that we hope to satisfy our guilt and prove our love; ... to a connected life of constant longing to be openly loved and truly knowing that "Overwhelming Love" ... His Love, that has no bounds, no measure. 

"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm; for love is strong as death; jealousy is cruel as the grave: the coals thereof are coals of fire, which hath a most vehement flame." Son of Solomon 8:6 

HLFA, 

Jeff