And He Called Upon

And he called upon ...

1. To put a name upon, to surname - to be given a name that intimately connects the recipient to a distinct family.

You really would not understand; neither did I ... until the Light of the True Day sliced the truth of its revealing rays right through the mirage of my life of debilitating squaller. I looked at what I had become under the scrutiny of these defining rays, and was truly appalled by the scars caused by my choices. When I was tossed like a filthy rag into the gutter of darkness, my enemy whispered that my name was "Mud". "Please, if there is a Father of Lights give me a name that connects me to more than this ruin!" And he called upon ...

2. To permit one's self to be surnamed - the will must bow and the spirit must yield to receive the eternal surname.

"Well if Mud would be my name, then I would show them what Mud was made of!" And my life became more and more disconnected until this Pure Light began touching my filthy life. Almost like a scanner from head to toe and back again, my cancerous flaws were exposed for the oozing mess that they really were. The Rays of the light seemed to carry a power within them that moved me to begin loathing what was revealed on the surface of my life. At the same time the Rays would pause to reveal the true lost condition of my heart and soul ...fear swept over my soul ... "Please, I am lost and a stranger to whoever You are ... Please reveal Your Name!" And he called upon ...

3. To be named after someone - this is the name of another that becomes the name that defines our life - who we are.

My life to date was defined by the name given by my enemy, Mud; and I am quite sure that I have been fulfilling the prophesy of that name over me. All the while it had made me a nobody with no lasting purpose, with no real power over my fall, and no strength to pull myself out. "Please, tell me your name for I am nobody desperately in need of somebody to pull me out!" And he called upon ...

4. To call out a reason for the crime and realizing the charge associated with the crime (and reproach) and summon the prosecution to lay the blame where it must rightfully fall.

The Light had performed it's perfect work, for now I stood naked, scarred, and truly alone with my name and my crime. The blame had fallen on me and I was all but undone until ... Out of the darkness of the mist of hopelessness there arose a sweet song and strange sight as my eyes were now able to see: I saw the torn image of a man being gently lowered from a cruel, rugged frame of torture and death. Those lowering Him looked my way and spoke into my soul - "He did this for your crimes, your nakedness, your scars, and your loneliness." At first I wanted to deny that I was in need as spoken to, but how foolish it is for the naked to pretend that they are clothed. So I cried out... "If this was for me, I want His Name ... Please tell me His Name!" And he called upon...

5. To call to invoke the Name as helper, witness, ultimate judge and deliverer.

The vision and words of the servants who lowered the Man...had me on my knees in a moment of surrender. With my eyes closed, I pleaded for whatever the Dead Man could offer to save me from what I had made of me. When my words ceased, near by me there was a hiss, and then a whisper that oozed out a sympathetic sounding question, "But what can a dead man do for you? ... He is dead!" Then I called upon, still I knew not whom ... "If He is dead then I must be dead too ...please tell me his Name!" And he called upon ...

    

6. To call upon by pronouncing the Name as the explanation and expression of the fact that this Living One is the Way, the Truth and the Life - there is NO OTHER way to the Father but by Him. When I opened my eyes within that moment of my fear and hopelessness - I saw a bright mist now gathering about an empty cave like tomb, and one all dressed in the pure light that had shown on me saying --" The One who you seek is not among the dead, He is Risen!" All that was within me cried out, "Please tell me His Name so that I may call upon Him!" "His Name is Jesus!"

And he called upon the Name of the Lord, Jesus!

Epikaleomai - call upon...

Romans 10:13 - "For whosoever shall call upon the Name of the LORD shall be saved."

Romans 10:14 - "How shall they call on 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?"

HLFA,

Jeff

Sumpascho

Sumpascho..."to suffer with because the suffering has been the same" ... Personally and private with Christ; and corporately as a people of God with Him we suffer. This creates the draw of Christ to us - through us - to Him... Related to the "similarity of Suffering!" our handicaps, scars and valleys of suffering actually make us a receptor for hope to those currently walking through suffering.

Don't get offended when you seem to be the target of someone's rage or venting --- it may be your connection to the sufferings of Christ that puts you in a unique position to minister to the "hurt". Don't become overwhelmed if the socially and physically handicapped find comfort in your presence. You may find yourself asking this stupid question - "why can't I have any normal people for friends?" Please don't you dare define normal.

So our story really begins with my head spinning from a parallel study of Romans 8 (Mercy) and Revelation 8 (God's Final Justice) and a question for God "What is in this for me?"

... Then the flood of emotion began with a memory of the sun starting to set, water balloons flying through the air and bursting against the windows of the house; as a joyful figure hobbled about the back yard --laughing uncontrollably. Though being chased by unmerciful children, who were hurling these soaker grenades at him, for the first time in a the longest time Bob felt safe and at home. He was an easy target because of his scars from birth that created his hesitant handicapped movements, but it was like he hesitated on purpose to be hit; and the explosion of the bursting projectiles seemed to scream love to his soul.

The Redding kids in their crazy play were washing Bob with safety, they were bringing him into a family. The kids never realized that just a few weeks later Bob would be missing from his stealth visit's to the Mission Chapel ... But would be found lifeless, alone and hanging in his cold apartment closet. Though it was deemed suicide -- we knew Bob's handicap all to well - he had neither the strength nor the muscular control to pull off what was told. (The world wants to wash the memory of the hurting into the sea of forgetfulness - but God Remembers).

We drove Bob home that night of the Feast of the Love Balloons, and the boys asked ... as Bob walked away from the van (waving all the way into his apartment building) - "Will we see Bob again?" They were feeling the Sumpascho ... No words could describe the unseen burden that we carried for Bob.

Backing up just a few short weeks - we (the Redding Family ... Dad, Mom and kids) got its first introduction to Bob while corralling young people into a storefront chapel for a Thursday night "yelling about Jesus" time and pizza: "Freak! Come on back and fight like a real human being, you #%&*@&* freak!" He was not hard to look at, but he tried his best to be invisible. He was physically different for sure. He had no earthly gifts to offer but his bag of dirty laundry. And when not afraid, he had such a beautiful smile that sang a strange and distant harmony with his sorrowful mysterious eyes. He didn't say a lot, but this night in particular, he huddled close to me (though a stranger) while he shook with fear. I chased away the "punks" that were threatening him, and that night he never left my side. We drove him home because of the look of terror on his face when he knew we were about to say good bye. We couldn't leave him, it was blocks to walk home alone to his apartment, and we wanted to keep Bob safe. That night the boys asked - "Do you think we will see Bob again?" Happily we did get to see Bob again and again for 6 weeks of our lives.

When the unbelievable soul shaking news of Bob's death was delivered to us a week after Bob went missing --- we cried our private tears of disbelief, and the boys asked "Do you think we will see Bob again?" In the silence after that question, we all knew Bob was finally Home ... For on that first night of Bob's hiding near us ...he heard and found the message God's Love; and with simple childlike faith trusted Jesus, becoming part of a more secure family.

If given the opportunity, we all might ask -- What happened to Bob in that closet of sorrow , why would God allow it to happen? I will leave you with this -- Jesus sweat great drops of blood in the garden for all. The Spirit of Christ makes intercession for us with "groaning that cannot be uttered". And God is touched by and touches the heart of his kids, who are willing to share in the brokenness with Him. As they suffer with the Savior, they pour out Love. - Sumpascho. Six short weeks to love.

Rom. 8:17 - "If children, then heirs, heirs of God, and joint heirs with Christ; if so be that ... We suffer with (Sumpascho) Him, that we may also be glorified together."

Rev. 8:13 - "And I beheld, and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice, woe, woe , woe, to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the voices of the three Angels, which are yet to sound."

Someday the "suffering with" will be over, and "alas, alas, alas" - hopelessness will take its place... O the darkness.

Reach out to rescue the fallen, bring them into the Light of Living Hope, especially in light of the hopeless future if Christ is not received.

HLFA,

Jeff

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