No Disgrace

Psalm 55:21 - "The words of his mouth were smoother than butter, but war was in his heart: his words were softer than oil, yet were they drawn swords."

Their hearts were overwhelmed with the opportunity, in fact they were so excited because this was very much like a dream come true. As they waited off stage to meet the main performer, they could hardly stop their racing thoughts of how they would share this almost miraculous moment with all of their family and friends. The moment had arrived... Face to face and up-close and personal.

With the last explosive note of the concert and a shout of farewell, a torrent of individuals started flooding off of the stage ... There he was in the fog filled distance and growing closer...There was the Star, smiling and heading right toward the admiring fans. The smile stopped almost immediately upon reaching the fan club. There was a brief stop, a pen flashed out of nowhere and backstage passes were hastily signed with what sounded like a complaining growl from the Star... A shove out of the way by security, And it was over. No hand shakes, no thanks ... Not even an exchange of direct glances.

The moment truly lost value and was added to the ever expanding times where life here lets us down.

One thing can be counted on...if we depend on any thing in "this life" other than Jesus to bring lasting joy, we will be consumed with utter disappointment as quick as the newness fades. Not so with our God ... His joy is unspeakable and full of lasting glory... Great is His faithfulness and His mercies are new every morning. We worship a God that provides us with abundant life ... He will not let us down.

Consider His love investment on the Faith-Life-Side of the Cross - "He has blessed us with all spiritual blessings connected directly to Heaven" - "Because of our Cross connection, we have his predetermined securing through adoption" - "We are fully accepted among the beloved family with all grace, redemption, forgiveness, wisdom and prudence" " - "Because of Jesus we are predetermined to live within the full praise and purpose of His Love Design." - "He Gives us His Spirit...His Earnest, His Eternal Security Deposit on our lives to present us holy and without blame" --- we could go on and on ... But the bottom line is "HE LOVES US, OH HOW HE LOVES US - HE WILL NOT LOSE US" (Ephesians 1 is so powerful when you let the supply of love overwhelm your heart with security to live openly for Him).

Jesus' Words are not a topical butter momentarily providing fading comfort ... His Word is sure for all time and eternity because Love is in His heart for those who trust in Him. His Word's are not just a "soft feeling oil", but they are essential and permeating in their power to fully envelop the hearer in promise. His words are a two edged sword always ready to provide the most skilled rescue surgery; reaching into the soul, spirit, thoughts and intents of the heart, and joints and marrow ...for our good and His glory ... No stroke is provoked by uncontrollable anger and is never lowered without Divine Love's predestined purpose to secure us.

I waited at the veil for my Hero

at the edge of my dream

When the finale faded into fanfare

I felt for the veil's uttermost seam

Not a moment of fear while searching for His face,

For peace swept past the veil

As I pulled back on time and opened up space

I felt a soft refreshing spring glow

At the opening of His dream

When its caressing engulfed into care

I reached for eternity's innermost seam.

Waves of love pressing me, cheek to cheek, face to face

For love swept me past the veil

As He erased the scars of time and the distance of space.

JJR

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorry, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." Rev. 21:4

HLFA,

Jeff

Beyond the Big Picture

Do you see the big picture of the God Story all through the Bible? God loved man so much that He foresaw "The Fall" that would condemn man, and became Salvation for him so that man could be totally restored to God in an Eternal Love Relationship through Jesus Christ. And though mankind since the Fall is born into the same sinful curse, through the Message of the Good News of Jesus' rescue, mankind can be redeemed by the reception of that message, by receiving Jesus.

Example: The context of Galatians 6:7-9 is restoration(not just God is gonna get you, but what you do for others is tantamount!) ...think it through. The will of God is the restoration of Mankind to himself through Jesus Christ. He has gifted this ministry to us also and empowers us through His Holy Spirit enabling us to reach, teach, rescue, and restore. This is all done within the strategic sphere of influence where He places us ... We are placed among a chosen people, in a particular place and with a gifted passion...Where God puts you to play, work, shop, walk, live, etc. ... is a God thing. Don't sell your God assignment short. Pity on you if you see God's assignment as "just a job" or just a "secular" job... Wow limit and handicap your scope of eternal usefulness!

LET ME INTERRUPT THE LESSON ABOVE WITH THE FOLLOWING ACHE OF LIFE:

Another inner world, shaken enough to be at odds against the stream of temporal life around it. Word's like "Non-responsive" , "critical", "stable" and "D.O.A." were being floated in the air like misshapen helium balloons, while experts with opinions of confusion kept anyone attached to the moment lost in the rhetoric. Once again truth seems to have fallen in the streets and hope was so deferred and had stooped so low it was hunchback. Faith was viewed as an alien or a specter of denial instead of a breath of true encouragement. Still all was well in His hands, all are cared for in His desire no matter what perspective could be hurled into the situation from fallen men.

Catastrophes that destroy the body of men from the inside out, and the devastating violence brought on in a split second crushing the shell, do not paint the "truth" picture of God's delivering love. Speculation of God's anger and judgment just fuel excuses for distance and separation between God and man, and these verbally abusive declarations rarely have eternal substance or connection, but they can scar and injure the faith of a suffering Saint.

Psalm 46 (from the vantage of the suffering non-responsive one or the one caught in a split second passing from darkness into eternal light): The sound of beeping and buzzing life support machines had faded in the distance; the agonizing pain is an ever fading distant memory, and the horrendous sound of the crushing of glass, plastic, metal and human flesh was now silenced in the Fog (the Favor of God) ... The declaration has rung true... though the present world is shaking, pulling and tugging not wanting to lose the struggle, fighting to not let go of the victim that appears to have lost the victory - "God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble" Psalm 46:1

Standing on the eternal shore, released from the bondage of the flesh ... And now sensing the strong sustaining currents of His eternal home ... The battered soul stands sure and protected: "Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah." Psalm 46:2,3

The roaring, the prayers, and the tears were like a diminishing choir behind a slowly closing curtain as the scene ahead became clearer ... God was there! ..."There is a a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High." Crossing the stream of gladness ... crossing from the darkness and pain into the Everlasting Home..."God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her and that right early." Psalm 46:4,5.

There was but a moment to pause to understand Mercy and Grace - "The heathen raged, the kingdoms were moved: He uttered His voice, the earth melted." All of Heaven's Family shouted in celebration of another pilgrim's arrival: "The LORD of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah."

We who are alive and remain cannot even begin to fathom the amazing things that God has prepared for those that wait on Him, those who actively love Him in anticipation of seeing Him face to face, who now stand before Him and are brought into His Everlasting Arms ... For We, who are left behind, stand at the wailing wall of an event of suffering and separation... We truly cannot see much beyond our grief.

Grieve, but not as the heathen who rage with blame against God when a catastrophe strikes:"Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations He hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breakers the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; He burneth the chariot in the fire." Psalm 46:8,9 --- The battle of the Soul will end in Him.

But O Soul in Christ, left alone on this side of the Veil - Grieve righteously by beholding the truth ... You will miss the loved one that has been taken ... But remember, this incident was not a tragedy, it was a rescue. Do not pretend that you need not grieve ... To not grieve is to deny God the opportunity to comfort us, and then the beauty of that outpouring of comfort ... being there to comfort others with the comfort that we have been comforted with."Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah." Psalm 46:10, 11

Both Manny and Danny found the fading moment of suffering, both found the stream of gladness, both found the Arms of God, both are now Home forever... we are left to the comforts of His Spirit. Be comforted!

God's peace be with you who are broken... Know this, you have not been abandoned ...You are strategically placed in this world with the power of His Spirit filling your shattered spirit and empowering your broken and contrite heart to live fully alive for the King!

Grieve as you must...but let Jesus comfort you... And live.

HLFA,

Jeff

Dedicated to Pastor Manny Diaz in the presence of the King... April 3, 2017; and (D.J.) "Hoagie" Daniel Hogan, Jr. - in the presence of his Savior March 24, 2017.

Arriving at Gate 7

Please try hard again to hear the Still Small Voice, O tender broken-hearted Saint. God knows that your personal pain speaks ever so loudly, and confirms so assuredly with your disappointment ... that it is hard to "hear" the words of encouragement (let alone begin to "believe" those words). He knows that doubt has slithered its way into your life, convincing you that "it - doubt" is a permanent resident and a trusted gate keeper. God sees that doubt guards every access route to your heart to make sure that the Song of Hope has no opportunity to be heard. God has stood waiting while doubt speaks so loudly that hope is quickly squelched in a hellish confidence that boldly announces, "Healing is for others but not for you; for God has deemed you unworthy." He has watched you shift your faith in Him to a faith in things that continue to rip at the very fiber of your spirit.

"Oh lonely sojourner, gain balance in the fact that there is no testing, no tempering, no stressing of your life that is not common unto all sojourners." (1 Cor. 10:13a ) There will always be proof, if you so choose to accept it, that "you are significant" ... or why would God walk with you while "Why this is happening to me if He truly loved me?" The only thing God singles out His kids for is for the fortifying of our faith by His active, extravagant, loving care for each one of us ( and His care is not without purpose, it is for our good and for His glory).

175 passengers trying to squeeze into their enumerated pole positions, (60 at a pop) all trying to line up according to a Letter and a Number. Some sojourners were very irritated by the fact that their numerical placement was not what they had hoped for as others of "lower degree and social standing" were moving into placement before them.

There were commonalities created for this event which should have created unity:

1. All at one specified moment (but not a minute before that time) were subservient to a data entry time frame and a computerized response that reacted to their key strokes.

2. All would harbor some degree of suspicion of anyone that would move in front of them or try to squeeze awkwardly behind them without announcement verification of their personal assignment.

3. All would have to deal with those who would stand like guards at Buckingham palace, almost immovable, once they had secured their mostly vague place to stand in the lineup.

4. All brandished the proof of their standing either by a piece of paper or a digital facsimile.

5. All would move forward and eventually end up in the same destination ... no matter what.

[Note of interest: A seat was guaranteed but no particular seat was guaranteed... just a controlled variation of the old process of "first come, first serve".] Even though there was so much commonality, it didn't seen to eliminate the waves of anxiety. And what would the stressing gain as the acts of the event moved forward? "Nada!"

Although the different tension colors filled the scene like a strange unseen oppressive rainbow, there was no chance of a personal pot of gold at the end, only the looming promise of several hours of discomfort caused by what ever seating awaited beyond the gate. All for one and one for all.

Discomfort expectations were experienced as the line of assignees lumbered their way down a floating hallway-like Gang plank. There was another growing source of tension as the participants in this pageant were released into their vessel of constraint ... There was another promise of ... the invasion of personal space that was evidenced by the constant verbal reminder that announced "The fact" that every seat would be filled on this flight.

Finally with "All" seated in their personal emotional choices of the oncoming time of differential expectations and endurance levels... the flight in time and space... was now in the competent hands of The Captain. No turning back! 

In our flight of Faith it all boils down to "All for One and One for all." The "Captain of Your Soul" will keep you headed Due North... trust the author and finisher of your flight with the placement of your seat. He will see us through!

HLFA,

Jeff

PS - In the midst of the flight keep this in your heart and mind - "And they will know that ye are My disciples if you have love one to another."

To Live Boxless

Looking around the large darkened room filled with beautiful representations of the suffering of our Savior, I knew I had come to the right place to expect a miracle. The scenes of the parable-like ritual began to play out in front of me, heightening my desire for the Eternal. Then all the attention seemed to focus on the long-robed leader as he moved towards a gilded and ornate box to the left of the stage area.

There were kneelings and words that I did not understand so I sensed this could be the moment for the miracle as the robed arm reached into the gilded box. A holy hush settled on to the congregation as the leader turned with what appeared to be a golden, artistically designed mirror-like object. He lifted up the object several times as timed bells rang to announce each raise of the object. Then the leader turned back to the box and placed the mirror like object back in.

My Father was looking at my curious expression and decided to help me through this moment ... Dad said "there is a once a week Jesus that is given to us in the communion time, what you saw was the Jesus that is taken out on special occasions for us to see and then is kept in that box the rest of the year. Wow ... Jesus is kept locked away in a box, so unfair.

Now please don't be too harsh on me for a fogged childhood religious memory, but this one thing I am sure of today: the problem with our faith to see miracles is the package in which we box our God, and the restrictions that we design to limit His working.... (instead of magnifying His glory, majesty, honor, and power that no man can begin to understand). That being said please read on.

There are too many pious parrots in the roost protecting us from miracles -- "Polly wants a cracker" - "Just an ordinary cracker, nothing special" - "And no more, no less should be expected!" -- That first phrase used to be heard from the bird cage, but with the Internet on the rise, social media swooning the masses, and Google granting every request for knowledge - we hear rumors of miracles everyday; but there still are those who would love to see a miracle of Manna from Heaven, but not at the risk of sounding weak and needy. So the additional phrases, after the cracker request, needed to be added for the preservation of self sufficiency.

And So the New Breed of Parrot's will pout and tout that there is no hope for anything other than the cracker, so be grateful for the ordinary variety of cage style crackers, "because there ain't no manna today!" And FOR SURE -- "we don't want to presume ourselves upon GOD!" What has happened to these birds?

Maybe these parrots have written off the most conspicuous attribute of our God because of the failure on our part as humans to change; especially if it would be the only attribute that we believe.  And with that attribute in remission, like some sort of fading cancer-like flaw, we can move on to the more reliable attributes of God like His anger, His judgement, His severity, His Sovereignty, His holiness, His separation, ... (I am having a tough time with this for it is hard to imagine God without this attribute)... For the one characteristic of our God that holds us "still", to know that He is God...

Is His Love.

Without Love, His anger has no mercy,

Without Love, His judgement has no propitiation,

Without Love, His severity has no hope of turning from an eternal fiery end,

Without Love, His Sovereignty would never consider us because it doesn't need us,

Without Love, His holiness would not cover us,

Without Love, His Separation would be from us.

With His Love, God gave His only begotten Son for even the adornment of this fallen world... That who-so-ever believes in Him -- should not perish in full abandonment from His presence, but shall have everlasting, ever regenerative , ever unfolding, ever new, eternal life in His Love... we therefore can truly live.

But Love without God ... Is not redemptive Love at all ... At its best, with lust barely contained, it is but a shallow self-serving show of concern, a self fulfilling and collective desire for approval and companionship, and a fragmented shell of feelings endowed by Our Creator within the fallen heart of unredeemed man... At the beginning of this fallen love it is romantically, magically, wonderfully new ... Until it is tried, tested, tired and empty.

God has not abandoned anyone in the darkness without the light of His Love (that is why we all have experienced the "magic of the feelings"), but it seriously does matter what we do with that light ... Box it, contain it and Squander it on a self fulfilling lifestyle, and so we begin loathing the light of His love, and making our way in a direction opposite of the redemption of His Love.

No apologies for this next statement - We need to believe that God does truly care for us with provisions from the miraculous that are granted liberally to be experienced in our moments of need. Don't settle for the box, keep your "childlike wonder" fully unbridled, fully engaged; and let Jesus love you openly with His extravagant - miraculous love.

"Little Children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen". 1 John 5:21

HLFA,

Jeff

PS - Are we really naïve, or in denial of reality when we believe that God will do the impossible? Stop boxing up that faith, face the truth of a tragic situation, announce its reality, BUT with full trust in God's miraculous outcome.

Shattered

Please try hard to hear the Still Small Voice, O tender broken-hearted Saint. God knows that your pain speaks so loudly and confirms so assuredly with your disappointment... that it is hard to hear words of encouragement (let alone begin to believe those words). The Lord knows that "doubt" has slithered its way into your life, convincing you that it is a permanent resident, and your trusted gate keeper (though you have been misinformed).

The Spirit feels the doubt that guards every access route to your heart to make sure that the song of hope has no opportunity to be heard. The Spirit has stood waiting while doubt speaks so loudly that hope is quickly squelched in a hellish confidence that boldly announces, "Healing is for others but not for you; for God has deemed you unworthy."

Jesus has watched you shift your Faith from Him to a faith in pain's voice, which continues to rip at the very fiber of your spirit. But HE IS NOT DISAPPOINTED WITH YOU, He knows the separation caused by pain - "My God, My God why hast Thou forsaken me?" His love keeps you and remains sure ... for you are His Name's Sake.

This moment is not easy ... but try with every bit of your spiritual fiber to see how you would react if your own child was racked with the torments of pain and the fear that shadows a life threatening event.

The "Pop Culture Christian Voices" all around us proclaim things that never add much to our relief. The "healing" clichés only add to the pressure of our barely bearable reality. But we must stop anyhow and meditate on the deeper truth behind the plastic-wrap façade.

"This to will pass!" But it hasn't. Always seems to be spoken as a hall pass for other believers to relinquish their duties to "weep with those that weep"... This moment will pass, but while it weighs heavily on us .. He will be with us even when we proclaim negative prophesies and curse loudly in the moment.

"You can do all things through Christ". Except this... When pain speaks so loud that we no longer have a voice, Christ will stand in our lives whether we appear to succeed or whether we openly fail miserably.

"He will never leave you!" But they leave and abandon us with a prayer and a pat on the shoulder. Our closest friends may withdraw and stand afar, for so did His disciples for fear of their own lives ... the human condition can only carry grief so far, but He will carry us where others falter, clear through to eternity. Don't judge His nearness by the distance others. He is near, always.

"He will not test you above what you can handle!" Seems to shift the responsibility to our failure to be spiritual enough to receive "the healing". This is always a poorly delivered half truth mixed with a lie ... "GOD DOES NOT TEMPT US!" ... The pain may tempt us to doubt, but He will be there with a way out... "There has 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 Cor. 10:13 This passage is giving us hope in the battle against the sin that so easily besets us ... pain is an altogether different subject and needs to be handled by entrusting it to His longsuffering, not our impatient waiting.

"And now, LORD, what wait I for? my hope is in Thee." Psalm 39:7

When we are shattered ... we should fear not to speak our pain and disappointment to Him... He will be there for us no matter what we say. His Love Remains ... when all else seems gone... and He is all we need.

Little Children ... lift up your hearts, lift up your hands, He cannot resist to lift you up into His loving arms.

"Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not Thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with Thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. O spare me, that I may recover strength, before I go hence, and be no more."Psalm 39:12,13

HLFA,

Jeff

Hidden

"Thou art my hiding place, thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah." Psalm 32:7

It first began with a tingling sense that something disconcerting was about to happen in the Kingdom of Love. It gnawed at my already frayed sense of time leaving me a good bit off balance. I knew it was a call to pray. So I went to the hiding place.

As I approached the Throne of Grace, I noticed that there was a small crack in the base of the veil. From this small split that guarded Glory, literally, beams of light pulsed in all directions from its hidden source, enlightening different areas within my shaking world. Everything enlightened began to stabilize and clarify until all that was left shaking was my heart. So I bowed my weakened frame and left my heart vulnerable to whatever the Father would desire to tell me. I closed my eyes and waited.

This is the waiting that produces strength to soar on the currents of adversity through every passage of life. (Isaiah 40:31) The waiting brings knowing. "Knowing" with confidence the preservation of God is a work of my will's submission to the imploring of the Spirit via the power of the truth of Word of God.

Let this truth capture your devotion, if but for this moment of your need:

1. God is His Kid's Hiding place...we are hidden in Christ.

2. He preserves us with His Fidelity, His wholeness, His Character; none dare question God's Holy Song over us. His love defies the most violent oppressor and goes beyond our wildest expectations.

3. He encircles us in all the turns of our wayward direction with His Songs that will deliver us.

His thoughts are not our thoughts. His ways are not our ways. His Goodness and Mercy, that are not dependent on us, are His covering of us that spans time and eternity; there is nothing that truly compares. There is None of us that truly understand, there is None of us that truly seek after God, and by our own choosing we have all gone out of the way. We, individually and all together, have become unprofitable followers of self fulfillment.

.... "Just God" .... is never our reason for seeking ... HE KNOWS THIS HUMAN FLAW and yet doesn't chide us, leave us nor forsake us ... He just continues to call us. His call of Love (whish is for who believe, and for all time) , keeps us within his Ever encircling testimonial cries, his redounding voices of victory, and his omniscient songs of deliverance.

PROOF: The Cross of Christ... He died for us, He arose for us, He calls for us, and He is coming for us!

"Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy all ye upright in heart." Psalm 32:11

Live loud in the Victory of His Love and Compassion for you,

All is well because Jesus is my growing "All in All."

HLFA,

Jeff

The Gray

Confusion-Despair-Disparity-Anger or

Focus-Hope-Balance-Love?

Is there truly gray areas within the issues of life, not just a matter of fact...not just black and white? The gray has, for the most part, been seen as an area to be avoided because of its potential for conflict. It is also seen by those looking for a liberty "work around" as a power-tool-opportunity to set up their flag of wisdom on the matter. But, could the Gray be an opportunity for Grace and Love instead of a clash of violently opposed convictions?

The gray, without much effort, becomes a cultivator of walls and the foundation of the doctrines of "isms" and "ists" that do nothing but divide, conquer and leave the wounded for dead. Survival of the right-est as the fittest, is the underlying (truly lying) belief that can cause irreconcilable conflict. This may be why Conflict such a terror in the "Church"? ... maybe because we want peace in the "Father Knows Best Mayberry" family. (The Acknowledgement of Absolute Truth is though, but there can be no peace where conflict is avoided and issues of life are never handled).

Here was the game plan of a former pastor as stated, "We will not have controversy, but if controversy arises, we will handle the conflict... (emphasizing) WE WILL HANDLE THE CONFLICT". The leadership's game plan was to maintain a status quo and squelch anything that was different. And as we all know...Jesus' life was without controversy (please understand that this statement is sarcastic) ... so we should expect that the follower should also live without controversy or conflict (again-this is another sarcastic statement).

Sometimes the issue is not as gray as we would purport it to be. It may be excused as an area of cultural or preferential opinions that those more enlightened have given an issue a hall-pass to avoid the pain of education. Without a truly devotional grasp of the wisdom of love there will be an impatience due to offences that can carry us into conflict. Offenses are a guaranty, but woe unto him whose cause is to offend, and especially offend the little ones - A true offence is one that comes out of a desire against the Word of God and separates a "little one", one of God's Kid's, from His Father's Voice within the Word - "The Love Letter".

"Wine, as an entertainer, is an arrogant ambassador and a scornful interpreter; and more intensely, Strong intoxicating drink is a distracting growl and a disrupting roar; whoever strays and swerves off into desired intoxication thereby is not wise". Proverbs 20:1

Since the beginning of man's choices for his "own way" instead of "God's way", there has been welcomed entertainers and intoxicators that have distorted the Voice of God. This distortion has caused a growing discention in the kingdom. It creates a riff in Love's Ministry of Reconciliation and an animosity towards "God accountability". So many want to stretch and test the boundaries of Liberty because of the urging of highly polished "other voices", which in the end ... tarnish purity and integrity, and wax cold true love by causing it to doubt truth.

I want something. We all want something...and deep down inside we hope that "that something" will fix or heal the ache of life that follows us every where we go. It all seems so confusing at times and we become too overwhelmed. Oh so many of us want to numb our way into the oblivious comforts of stollen bread and forbidden fruit. The numbness of a fleeing fleshy pleasure deceives us into thinking that sin is not all that divisive, not as bad as "the preacher" has warned us, and many times the sin itself brings a momentary release or rest.

Rest is a rare commodity in a time of struggle. Comfort is a fleeing companion when pain decides to be an unwelcome tenant. Peace is flaunted as the offering to woo the masses by the wolves in sheep's designer clothing. "Key in importance" for all of our days is... clear, concise, and connective direction. Jesus said this to those in His day who were standing on the threshold of What to believe? ---"If ye continue in My word, then ye are my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." What great news ... but there was push back because of what He said.

Here are the issues of stumbling in this passage - listen UP!

"Continuing in His Word" - Will we allow His Word to dwell in us in such a way that His Word saturates and satisfies our thoughts continually? Will our hearts be seen as the throne room of the King, and our lives used as a vessel of Love for others?

"My disciples" - Will we allow ourselves to be obviously identified as His followers, His students, His and His alone?

"shall know the truth" and  ... Will our intimacy with His truth cause less and less hesitation to hear, listen and obey His Truth... so that in knowing daily, we are growing daily?

"shall make you free" - Hello!!! "Free" --- this word is so much more endearing because it means "Freeborn" -- We are citizens of Heaven upon a simple childlike faith decision for Jesus... But we have a privilege of a stronger connection to our citizenship via our cultivation of the relationship through a constant connection to His Word and growing Spirit ownership of His Life in us.

The GRAY is for real ... but like a FOG (the Favor Of God), He carries us through - The
Gray - when we settle the conflict in a growing love for Him and others.

Don't be afraid of the Gray!

Read, study, meditate, believe, pray, share, stand, and love,

HLFA,

Jeff

PS: The issues that we think are GRAY are opportunities to please the Father by "presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice" - Rom:12:1,2 

Surrounded

Well, I was in one of those crazy situations again. Huddled within the fragile frame of my Earthly existence, I was cowering in the darkest corner of the Kingdom that I could find (which, if I had truly thought this one through, once again I was dabbling in the realm of the impossible). Being in His presence had put all the shadows behind me with the exception of one, the Shadow found in going through the Valley of Death... But that shadow was not the issue at this juncture of my life (though that could change in a blink). I had sinned.

Guilt and shame had chased me down and were threatening to over take me. I was stealthily pearing through the small shattered window of hope for the rescue. What I saw dropped my heart into my stomach... "Judgement had been turned away in the opposite direction, Justice could do nothing but stand his ground at too far a distance to help; because Truth had lost his balance and stumbled in the street, while Equity was completely stripped and powerless to prevail." (Isaiah 59:14) Of all men I was most miserable.

There was a Voice that startled me because it spoke in my direction. Not immediately recognizing it, I slumped deeper into my hiding place and dared not to breathe nor make a sound. With rubble around me, now still as death... I could hear the Voice: "You have no place to hide! Come out with your hands up!"

Something strange but familiar stirred inside of me. It was all but melting me at the core and tugging away at anything that I considered as foundational for strength to resist. I was like a string tangled marionette caught awkwardly in the midst of a critical performance that was soon to be launched into ... The Unknown?

The Voice boomed again, "Come out with your hands lifted up, you are surrounded!" Now the urge to move forward was even stronger, and to surrender seemed the only course of action left... But it could mean suicide because of the trigger happy enemy that would be waiting.

The Voice, louder than before but strangely encouraging ..."Fear not, You are Surrounded!" This was that moment when faith and fear would collide, but potentially they would form the alliance of "AWE"... And then it happened: I arose from the rubble of my futile hiding, raised my arms to the Heaven of Heavens, moved forward towards my "would be" Captors to find an amazing but powerful Glory encapsulating and surrounding every molecule of my humanness ... The Glory radiated and overwhelmed the darkness in every direction.

Even though my sight was captured near blind in the Brightness; at the fringes of my perception, I observed the most hideously insidious creatures fleeing in flames caused by the Brightness of the Glory. They raced frantically from the unavoidable destruction of wickedness. The Enemy was conquered... And there in the midst of the incident ---Stood the Glory of the Bloodied Cross.

Near the Cross, Now, there I stood, with a new found desire to abide forever - Judgement stood smiling next to me locking arms with my soul, Justice was sounding me with praises that were within my reach, Truth and Equity intertwined their essence with every breath of my soul ... With Hands lifted up - and heart surrendered - His Glory Surrounded me, crowning my life with the fullness of His Vested Love. AND I was not alone ... Multitudes of battered but restored children had joined me to hear His Song of Glorious Love over us. (Read Psalm 8 at this juncture of the story -- notice that we are crowned - "Surrounded with Glory" )

Join me in a glorious life with Jesus, who has overcome the world.

Praise Him and walk powerfully in His Kingdom!

HLFA,

Jeff

New Beginning

Morning arrived with the dew as expected. As the sun's lattice like rays extended through the countryside, creation began to stretch and groan from its nocturnal stillness: There He waited, there He stood longing and there He desired a sign of love from His beloved. He watched as the day gently brushed against the cheek of His beloved, as the sounds and smells of promise were diffused with the meandering currents of conflict. He Gently whispered, "Behold, I am yours and you are mine." But an anesthetized stillness provided no reply, no response from His beloved, but He stood there still and He Loved.

Then time slammed its gavel of "urgency calls", and we arose with a heart pounding start. We raced right past the Love of our life, and hastily glanced at His love letter that had boldly pronounced "Wait!" Wait? ... (under our breath as though we would not be heard) "You've got to be kidding". Then piously we declared, "We will set aside some quality time later when we can give full focus to love."

We had barely miss-buttoned our clothing, shimmy-jammed our feet into our shoes, and guzzled down some sustenance when the inrush of concerns for the day slammed into our already unbalanced forward movement. Way out of kilter now, our failure to stop and listen to the Love of our Life would begin to take its toll.

He watched on with no "I told you so!". He now spoke quietly "Come unto me all ye that labor!". We thought we may have heard that still small voice; and just for a moment the thought of the sound lifted us, but the weight of the day must have heard it also for with even more gravity it weighed down on our souls. He still waited, and loved.

The hands of the clock finally aligned in the predetermined manner, and our captors released us to our wind down time. You were waiting at the gate to great us with a love offer to release us of guilt and shame, but for some unintelligent reason we thought we could do the impossible ourselves. So we wrestled the immense package of sensed failure onto our already bending frame, and all but crawled to our evening of "home", our hiding place.

You were with us through every agonizing moment of that movement to an unrequited rest. You once again watched over us as we lowered our senses and slowed our defenses in hope of relief. You watched as we mutely dimmed the lights and slipped back into the welcomed comatose state of sleep. You gazed on at our troubled dreams ... you interjected what fragments of hope that we had caught on the way, and gathered them together in our dreams; ... but there was so little hope to work with because of the literal "Word" deprivation of our hearts, minds, souls and strength that our sleep was without true rest.

You waited once more, O Lover of our Soul. You would once again whisper sweet and precious promises to our almost lifeless forms. You would do this without regret and without hesitation. For perhaps this would be the day that we would reckon ourselves dead to sin, but alive in You. Just per chance our first full breath into the day would be a prayer of re-crucifixion with you.

O to be dead to ourselves but alive to You... Who love us and gave Yourself for us."I am crucified with Christ, never the less I live; yet not I; but life I now live, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me. " Galatians 2:20.   This is not a one time deal ... this is a conscious act of the will to "die daily" to myself and to be fully alive with Him.

The Hope for tomorrow: We awoke to Your sweet Voice calling us to walk with You through the Garden, up to Calvary, to be crucified with You and to rise from the tomb with You fully alive and empowering our day for Your Honor and Your Glory, Amen.

Here is the Victory!!!

HLFA,

Jeff

The Variegator

The Variegator -The Swirler of Colors

Just when we thought that we had it down pat, and that we had all of our bases covered...life does what it does best and throws us a monster curve of doubt. That big "NO-ANSWER" question mark clings to us, like a cross borne over the shoulder of our soul, and weighs so heavily on us that now we step into our own worst nightmare. Confusion sets in and we are caught stranded precariously on a handle-less particle that is swept into a larger uncontrollable, faith battering, tidal flow. Why would God allow this to happen... Why wouldn't He stop us from doing this... How in the world can we go on from here?

The Psalmist in the One Hundred Thirty Ninth Psalm explores the fact that our fallen nature is prone to being a flight risk. Our wandering souls are like Dare Devils that are always pushing the boundaries and pushing things to the limit. In Psalm 139 verses 1 though 12 - The writer attempts to describe the "God exposed life" of the believer. He travels off in all the directions from body's basic volitions, to the mind's tapestry, to the roots of the tongue's wagging, to what is in our past and our future... making "all" seen, known and experienced by God being ever present and ever near. He checks out every possible and plausible destination that we could fly; and he exposes every place that we could hide, only to stand in awe of the "too wonderful"... HE IS THERE... FOR US.

In Verses 13-18: The Psalmist places the evidence of His love connection to us front and center; proof positive because His finger prints are all over the minutest details of the fabric of each of our totally unique lives. He desires obvious fellowship with our personality potential. He wants to be evidenced in the way we carry our physical stature. He wants to amaze us with the unfolding miracles of our internally - constantly - forming growth cycles. He has intricately woven and swirled in everything necessary to identify us with Him. We have been "curiously wrought" ... we have been variegated.

Every needed element to face life was colorfully swirled into us in order to give us what is needed to "stay still" during the impossible and keep us close to Him while achieving the possible. Life without the knowledge of the Variegator is a life of futile acquisitions and vain achievements void of eternal focus and purpose. Life without Jesus is a life that is emptied into eternal sorrow in the end.

Jesus is the curiously wrought door, the marvelously fashioned gate, the colorfully woven belt, the adornment of the Daughter ...whom we are "In Him" ... Whom, because of His great love... are made "glorious within".  A Swirler of colors, a Weaver of curious diversity, a Blender of imaginative differences ...mixing in, all that is needed to make the Kingdom complete with intertwined complex simplicity...gold, alabaster, black, purple, scarlet, silver, azure, white, brown, red, blue ... every color, every hue ... all for our good and His Glory.

Some of the swirls are sweet to the taste and satisfying to the soul, though others may be incredibly sour to the stomach. Satisfying or painful, all the swirls are purposeful in the intertwining of our lives with His.

I know how hard it is to take a breath, back away, and see the big picture... when pain, loss, or fear of death ...clamor for our attention. The constraint of emotions and "stressing out" over the temporal can easily cause us to feel that we have been abandoned, or that we have forfeited our authority to be the Kid's of the King; but fear not, for He has planned LOVE for this moment of our sensed "faith devastation" - He has curiously wrought... swirled into our lives all that is needed for Him to see us through.

Realize this: The Devil is a liar! The enemy strives to own God's woven and embroidered things. The enemy desires to claim them for his own. He wants to tout them as trophies and spoil from the battle he thinks he is winning or assumes he has won. His ploy is confusion ... don't give in.

Wait on the LORD, Lay down the doubt, and take up the Cross ... trust Him to see you through this moment of struggle... JESUS, the Variegator, is near.

"Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me and know my thoughts: see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting." Psalm 139: 23,24

Bring Your swirls into play for my good and Your glory, amen.

HLFA,

Jeff