"My"

Is it wrong to imagine the unseen rescues that God has planned for his beloved ones? Is it presumptuous of us to think that HE WILL HEAL us? The simple answer to these questions is a resounding, "NO!" 

We say that He is almighty but are so timid to truly rely on His power to defend, to deliver, to hide, to save, and to keep ... Or could our hesitation to believe come from the daily negative interactions with and from those that we depend on for love. 

A mutual shrug, an exchanged growl, an ignorant silence, a returned sharp look, a quick and careless word... These all can culminate from our lives when the winds of adversity sweep into our souls. Oh, if only we could develop a reflex... that when the winds blow, we would bow before God in our time of need, before we start spewing our disappointment and resentful opinions toward others. 

Could it be that we have become the negative affliction in the lives of others? We need His Spirit and Love to rejoice with those that rejoice and weep with those that weep (Selfless abandon to be there for others is not in our DNA, it has to be Heaven sent.) 

If His Love is our filter and connection to our God, then our eyes will automatically be opened to see the amazing provision of His ultimate care for us. The end result is what we really want in our lives: that innermost being that has an unending, unstoppable force of grateful praise; that like a geyser of timely love offerings to the needy world around us, we will unleash an irresistible "listen UP - God loves you" message. 

Picture ourselves hurled into the middle of a skirmish involving the most violent hand to hand, sword to sword combat, along with the flailing of the most unrecognizable weaponry that we have ever encountered. The enemy has devised cruel, subtle weapons to devastate our lives and souls. Satan hates every bit of creation, especially the part created in God's likeness. With an active eternal hatred and he is relentless to achieve your destruction ... Usually from the inside out. 

Stand still and see the salvation of your God. He is our - ("My" is the Word used to describe each of these attributes of God in the midst of our battles): 

"My" Rock - (Seh-Lah) - The Crag or the cliff, putting me in a position where there is no other place to go. "My Fortress - (Maw-stood) - The net for prey, the bulwark, the siege work where He capture me in His love and sets a defense against my enemy. 

"My" Deliverer - (Paw-lat) - He actively saves, provides escape, and delivers me into His security. "My" God - ('el) - He is my Strong Man, my Warrior, my Mighty One, my God none can stand before Him. 

"My" Strength - (tsoor) - He is my Rocky Wall, my Cliff, putting me in an unscalable position in the face of the enemy - the enemy cannot get to me. "In whom I will trust"- as I seek refuge and flee for protection, 

"My" Buckler - (maw-gane') - He is my moveable shield that constantly surrounds me with protection. 

Horn of "my" Salvation - (Qeren) the horn, flask, Ray of light of my Deliverance -- He will always sound the triumph of His Love over me ... He Will always Win. 

"My" High Tower - (Mis-gab) - He is my Higher Security, His placement of my life is far out of reach of the enemy. 

What an amazing provision for us in the midst of the battle ... Oh if only we could grab some of these gems of truth and march forward fearlessly into our future. We HAVE the victory and need only claim it! 

"I bowed my head and then raised my eyes and prayers above the hills, in the midst of the Battle; and stood still until He had WON." -- read Psalm 121:1,2 

Jesus is MY Victory! 

HLFA, 

Jeff

Calling All Hewers

Can we truly see the deliverance of God when we are in the midst of international, national, local, or personal pain that is filled with life threatening strife? Why is it so hard to rise up beyond the verbal ruckus and the voices of panic plagued confusion ...AND become a conduit of Hope's deliverance? What does it take to be a Praise-Making-Hope-Deliverer? 

{Take the time to read Judges 6 --- this is a prelude to deliverance}

Waking up daily, to the smell of the damp air of the cave with its dank moist belly-like feeling, slithering over the occupants of the crevice of the rock, like a large anaconda ... just waiting to strike; this was absolutely the most depressing way to start every day. This was a dawning reminder of the oppressing enemy that brought on this life of loathing and barely surviving. To be truthful the real enemy is rarely faced because it is easier to blame than seek forgiveness. 

Years of oppression? Seven! ... (If one doesn't see that it has eternity written all over it ... the oppression's numbness may have taken its toll). Seven years of wasteful oppression with every crop planting destroyed, every potential harvest uprooted, every bit of cattle slain, every lamb bleat stifled in blood and the mangled meat left rotting. Any increase left out in the open was plundered and destroyed ... Death would be via the ache of starvation or by diseases urged on by malnutrition and stress. 

In the seventh year the sporadic intense cries that intensified with every passing year had finally molded the character of God's nation into "a cry".... And God heard "The Cry", and sent a prophet who responded to the cry ... "After such an amazing deliverance from Egypt and the nations of this land ... that God had given to you ... Why do you fear the breathless gods of the nations? Fear God!" 

What a prophetic message, but who even heard with the blame game still in play.The blame game had to stop, the heart needed to see itself as the real enemy ... so that deliverance could begin. With a People unknowingly lost in the fear of false gods, the game would continue until it would be met with a life altering conflict. 

So, God focused His Word on the "Hewer"... who would take on the task of "the one man" deliverance challenge, because he had been a source of resistance in the midst of the nation's compliance to false gods. God's Call Came and the "Hewer" placed his perceived poverty and foreboding insignificance before God: and God declared him a "Mighty Man of Valor!" 

The events that followed in the life of this man need to be recognized to realize that God is calling prepared people with a strong purpose; His call is to those who are not just "news sharers", "whiners and complainers", self proclaimed "spokespeople", emotion driven "rabble rouser"; God is looking for those ... who will or have: 

- taken responsibility for the condition of their world of influence. 

- already been "doing", not just spouting that "someone needs to" or "someday"!" 

- offered the threat point of their will to recognize the Voice of God. 

- Humbled themselves before Him. 

- Asked the hard reality questions of the Character of God. 

- will Obey the Voice of God to the tearing down of the altars of worship and supporting groves of devotion to false gods. 

"But the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abiezer was gathered after him." Judges 6:34 

These are our prerequisites to aligning with God's Voice and Plan for the battle ahead. 

Are you willing and/or have you been willing?

Calling all Hewers! 

HLFA,

Jeff

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

Devotion

The Kingdom is much like a precious gem that is locked in a light-less vault. Its value is often passed by until it exposed to the full spectrum of light and then the desire for a connection begins. Very few risked touching Jesus in a devotional way ... I can only think of two (named) that are mentioned in the Gospels ... Mary Magdalene and John, the beloved Apostle. 

In the verse below there are two different attitudes in the stride or run to the tomb to the tomb caused by Mary's announcement of the "emptied" tomb (they have taken him!) One of guilt because of a hype-filled failed response to the Jesus connection and the other was a devotional broken curiosity movement. None the less, they both end up at the tomb. ... See the verse below: 

John 21: 20 - "Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following: also leaned on His breast at supper, and said Lord, which is he that betrayeth Thee? " 

NOW - Peter was able to walk briefly on the storm tossed waters, but it was John whom leaned back into the comfort of the breast of Jesus. Possibly by the movement of the Spirit (that stemmed from the words of promise to the tribes of Israel from Moses in Deuteronomy) ... But regardless, John acted devotionally appropriate to the call of the Spirit -- Devotion differentiates the substance and evidence of faith from the fading hopes and dreams of fantasy. Deut. 33:12 "And of Benjamin he said, the Beloved of the Lord shall dwell safely by Him, and the Lord shall cover him all the day long, and he shall dwell between His shoulders" (Sounds a little like the character and actions of John, the Beloved). 

Story Time: 

As the terrifying shrieks and snarling howls of the Hordes of Hell filled the terrestrial Sound Scape of the Lost; The Demonic legion of warriors left behind nothing but pillaged and burnt remains (of what was once life) as they raced across the fields of fallen dreams. The hopeless and deceived occupants of the land were no match against this Horde's weapons of soul destruction that were dripping with the blood of the fainted innocent, the pridefully resistant, the hyped sympathetic, and the worldly submissive ... All alike, those without Love's pure connection had no strength to stand against the onslaught . 

The goal of the horde: Smash through the Door, take the keys of the Kingdom by Force, destroy all Hope, and raise their Black Flag of Evil Victory over Eternity destroyed. 

The tumultuous event stopped short of the Door, as a strange almost paralytic fear swept over every warrior in the ranks of the Horde. Caught off guard, one of the rank had all but reached out and almost touched the handle of the Door ...when ... There was an overwhelming realization ... before them ... that there was no obvious resistance, no opposition army prepared for defense, no shout or call to arms ... But there was a still small voice that was cancelling out all the noise of this destructive host ... The Still Small voice said "Enter In!" 

One shaking gruesome warrior was pushed reluctantly to engage the handle of the door - And his touch, O That touch, rippled through the entire host with a terrifying vision flashback of something "vanishing point" ancient, pure and good ... But hauntingly... long lost in the memories of rejection ... 

The Touch sent a sensation that that they all so longed for, but now and forever sat in the prisons of denial. The result of the shock wave of the memory actually accidentally forced open the door. The vision inside overcame and totally obliterated the mindset and purpose of the enemy.

As it swung wide open ... There was an immediate blood curdling scream from the Horde that blasted like a subsonic wave and turned them to flight. As they fled in the total opposite direction of the Door, a self-slaughter began and continued furiously by the fear of being slaughtered, and the total destruction of the Army of Evil took only a moment. By the panicking swings and trashing of their own destructive weapons that had been purposed for others... Their destruction was complete, the battle was over. The Black flag fell onto the carnage pile of their own demise. 

What was the image behind the door? 

Picture a Father in a well lit, warm, stately, comfortably, welcoming chair ... Picture Him holding a small sleeping child in the protection of his arms, within the comfort of His breast. Let this picture of love fill your heart ... 

It is what we all desire ... 

To be held, 

to be covered, 

to be safe, 

"between the shoulders" of the Father ... 

Within the Heart of our God. 

Move forward by devotion, not by the hype of duty. 

Only those who know His Love, can truly share His love. 

Drop your heart to its knees, cast aside all pride 

... Let Jesus Love You! 

HLFA, 

Jeff

Protected Communication

"The unknown wood of the Ark was covered with a tar/pitch on the inside and the outside ... that no matter what would batter the vessel from the inside or the outside ... Atonement was protected - the occupants would be safe, and saved." (RS) 

“Praise waiteth for Thee O God” Psalm 65:1, God’s character is so different from ours. We really have no clue as to the manifold difference of His amazing character, but if our hearts are welcoming His care, we can get glimpses of glory for “faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen”. 

For a moment ... Think of the communication gap and bridge between an infant and a parent. Even though there is a momentous physical, mental and emotional difference between them; trust and reliance grows as it is learned moment by moment with every interaction on the part of both the parent and the child. {Trust Him as an infant trusts the parent. “Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the Kingdom of God as a little child she in no wise enter therein.” Luke 18:17. Seek this relationship early on.} Because of needs being met, a most beautiful smile develops between of the forming character of the infant and the parent; this smile was directly related to the helpless response of the child to the reception of the parents tender care. 

But we still have such a long way to go and there will always be a gap in communication “Why is the baby crying?” - “He is a grown man, what was he thinking?” This earthly relationship is always under the scrutiny of our “quick to doubt” hearts; and stays within the never ending turn of our mortal learning curve. 

His ways are not our ways ...God does not have to stare at us, nor carefully scrutinize our condition, nor question why we did whatever we did, or plan what is His next steps would be with us: He hears our prayers ... He is constantly connected by the faithfulness of His Spirit to our deepest needs and desires. Unlike us, In Him there is no misunderstanding, no ulterior motives, no embarrassments because of our poor decisions, no disappointment by our self-inflicted scars ... only the purest preparation for the outpouring of His Grace into our groaning for His Eternal Love. 

Today, tomorrow or sometime in the near or distant future, we will all face a discrepancy or defect in our character that will produce a falling that will be of our choosing: we will need Him. We will need His grace, His forgiveness, and His love ... that will lead to our restoration and new re-purposing of our lives. 

He was a fisherman, then a follower, then a denier, a liar, and a curser. Oh, there was no way he could be brought back into the Love circle. No way, until he would hear “His voice” say - "Lovest thou Me?" And three times he would hear his own voice say “Thou knowest!” 

Our sinful choices will deny our eternal position in Him. Our momentary iniquity will cause us to lie about our “blood” connection to Him. And we may even find that we will try to fade and fold into the crowd of unbelievers via a curse or an oath. BUT because "He first loved us"... we will find Him waiting, we will know He is longing for us to turn His way ... and when even before it happens He will be running toward us with open arms, a robe, a ring and a welcome home reception. 

The pain and memories of failure 

will be ours for a time, 

but daily applying His words to our scars 

they will become His and not just mine 

... little by little ... 

Our past indiscretions will be forged into a weapons

that will be turn back the darkness of pride and bring a new dawning of freedom and light. 

“Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, 

Thou shalt purge them away.” Psalm 65:3 

(Purge - to cover over, propitiate, atone, reconcile, to cover over with pitch ... do you remember anything that was covered by pitch - within and without?) 

HLFA, 

Jeff

Cookies

A small ray of sunlight found its way through the crack in the grate at the top of a broken cistern that had been converted into a prison cell. Days before the prophet had been lowered into the dank, cold, and unwelcome surroundings that was to be his reward for speaking the Truth of the LORD. "Thus saith the Lord" hit hard hearts provoking them the wrong way, and this wet hole in the ground would be his opportunity for ministry, and he would minister. What?

Beloved as he was, he was also perceived to be an arrogant witness to the Resurrection of Jesus, and therefore, an insurrectionist of worst kind; no threat on his life would silence him. Even boiling oil did not kill him ... so off to an abandoned island for the rest of his life, but when the day of the LORD arrived he worshipped as at other times... but in a choir of one. What?

Though she had rescued so many from the cruel capture, torture and death of so many of her people, she watched her life slipping away in a concentration camp, powerless to stop the death of her family. As a strange turn of events set her free ... Did she walk into freedom... bitter and angry? No, her heart full of His love and forgiveness would continue to allow her to open her life, mouth, and pen to offer praises to the Grace of God. What?

Her life had a daily constraint because of the pain and scars of an accident. That accident that would have killed her if not for the voice of God saying "Move to the middle!" But even with this rescue, the impact left its scars ... Every step, years later, would scream "How could God do this to you if he loves you?" Her heart many times would agree until she would purposely stop to hear the promises of God. And though so many days it seemed healing was not coming any time soon ... She looked with her aching heart at those that she loved, longing for their comfort, and she said... "Can you get me some cookies out of the freezer?" And she would rise up, walk against the pain and faithfully care for and love those that God had put in her life. What?

"Be not deceived God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth that will he also reap". Phil. 6:7 ... "And let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not." Phil. 6:9 ... "Be ye kind one to another, tender hearted forgiving on another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Eph. 4:32

The story of our Christlike service to others has its real power when our weakness in suffering is overshadowed by His strength to love others through us. We may be hurting at this point in our lives, and it may not even be obvious too others, but healing begins when we lay our lives down for those whom Christ died for... all. 

Live openly for Jesus! 

Go bake those cookies!

HLFA,

Jeff

A View Through Another Window

A View through another Window (Careful in your reading - there is a purpose for repetition - Learning!)

"Call me not Naomi (meaning delights), call me Mara (meaning Bitter), for the LORD hath dealt very bitterly with me." Ruth 1:20 Naomi (at this point of her life) had no idea ... at first ... that God had a greater plan; a plan that was far beyond the imagination of creation. 

Here is a fact that we must consider: When our delight for life is stripped naked by the bitterness of loss, loneliness and incapacitating pain... unbelief easily wraps its arms around "the broken one" chaining hope in a prison of dark despair. But He, who is altogether lovely in His plans for His kids, is perfect in His deliverance ... if only the darkened eyes will turn to acknowledge His light... And that those, called on to encourage the abandoned, will hear the Voice of the Encourager and rise up to ... Touch!

Don't miss this ... God made it obvious, it is not just a nice story in the Word ... He attached her name to the Book - "RUTH" - for she would do what others could not do, and probably would not do. She saw the unseen rewards of a future with God's "Still small voice", more influential than the loud boisterous lies of temporal pain. And she began the life of the name she was given - "Friendship: 

- with the depth of continued companionship

- for the purpose of shepherding 

- to the end of Love's protective and nurturing deliverance. 

Every component of Ruth's life had made her perfect for God's repurposing of all of her broken pieces (that typically would be an immense handicap in the midst of this world's economy) and place her in God's mysterious eternal plan for His Glory and our good.

"Uniquely prepared by life's experience to be repurposed for the Will of God amidst the conflict of spiritual forces at work in the struggle for the souls of men". 

Have you trusted Christ as your Lord and Savior? 

Are you feeling the inequities and injustices in the Kingdom around you? 

Do you hurt with the hurts of others? 

You are strategic; He has and is repurposing you ... You are called to potential discomfort to bring comfort where HE CALLS YOU .... DAILY! 

The promise is this 

... If God calls us to come beside an embittered one, we will have to have a thick skinned prayer life ... We will have to fight back a river of curses, with many of them seeming to be aimed at us but hang in there - "Though weeping may endure for a night season... Joy comes in the morning." 

... We will be part of God's amazing plan to work all things together for the good of "those who are the called according to His purpose" 

... We will be those who will hear "Pray as touching" 

... We will be those who "Comfort with the comforts of God whereby we keep on being comforted." ... We will experience being "more than conquerors" through Jesus Christ. 

Psalm 54:7 - "For He hath delivered me out of all trouble: and mine eye hath seen His desire upon mine enemy." 

For you, I'm quietly waiting,

For you, I'm weakened by the wonder,

Of you, I know the weight you're under

When He's calling your name.

For you, my heart is breaking ... 

For you ... Oh please listen to the Voice of God.

HLFA,

Jeff

Call me Mara

"And she said unto them, Call me not Naomi, call me Mara: for the Almighty hath dealt very bitterly with me." Ruth 1:20 She had no idea that God had a greater plan, a plan that was far beyond the imagination of men. Fact though: when delight is stripped naked by bitterness, unbelief easily wraps its arms around the broken one bringing its chains of despair. But He, who is altogether lovely in His plans for His kids, is perfect in His deliverance ... if only the darkened eyes will turn to acknowledge His light. 

From out of the far end of the hallway of overwhelming depression, walked a lonely and broken but resolved encourager; and together... Bitterness and Friendship locked hearts for the hope of future delights. They would move forward into the light of Faith's amazing journey, while slowly sensing a resolve that the journey was not about them. The journey's blessing would extend beyond their earthly existence, and Ruth, an outcast, would become and known as one of the direct ancestors of the Messiah (but generations after her time). 

We never know this fully, BUT His plans for us are always beyond our wildest dreams. "Delight thyself also in the LORD, and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart". Ruth's story is not an isolated event that has no significance to our lives today. She must have known in her heart that she had joined herself to a family that was destined by the delights of the God of Israel. She was chosen by a son of Israel for marriage, and his banner over her was love, but short lived. 

Although she was an outcast, a "less than desirable" with an estranged heritage... Illegitimacy was involved in her nationality; but she was brought into this blessed family and no doubt cherished that relationship even when that connection seemed severed by the loss of her Father n law and her husband in one fell swoop. There was potential comfort and purpose awaiting her if she returned to her people; but her desire was drawn by the wisp of eternity's sweet essence. 

The prospects of the present was to be the walk with her widowed Mother n law, who at best was embittered due to the events that had waylaid them both. 

The past was like a snuffed candle with a very limited time for its smoke to arise. The present was in the hands of a Kindred Redeemer who didn't even know they existed yet. And the future was where the future always is... behind the veil of promise but encircled both by the birds of song and birds of prey.

Isaiah 53:1-3 - The struggle ... A faith that founded on the appearance of success and prosperity for its proof will flounder miserably in the reality of a God who values the uprooted, the dry ground, the common, the outcast, and the insignificant... Prophetically like Jesus.

Psalm 45 - The vision of the Beauty of the King Beyond ... 

John 14:1-3 - Planning for us beyond the devastation, but the perfect rescue of the Cross ... 

We may momentarily want to be called Mara (bitterness), but He has sent another Comforter ... let Him walk us through the Vale... we will find ourselves in the Field of Blessing. 

HLFA, 

Jeff