We Caught His Eye

I don't know about you ... But here is how we should work; while passing through this world our eyes are constantly scanning our surroundings. Our hope in scanning is threefold:

1. Is there any God moments ahead?

2. Is there a familiar soul with whom we can fellowship and encourage?

And/or

3. Is there something new to see and learn that renews my breath.

Nevertheless, even those committed to this journey with Jesus... Who have come to realize that there must be a constant, compassionate, forward movement to be fully alive ... Can and will be distracted because of incomplete disruptive events. What do I mean?

A windshield smash,

a stairwell fall,

an icy slip, 

a blinding flash of uncontrolled power,

a debilitating pain,

an uncontrolled darkness,

an end of normal ... On and on ... And in that disruptive beginning our heart will cry out and our eyes may even fall earthward as we lose hope.

(I would hate to be chained to a walk in life that has my "soul shoulders" stooped, eyes gazing blankly with an unengaged anesthetized mind to the ground, and a fearful sullen heart that will only risk closed eyelids when looking Up).

God is here ... In this beginning ... While our faith has seemed to leave us as an untimely birth ... Still connected to our bloody placenta, choking in our own blood and birth fluids, filthy by contact with our surroundings of abandonment and none to comfort, wash or swaddle us ... Even then He says "Live".

I wasn't always alive ... (No I am no talking about the obvious - my water birth into this world) ... I had that evidence of forever presented to me in a way that made sense and I cried out for the "Second Birth" in Christ Jesus. Some of you understand what I have just stated ... Others may be still wrestling with this concept. Please bare your heart in this matter as I continue to open this moment to a glimmer of light that always shines for those who have opened their hearts to the matter of Faith in Christ.

Now ... There will always be a way that seems "right" unto a man, though the end of that way is absolute eternal separation. God's way, Jesus, leads to eternal life ... What is the other alternative?

Now ... "Now is the accepted time, today is the day of Salvation, If you hear his voice harden not your heart!" Why on earth would a man, who so desperately needs God, provoke Him by insisting that the death of God's own Son wasn't enough to satisfy the righteous mandates concerning the wages of sin?

Now ... There is One Way, and only One way that brings the declaration of justification from the lips of God. That declaration's power and authority was settled on the cruel cross of Jesus and signed, sealed and delivered by His Resurrection. That once for ALL payment brought the justification that covers, completely, the sins of men. THERE IS NO OTHER WAY!

Aside from a false perception that everything will be ok ...

Without Him:

We are a destitute and shallow representation of life ...

We are a naked, bloody, aborted child ...

We are tossed cruelly into spiritual emptiness; still attached to the rotting placenta of our water birth that starts us on our perilous journey to death.

All we have earned, obtained and amassed will be left to others as our carcass, though potentially prepared in loving care ... Will be placed in box, the lid will be closed and our remains will be lowered into a cold dark hole where dust that once breathed will turn back into breathless dust.

Proof of our fallen-ness (which will be with us in spite of the miracle of salvation) is "that tendency" for every one of us to fail, fall, curse and blame even though ... We are His. The greatest gift that God has given us in the midst of our "Meltdown Moments" is Jesus, and in Him is found the security of His "New Covenant by His Blood" with us that puts us under the responsible covering of His wings ... Not only when we feel strong but in our moments of shameful exposure, undefended vulnerability, provocative indecency, and improper behavior that leaves us naked in our willful self sufficiency.

Read through Ezekiel 16 -- it is a long passage -- if you can bear with the crushing mirror images of Israel and our potential personal rebellion as the Church ... And in the end we will see "where sin abounds, Grace does much more abound." Here is a pivotal verse to keep in our hearts...

Ezekiel 16:8 - "Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I swear unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine."

Look deep into this -- God, in His unapproachable holiness, had all the right to pass us by ... But He looked upon us in our breach and decided for our eternal good ... It was our time of His Love; He spread His wings over us, covering our undefended shameful exposure: He adjured us and Covenanted with us and we became His.

Amazing Love! how can it be... that Thou, my God, wouldst die for me?

HLFA,

Jeff

Live 1

"And as for thy nativity, in the day that thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. None eye pitied thee, to do any of these unto thee, to have compassion upon thee; but thou wast cast out in the open field, to the loathing of thy person, in the day that thou wast born. And when I passed by thee, and saw thee, and saw thee polluted in thine own blood, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live; yea, I said unto thee when thou wast in thy blood, Live. " Ezekiel 16:4-6

Hear His voice - "LIVE!" There are scars that can be indelibly plowed deep into our hearts by choosing any other direction than life for us and others . - Whether it be by destructive devises that we chain to our own frame on this one time journey; or whether by the power of life and death that is in our tongue ... life is shortened because of our blindness toward the character of God, instead of mandating life with our lips ... We bear the life quenching breach to our already handicapped souls caused by our self serving decisions and loveless muted communication. God looked at the literal abortion of mankind ... by man's misdirected choice for sin and Satan's insatiable desire to destroy God's creation ...and Seeing fallen man now dying in his sin -- the law said to God "Walk on, judgement is served!"

But when God passed by and saw us filthy, abandoned, unloved and struggling in the fading power of our own blood: God sent His only begotten Son, sheltered in a virgins womb ... To be born into the risk of eminent rejection, torture and death ... Only to live and share life ... Just to die in mankind's place by suffering the timely "death birth" of Grace ... Being found in "His own life blood ... spilt on a cruel cross ... in the field of man's wicked decisions. Jesus was God's seeing, and God's Word to us "Live!"

As He became the satisfying payment for sin and salvation for all who believe. Three days later the Father said "Live!" And Jesus was raised from the tomb to give us life eternal, and the power to share the message of Life forever in Him. Now ... Does your life speak ... "Live!"

Such a joyful event, or at least it was supposed to be. Our eyes had to be deceiving us; we were pretty exhausted... After hours of a strangely surreal season of labor: A little one was delivered to the care of this world ... We still distantly remember the words that fell out of our stammering lips as our minds were anesthetized by what we were now facing. "Doc you can fix that, can't you?" ... We were greeted with the silent tears of the attendants; and immediately we were beginning to realize that the moments to follow were totally out of our control: 

... Unrequited arms longing to hold,

... glazed eyes seeing things that could not be fixed,

... ears longing to ear a cry, but there was no normal cry,

... and strangers were taking charge of the situation, only giving us limited information that made the longing, the ache, and the severing even more devastating.

O Justin we miss you, but we will see you again ... Totally whole.

Almost 670 miles away, and so many years later: this week... A family of friends have walked though the delivery of a little princess who needed protection (in the safety of a loving womb) from a world that would sooner see her terminated; ...because on this side of Heaven there would be no medical cure.

The princess' Mommy knew that her womb was the only thing between life and death . The princess' Mommy bravely chose Life for her little visitor. Isabel, O Isabel - Psalm 23 to Psalm 26 early morning reading with a dive in to Psalm 139. Such a short but much needed visit of Heaven's love ... Just as we have the memory of Justin's little hand not wanting to let go of the most familiar heart beat in the universe, his mother... So the memory of hand hugs and seeing time with you, Isabel, ... will be with us and your family until they see you again in Glory. Isabel is Home with Jesus ... Isabel is totally whole.

"But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things that God hath prepared for them that love Him." I Corinthians 2:9 ---

"For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside Thee, what He hath prepared for him that waiteth for Him. " Isaiah 64:4

On this side of Heaven there will be tears ... But He has every one of these!

Never take for granted the little visitors that God loans to us as parents ... We have no idea of the duration of that loan. We must always speak love and life into that little one. Heaven should be rejoicing daily because of the way we share eternity with our children.

24 coins today ... If you get to spend them, invest in eternal Love.

HLFA,

Jeff

Dedicated to the Mothers who will never forget.

Dedicated to those whose tears have been the bulk of the investment.

God Bless you!

He sees us "In His Blood" and says "Live!"

Why? ... Not "Why!"

No doubt the ache of life can close in on us to the point where it becomes very personal, and at times ...down right embarrassing. Life on this side of Heaven can deal some harsh blows to our flesh that cripple us and cause to cower from the gaze of mankind. In those moments ... all we want to do is lock the door, pull down the shades and bury ourselves in the noncritical nature of sleep; but even sleep can flee from us as we struggle from one troubled dream sequence to another. There seems to be no relief and definitely no notable answers to our impertinent and impatient prayers. And we struggle on unnecessarily because of a "question" that we are told not to ask ... Even to the point where we are led to believe it may be a sin to ask.

That type of day had come to me; oh but not all of a sudden. The pain had being poking and jabbing at my frame for some time almost to the point of in-concealable debilitation. As the first dull light of this particular day was trying to poke through the voids in my dark window coverings, I was conscious of my faltering movements that were highlighted by these invading rays of judgment. Each piercing beam felt like a cruel prison spotlight that illuminated the embarrassing changes that were now chained to my mortal frame. "Nobody can see me like this!" I muttered hopelessly, "I am so worthless!" The negative self fulfilling prophesies were beginning to choke any resolve for Hope and forward movement ... When out of the corner of the room came a Voice that shattered the gloom -- and all it said was "Let not!" (My heart, though troubled, was still connected to His spirit through my times in the Word, and immediately filled in the blanks).

I stopped in my sorrowful pain, and prayed ... And prayed and prayed even more fervently ... Then I stopped. The air around was dead still almost gloating in a symphony of "nothing" to subject my faith to even more abuse, AND RIGHT THEN ... NOTHING!

Still there was no immediate relief, and just I was going to reflexively begin the complaining from my overwhelming feeling of abandonment -- the Voice whispered strange a distant hope as it said clearly ... "Be Still!" So I quieted the noise that was haunting my soul and waited before Him. I had a question that was being held back by fear and by the keepers of my voice. The fear had tentacled its way into my prayers because of the curses placed on "the asking of this question" by disenchanted or disconnected teachers. These individuals have passed on their biased reasoning not because of the truth of God's Word but potentially because of the overshadowing of a disappointing event where they may have "skied" this question but failed to wait on earth for the answer. Some of these teachers may have come to where I was and because of the same erroneous teaching handed to them also ... failed to find what they truly needed in that moment because they would not ask that vital question.

The Voice came again and broke the chains of fear that were holding back that question - "Fear not ... Ask!"

So I did.

"WHY?"

... Nothing happened, I wasn't struck down but I wasn't raised up ...but the power of needing to hear the voice again caused me to wait ... In my waiting, the voice spoke again and said "My God, my God ... Why hast Thou forsaken me?" ... It was quiet again and I was left with Jesus asking "Why?"... Quiet a little longer I realized that I was left with what I was really needing ...to know Him.

Psalm 20:1-3 - "The Lord hear the in the day of trouble; the Name of the God of Jacob defend thee; send help from the sanctuary, and strengthen thee out of Zion; remember all thy offerings, and accept thy burnt offerings."

Let's break down this blessed admonition from the heart God through of Psalmist, not in terms of "If God is with me?" Because of Jesus ... Let's look at it in light of amazing revealed truth - "Emmanuel" God with us ... in answer to a need to be freed from covetousness "I will never leave thee nor forsake thee!" Hear the truth for believers "He is with us, and in us and will work through us" ... Believe!

Now to Psalm 20:1-3 to open as a firmer anchor for our souls: "The LORD is hearing you, right now in whatever is perplexing you, His Name is your defense as He is your defender; His help will be an extension (He is always reaching help to you and He will not pull back) of His personal time that you come apart with Him (a holy place where you hold nothing back from Him because His love will cast out all fear), He is actively present bringing strength from these Parched Places that call for the water of His Word (personally, read afresh and drink deeply). He does not cast off your gifts of love to the sea of forgetfulness - He remembers all of our attempts to love Him; and He extravagantly anoints the sacrifices that we let Him utterly consume."

Give the dark moments of "Why?" willingly to Him, and wait as you ask why ... He will pull you closer in His everlasting arms.

Don't just say "Why!" ; And walk away totally crushed.

His Word + A crushing moment + a Why + a wait = His answers of love from His Word.

Isaiah 40:31

HLFA,

Jeff

"Starlock's" Now Open

Now the Story begins: "Starlock's" , a Time to get real!"

I was way too thirsty for this time of the morning; BUT the bonus... The hands of the clock said "Coffee? Go for it!". There was a new Café in town, and with the strange reviews in the media, I was dying to check it out ... ("Starlock's" who were they kidding with this type of cloning?) ... AND THEY HAD A DRIVE THROUGH SERVICE ... My kind of place!

Approaching the place made me do a double take - WOW ... Retro 60s? The drive through had a large warning sign "Extremely restrictive passage ... What? As my vehicle entered the drive way ... I realized that, they were not kidding! Both right and left tires of my car were being challenged by the narrow space (I thought, hey ...they should have had a car wash hook-up, wow!) Somehow I did manage to make it to the call box ... (what in the world)????

A big green button was staring me right in the face, and right above it was a tattered speaker that was labeled "Push, Hold, Talk and Release"; I really wish I had read that before I started yelling at the box.

"OK" ... "Green button pushed" - "I would like a large high test with 2 creams and 7 seconds of honey please!" I released the button and waited, and waited, and waited, and waited ... Just as I was about to push and yell again, the speaker crackled with some extremely inaudible noises ... that carried an irritating voice of sort, that quickly spoke some non-comprehensive gibberish language that I think was repeating my order, and then it said something that sounded like: "OK - pull up to the window!" So I did.

Driving another precarious distance and almost scrunching up to the window ... I waited for someone to come to take my money and give me my coffee. Something was a little strange, it almost looked as if there was no way for the window to swing nor to slide open ... Hmmmm?? But still I waited; and waited; and waited, and waited ... BUT No attendant. Man this was starting to rub me the wrong way, so I squeezed my car out of that chute-like drive-thru, and parked it in their ridiculously spacious, but empty parking lot. ???  With my car securely locked behind me, I ventured into the doors of this strange but welcoming café. (Weird ... Really ... But weirdly familiar.)

Wow...Upon entering, I still can't describe the comfort of the aroma that caressed my face, and O the aching that the aroma brought to my senses! I just had to get a sip of whatever was brewing, it smelled better than the fondest memories of "Home!" ... AND Bonus, a cup of this would be mine, ... and soon ... I had placed my order! Right! Right??

I Walked up to the counter with enough verve that my gestures were loudly saying, "Hey, I am here ...I AM HERE! ME, MYSELF and I, Where is MY order? ... MY ORDER!"

And just as I was about to verbalized that very sentiment or something of that essence, I found myself futilely staring into a mirror with my reflection staring back at me. Awkward! I saw myself with the most arrogant of facial expressions; and I stopped short of making my verbal announcement.

Stunned as I was; I clearly heard a small ... but deep ... confidently, comfortable voice. It spoke from a small corner table (that I hadn't even noticed in my "puffed up" - "I'm gonna have it my way", royal entrance into the café). And the voice said "It has that wonderful effect on all who stand there!" "Kinda catches us at our best, don't you think?"

Although I hadn't turned yet to see from whom the voice was coming; I felt like the individual talking had access to my deepest thoughts, and almost welcoming them without malice or judgement??

"Too much of a hurry?" ...

"Too many burdens?" ...

"Oh, so many distractions!" ...

"Far too much confusion about what is really important" ...

"Gotta run, can't be late!" ...

"Feeling so purposeless and bearing such secret pain!"

When I turned to see the vessel that was conveying this Voice of Reason: The image that came into view was strangely familiar, though I was quite sure we had never met(at least not like this). ... And as I was sure that I knew that voice ... And my senses were about to rope in a matching description of this familiar stranger to name Him ... Just as He began to speak with me again ...

"What is it that you really want?"

"What is truly important that you must have it right now?"

"What do you really want out this life that you are living?"

I was trying not to let my mouth go with what my smart-Alec mind was thinking ... When He sat up in His chair and spoke as if He was reading my heart ...like it was an open book ... As He spoke with a trust for me that I never had felt before, and said...

"You want to snap back with ...'all I want is coffee, and I ain't got time for this!' ... Don't you? But at the start of every day, you sigh with the feeling that there is so much more!" "Yes, you may have thought that all you needed was a quick coffee-like picker upper, but you know that what you really desired was time with Me."

I was fully captivated ...This intriguingly familiar stranger gestured for me to take a seat near Him; and I was overcome with the feeling: That as a Father longing for the nearness of a son... So, He was beckoning me; and I was compelled to sit with Him.

With love in His eyes, we quietly shared the sound of the clock's ticking that was pounding away at my "gotta git r done" fibrous character, as He reached out His hand for my shoulder, and consoled my innermost being as he said,

"Your coffee is now ready, please take it and run ... I have it covered... I will be waiting here for you ... tomorrow."

"Slow down, don't move so fast ... Just a little earlier, let's make these moments last. Tomorrow; I really want to spend some time with you!"

I climbed back into my car to head into my day; but that moment had changed my life's desires. I was determined to get to "Starlock's" earlier everyday ... For there The Father waited for me. If He was willing to wait, so He could unlock the stars of His love for me, I would long to be there.

"As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness." Psalm 17:15

"The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament show His handiwork." Psalm 19:1 (Savor the aroma of the whole Psalm, drink it into your life).

HLFA,

Jeff

When we pray something is happening between Heaven and Earth. (Luke 11).

Prayer; above miracles and miraculous events challenged the Apostles ... They sensed it was the key connection... {to learn to pray was the only thing that the disciples asked for in fervor ...teach us to pray "like you" do}

Prayer is something we can all continue to learn. Matthew 6:9-13 -- And Jesus taught them how he prayed:

Father, our Daddy, You are so different ...

You are Holy; and let Your Kingdom grow in us ...

Here is our needs. As we wait keep us from being pulled away from You

for ...Yours is the Kingdom, the Power and the Glory...for ever Amen.

Prayer is not a performance ... It is an opportunity to be real before God.

Pray must incorporate "Importunity" ... A Shameless persistence to ask, seek and knock ...

When we pray, let us pray with persistence.

Ask...Seek(because His answer is going to be bigger) ...Knock... We are at His Door.

Prayer is not a single transaction...but a continued conversation.

Prayer is an invitation to enter into an intimacy that opens our hearts to knowing Him, our Father. "Spending time with God" is to be treasured about all else.

Every thing you want is behind the Door... Stay with Him in the intimate opening of that Door.

He will unlock the door to the vast expanse of His provision ... As the stars sing out there is "no limit" to His love for us.  Dedicated to Pastor Lawrence - CFCOG - Grand Point Church

Where is There?

One day in the back seat of my daughter's car, riding with my Granddaughter strapped in her Car seat (she was facing backwards of course), we looking at cows, trucks, tractors, horses that we found scattered throughout our cross country drive from her home to ours. In the process of our "excited to discover" conversation on the drive, I would say.. "Look over there at the cows sleeping," she would retort as she looked in the opposite direction "Over there?" And she would giggle as I would point and say "No, over there". She would continue to look in the opposite direction and repeat my words "No, over there". Or "No, over here." --- until I would look her square in the face and say "Where is there?" Her answer was interesting " My there is here!" Again pointing and looking the opposite direction.

Sometimes, I get the feeling that our wandering flesh-fueled distractions keep us from clearly and directly studying the "Where is there" that God's Spirit tries to lead, guide and direct the focus of our attention. And rightly so in our world... because even the mention of God says to most "The Law ... Obey or else"; and that harsh vision, though gloriously above our opinions, seems to bring in a cloud of separation over our plans for life. We see God as the "Big Eternal Party Pooper" Who gets His heavenly kicks out of putting the "Kibosh" on our ideas of fun.

But if we would allow His Truth to be opened and availed to us while we offer the sacrifices of righteousness - A broken and contrite heart, mind and spirit - we would be able to experience the refreshing, life changing wind of the Spirit that revitalizes the soul so we can focus on His ... "Where is there?"

Fundamentally true... The most in most important "where" can be stated as:

"Where" is where He is.The "there" is what our hearts discover when we are "where" He is.

Life of true Liberty -  Freeborn - no longer a slave... love is the new law.

"Now the Lord is that Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord." 2 Corinthians 3:17,18

Life of a Home with Him - Heaven is our Home in Christ

"And if go, and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you unto myself, that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14:3

As we look at our nation today the distractions have overwhelmed us to the point that each of us needs to stop and return to His Where ... Daily. The closer we are in our walk with Him - the more we will realize that He is our value and He positions us as His priceless possession ... Allowing His likeness to become more and more the image that those around us perceive. This brings the validity there to the words of hope that we can have the privilege to deliver.

Here is some wisdom from the Word to lead us on:

2 Chronicles 7:12-15 - "And the LORD appeared unto Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people. If My people, which are called by My name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will II hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attend the prayer that is made in this place."

Our value is not measured by any personal achievements, self-sacrificial acts, amassed fortune, righteous exposition, or earned position; likewise we are not devalued by our foolish choices, our reflexive fears, nor our debilitating scars caused by our solo acts of stubbornness to do and to be. Oh that we would be reflexively humbled by being called by His Name, His Fame and His Word.

For by Grace we are saved as His through Faith in Him. Now this positions us in the world with a power that transcends all the wickedness and hate that can be thrown our way. We do not have to be controlled by the muting of mediocrity, the numbing of apathy nor the brow beating of the status quo; we belong to the King. Our power is founded in the Perfect Love that comes from Above. Our greatest duty is to become living sacrifices ... Daily being that passive vessel that allows Him to pour through us -His active, life changing Spirit of Love.

Proverbs 10:12 - "Hatred stirs up strifes; but love covers all sin." -- Hatred arouses and constantly incites contention; but love covers with a new clothing ...that conceals from harm and overwhelmingly protects from all transgressions. This clothing is found in God's provision of forgiveness as he removes the incident, the guilt and the punishment via an offering of an overwhelming covering of Christ's Blood...

Where is there?

He is where, and there we will find Him - all in all, our everything!

Hey ... much ground covered, but I love you or you wouldn't be getting this message. And if you are reading it ... Thank you!

HLFA,

Jeff

Take the Stage

To Every Generation: "There is someone coming after you!"

"As the fog was lifting, I found that I had wandered to the edge of a brilliantly lit stage with a beckoning curtain call that filled me with a strong sense of self awareness and fearful resolute responsibility ... I heard the call for me! ..But I, the Scarlet Sinner, what offering would I have on the Stage of Men that could change the course of posterity and sway the hearts coming after me to open wide their floodgates to the outpouring Love from above?"

                                                                                     Exert from the Scarlet Sinner.

"Hamlet: To be, or not to be-- that is the question: Whether 'this nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune or to take arms against a sea of troubles.." William Shakespeare

We will all come upon the stage of men, we will all make our appearance in history, we will all become and be, we will all have our time of performance. Consequently ... We all strive on some level for purpose, and we all want to be appreciated and thought of with worth. Most of us will learn our manner of acting on the stage of life by watching others who have taken the stage before us, and rightly so. Taking the stage and earning a hearing is an achievement in itself.

Now, there is no evil in choosing a pattern that has made it to the stage and has left a good impression on us. Many good leaders are among us and have gone before us ...but... Warning: The image before us may be just a mirage without the power connection of an eternal source off stage. Be careful, there are patterns of performance that publicly appear Godly but in private are flawed by a secret animosity towards the Words and Presence of God.

(Jesus is that "off stage" eternal connection to true life).

For the sake of others looking on to you for a pattern of performance on the stage of life, when you are unseen... study the person of Jesus Christ through His Word, the Bible, and through intimate fellowship in prayer with Him. This is the "off stage" connection we all need so that there is true power on the stage of men and not just hype.

We will mimic someone, consequently; mimic Jesus.

"Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given Himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savour." Ephesians 5:1,2

2018 - LIVE LIFE FULLY ENGAGED WITH JESUS - OFF-STAGE AND ON-STAGE... MAKE A LASTING LOVE DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES WHO ARE LOOKING ON!

HLFA,

Jeff

Someone is Looking On

A New Year is at our door... A new opportunity, for a second chance... For all! O by the way, every new moment, every new breath is a fresh opportunity to leave the past behind, and walk aligned with the thinking of God. O to Walk with God aware of His full Blessings!

It all starts with a total reliance on God's Word -- it has been said: "God says it, that should settle it!" Many of us read only the scripture that confirms our life style and keeps us from the discomfort of knowing that God may be saying something contrary to our liking. Because of willful, addictive choices, we find ourselves at a growing distance from the Word of God (rarely will we read it, and if we know it is being read, we tune it out). This is intensified as stronger desires for things that we know are "wrong" over take us. Instead of hi-lighting the scripture that destines good change and receiving it, we avoid it like the plague, creating a black sharpie note in our minds that says "note to self: avoid this truth".

Here is one of those verses that are very unpopular with generations that seek to be anesthetized on the Eve of a New Year, and long to impair their senses all in the name of celebrating:

"And be not drunk with wine wherein is excess, but be filled with the Spirit." Ephesians 5:18

(Go ahead ... Read it again ... Carefully ... I double dog dare you!)

Here is the most pitiful statement that I have heard from pulpits lately - The Bible doesn't ever say "don't drink". How stupid are we? Remember this: Most stupidity is self inflicted by choices that run against the grain of wisdom.

(By the way: This chapter in Ephesians is an amazing attempt by God to give us every opportunity to break the chains of addiction and be free to experience the amazing life that He has for us; but... Have we shut down the blessings as we skip the "obvious" of this verse to... do our own thing?) Step back and read this chapter, and "Be ye followers of God, as dear children" ...vs.1

How many verses does it take in Scripture to give clear direction? ONE? 

And What do we do with entire chapters and long passages that obviously stand obstinate against our choices for personal pleasure (at the expense and risk of others ... Oh yeah, that child is in the baby seat as you drive impaired... But that's ok, you can handle it.) ??

And how many ecclesiastic dances are performed behind pulpits and in fellowship groups ... fueled by "modern enlightenment conversations" --- drink vs drunk, wine, strong drink, beer, booze, spirits, "we are now more educated", better translations, spiritual liberty jabber, wiser now, we must be socially adaptive in message???? ... How many sliding notes need to be sung to tip toe around the obvious accident scene or premature addiction related death ... as we toast to another family member who may also be taken prematurely by irresponsibility ... on the part of their own self-affliction or someone else's vise ... who thought they were in control, though impaired ... THIS IS JUST WRONG!

"Alcohol-Related Deaths: An estimated 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. First being tobacco and the second just plain old bad eating and bad health habits." But these are just statistics on reported incidents -- How many of us have had family members die - and/or their lives were shortened because an addiction to alcohol and drugs? Of all people, we should be the first to stop the drink!

LET's get this one straight before we tip the cup of poison to our lips to join the party already in progress.

There are no contradictions in scripture ... Just misinterpretations and misrepresentations by fearful teachers and quietly rebellious followers ...

A clarification Ephesians 5:18 for lovers of the Word: -"Qualify your decision to be filled with the Spirit by not following a life style that is wasted on wine intoxication... Be NOT intoxicated with an alcoholic beverage wherein life is wasted, but BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT OF GOD(sorry you can't have both)"

Now the verses following Ephesians 5:18 are purposeful in the Spirit ...BUT with a "boozed slant" they are ludicrous - Try to sing Psalms, Hymns and Spiritual Songs that come from a pure melody of unity of heart and spirit while inebriated. Try truly loving in submission while impaired. Booze is the best ingredient for true love, and great at keeping marriages together. Beer and wine is a great ingredient for raising obedient drunken children... Mom and Dad did it so it must be ok, they are Christians, right? Drunken parents never scar their abused children. Drunken employees are always the best workers, and booze keeps workplace accidents to a minimum. AND drunken, disrespectful employers make great leaders and create good work environments. And of course - Drunks are the best citizens and church members... DO YOU SEE ANYTHING OBSCENELY SAD and STUPID ABOUT BOOZE?

Let's begin 2018 by listening to God and leaving disobedience behind.

Let's Follow God as dear children.

Let's leave the "stupid" behind and move forward into the full blessings of God.

"Trust and obey for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey."

You may sense you are ok with a drink or two ... but trust me(or Him) ... you are the best without it.

Happy New Year -- Welcome prayerfully - 2018!

Someone is Looking On!

HLFA,

Jeff

"Pray-in" the New Year, don't "party-in" the New Year... Break the Chain!!

Do you want to see?

I don't think we want to "really see" sometimes ... I think we would sooner choose blindness of the mind than have our souls truly set on fire by the revelation of truth. The sum of earth bound mankind would rather have their "childlike attributes" tickled by tales of fairies and dwarves that magically drizzle blessings and miracles in their passing on good little boys and girls, than to have their perception challenged by the glimpses of glory that flash from Heaven like life changing solar flares of Grace's story unfolding. As we grow older we realize that we have built our taste for magic on the obscenely erroneous tales from the imaginations of mere mortals rather than diving in to the lasting riches of glory found in the eternal words of scripture.

I am not asking us to turn off the wide-eyed wonder of a child ... But I am urging us to build our excitement and anticipation for the miraculous on more than just twinkling lights, glittering balls, tinsel, bows and wrapping paper; let's fasten our hearts on the amazing mystical character of God: who loved the unlovely enough to hold back the horrendous destructive tide of righteous judgment by sending the most unexpected rescue ... "A babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger".

The story actually started in the eons of eternity ... Long before the earth was ever formed ... Long before a peaceful garden was disturbed by the selfish and deadly choices of the crown of God's creation. The Father, Son and Spirit ... Elohim ... Purposed eternal love, engaged the purest wisdom, and launched Mercy, Grace and Truth into action. For mankind needed a rescue.

NOW ... Allow me to fast forward with commentary that draws cool flowing refreshment from The healing well of God's Word:

"And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name as Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, "Hail, thou art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women." And when she saw him she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be. And the Angel said unto her, " Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God." "And behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and thou shalt call His name JESUS." "He shall be great, and shall be called Son of the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto Him the throne of his father David." " And He shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of His kingdom there shall be no end". Luke 1:26-33

Imagination time: Years have come and gone, generations have come and then passed with the winds of time. Rebellion is still the way of life for most and the devoted few are all but gone. The Shofar has blown every year, to begin every day, but for the Sabbath, in the month of Elul. The cry of repentance and the desire for forgiveness has been raised to the Highest. But only now at the intersection of the lives of these conquering earthly kingdoms is there an almost oppressive feeling that something is about to happen.

A little one, a virgin ... unseen in her devotion ... has her world turned upside down when a Mighty Heavenly Warrior delivers a message the will cause the ages to pivot in an eternal decision. She chose to be the handmaid of God at the risk of social shunning and possible death. Now all the grace and glory of the ages is packed into a stealthy plan of attack on the kingdom of darkness. And at the time appointed Light will spring on an unsuspecting enemy... this Light will rescue the captives of darkness.

Now...Caesar Augustus... decreed that all the world should be "taxed" ... Pay to play census. Oh the arrogance of worldly kings -- tax "all the world" as if it was his. God uses the arrogance of wickedness to pull the final details of the plans of eternity together ... All the while the earthly leaders are blinded by their own ambitions.

After an approximately 100 miles, 8-10 day journey, "Great with Child", no room in the inn, bedding down in a cave-like stable ... A Star appears, a small baby's cry is heard, Angels announce the event to shepherds ... The shepherd worship ... And the rescue begins in a feed trough and ends up at an empty tomb.

Ages later, although the hype of materialism does a pretty good job of distorting the message of hope, the "Spirit's Song of a Soul Set Free" is unstoppable. Hearts still held at the gate of the spiritual jail cells are waiting to be set free. Jesus is still availing the rescue ... With a small broken prayer to trust Him, Heaven is opened even to the vilest of sinners. Christmas has come.

It is 2017 - and toward the end of our Elul ... forgiveness is available, where will your heart focus for the new year coming?

HLFA,

Jeff

Reference Section for the Studious:

Sixth month - "Elul" - the Shofar is blown on the first day and everyday day after except for the Sabbaths of this month until Rash Hashanah, first day of the following month, beginning of the Jewish New Year. During Elul - Psalm 27 was a focus as well as prayers for forgiveness-- The Shofar (Rams Horn) would blow calling men to "make a noise" Call all to Repentance(August-September time frame). Finding a Tender Heart.

Angel - Messenger one who is sent, envoy - Fit to deliver the seriousness of the message.

Gabriel - Warrior, Man of God - Forged to show strength.

Galilee - Circuit, turning and returning - Following a well worn path.

Nazareth - the guarded one - 100 miles from Bethlehem - Fending off rivals.

Virgin - marriage able, sexually pure woman or man - Found in God's favor.

Joseph - "Let him add" - increase - Fulfilling, submissively, the prophetic increase.

House of David - Dwelling of the Beloved - Following divine promise.

Mary - "their rebellion" - Found faith in the midst of the noise.

Lord - "Kurios" - supreme authority, ruler - Fact of final decision.

Jesus - "Jehovah is Salvation" - Face of God's Grace and Mercy with men.

Son of the Highest - Full eternal connection and privilege as The Son of the Most High God.

Father David - Father of the genetic line of the Beloved.

House of Jacob - the Dwelling of the Supplanter... forcefully opens salvation to all.

Beloved...

Beloved...O the vastness of the tearing chasm that is created in my heart when I see you struggle so. My tears veil the encouraging rays of the sun just as if a massive relentless storm was upon us. Your tears swell in a caldron of ever increasing sadness that reflects the sorrow of your countenance upon the gray sky's closing of Heaven above.

Beloved ... And, O I hear you. I truly hear you... As your words, driven by pain, cut away at the very fiber of my connected soul; and my tender Spirit, that perfectly interprets your groaning so, only magnifies your biting accusations to my hurt, while the echo of them ravages your spirit even more. Word by word ...you are shattering your hope way beyond contrite, and the roaring truth of your situation lays naked your affliction before all gazers (or so you think, and to your constant embarrassment).

Beloved... I feel every broken and shattered chord of your rain dove song. You sing as one that feels they have lost all ability to hear My voice of promise, touting that the promises are there for all others "but not for you." I watch as you fall into the restless sleep of the abandoned pilgrim.

THIS MOMENT WILL VISIT US ALL ... But be still in the night and wait for the Light of His love, His Song in the Night Season ... Be still and know that He is God, and with this knowing begin to praise and bless the Lord, who has not left you no matter how harsh your disappointment was with Him in your Season of Affliction.

In a season of intense abandon and unearthly suffering, Jesus cried ..."My God, my God ... Why hast Thou forsaken me?" But later in His suffering Jesus signed ... "Into Thy hands I commit my spirit." and cried "It is Finished!"

Psalm 16:10, 11 - "For Thou wilt not leave my soul in hell, neither wilt Thou suffer Thine holy one to see corruption. Thou wilt show me the path of life: in Thy presence is fullness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures evermore."

Let the truth in the midst of the Psalm soak our soul ...

Jesus: Will not leave us in a place of no return,

He not leave us without the praise of God,

He will not send us to be punished with the wicked,

He will not totally abandon us, nor exile us...

No matter how far sin degrades us... He still holds us in priceless valuation.

In Christ ... We are His "separated" "praised" "possessions"

insomuch that we will never see the pit of destruction ...

We will never experience the grave of the lost ...

He took our Hell on Him, so that we can experience the fullness of His Joy and His "evermore" pleasures.

Don't let pain grind lies into your soul that cause you to hesitate trusting God... You are His Beloved!

He is calling your name... Beloved!

Almost Merry Christmas 2017!!

HLFA,

Jeff

Deactivation Guaranteed!

The Ecclesiastes Life under the sun, under the Heaven ... Life without any eternal perspective ... Life without a Door of Salvation ... Life with eyelids turned upward ... Even when this living is synchronized with a personal righteous endeavor and a sacrificial attitude ... If it is but a "life under the sun", and NOT LIFE "IN THE FAITH OF THE SON" ... It is vanity. It is uselessly wasted.

Never is there a guaranty of the next heart beat ... Never is there signed certification of immunity without incident ... Never a promise for tomorrow... Sometimes the normal brings with it a life threatening monster that swings the unseen and unwarned sting of death; and we are gone. And at that moment all the most advanced security measures, the most meticulously studied health propositions are found to be anemic. Any accumulated prestige, all the well gathered and garnered wealth and possessions, and all the best laid steps to reaching our dreams ... Deactivated and left behind!

"Or ever the silver cord be loosed, or the golden bowl be broken, or the pitcher be broken at the fountain, or the wheel be broken at the cistern." Ecclesiastes 12:6 " Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return unto God who gave it." Ecclesiastes 12:7

... Why would Solomon paint the event that can deactivate man from life under the sun in such a poetic way? I truly think that if you take the time to read Ecclesiastes you will see "The Preacher" (every once in a while) allows the curtains of eternity to peek open momentarily by the wisp the Spirit's wind so that we would desire Heaven's perspective and not our own temporal tunnel vision.

"In God's hand" ... All positions, all possessions, all things related to success and failure, all information gathered for wisdom and foolishness ... Are in His hands. It is revealed that LOVE is also "in His hands" and stands out as something we can't begin to muster up or earn in a lifetime ... Real Love is in His hands. Does that threaten us?

He who fashioned us in His own image ... Knows what is best and is directed by His great love for us, to us and through us. If we are threatened, check to verify our connection."It is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment" ... Yes, there is a deactivation point for every thing on this side of Heaven... But just as sure as Winter buries the death of Fall ... Spring has always ushered in new life and hope of Summer.

If we hear the Voice of the Spirit in this entire matter, we will know that "in Christ", our Fall here may cause a Winter for those mourning around our shell that is left behind ... under the sun; but for those in the Son ... They rejoice in the Hope that We already have been ushered into the eternal Season of the Son.

"In His Hands" is not a Holy terror to those trusting... but an awe filled reverence ... So fear! - Live in awesome respect for - God; and keep, trust, guard and give life to His commands ... for they are His Love directions and life appointments that allow us to have Heaven opened to the eyes of our hearts. Doing is not always keeping (think about it). The Keeping is guarding within the assessment that the value is precious and priceless.

"Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and "keep" His Commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be bad." Ecclesiastes 12: 13, 14

Without Jesus ... There is no Way, No Truth and No Life and no Heaven ... And This brief stint on this terrestrial ball is the vanity of all vanities. Deactivation without Him is eternal death in a Devil's Hell. Why would we not choose to stand in awe and trust of His sacrifice that opens Eternity for you and me?

Deactivation here ... Reset ... Reactivation There ... Only in Christ.

HLFA,

Jeff