The Obvious and The Owl

Psalm 16:5 - "The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot." 

Reflect on this: (The LORD is the "exact accounting" of the revealed obvious portion given to me(He is my everything), and the compressed but unseen reckoned measure; He grasps my way: holding me up to support my choosing, supporting me for the things chosen for me, and keeping me for the result of the choices). 

The Math of Heaven is amazingly in our favor, at all times. He has given us all things; and all things are within our reach, are for our benefit, tailored for us, and are kept safe (from moth, rust and thieves) in His Love Repository. "The LORD is the portion (all things) of mine inheritance (the seen allotment)" And "The LORD is the portion of my cup (the unseen, pressed down, "owl" requisitioning)." 

"All things" = "the realized/seen daily provision x gratitude" + "unseen cup, the owl who hunts in the night, the secret thoughts of the heart x a passionate devotion for Him". 

Take a little bit of time with this. The true power and blessing of our life comes from two sources: 

1. A Delightful Gratitude for the Obvious Blessings of God - The Inheritance. 

2. A Devotional Passion for the Secret Time with Him - The Cup (the Owl). 

The amazing thing ... In our day, the LORD is drawing us to the treasure chest of true completeness - true Shalom, true wholeness... that is found only in Him.

Jeremiah 11 - has been a universal draw as a promise for prosperity or success from many sources, but the true message has been garbled by our almost covetous need for tangible wealth and "stuff" or a desire to be rid of symptomatic pain and distress. True Shalom is not found in the obvious, but always recognize that the obvious blessings of God need to be greeted with a delight filled gratitude. That is only half of the road less traveled. 

While pondering a partial sign along the road that appeared to say "For I know the thought that I have purposed for you, thoughts of Prosperity ..." The car spun around the corner of a remote highway before my Father-n-Law could catch the Scripture reference ... But just up the road in the dark, stood an owl - just glaring at him as swerved by him. An owl, standing in the middle of the road - just glaring at him. He needed to put this together. 

Upon arriving home he searched for the scripture, but this was what he found contrary to the modern day tout for riches : Jeremiah 29:11, 12, 13 - "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." 

After this study, in his travels he found more and more people that he would share Jeremiah 29:11 with, would tell him "That is our verse!" Or "We have kept that as a promise!" ... And the scripture was making connections with other believers; ... But what about the Owl? 

Father's Day 2018 - Dad and I collided in a study and when he heard the word OWL connected with a devotion to God in the secret times. He opened his heart to the dire importance of the Owl ... The passionate desire to seek the LORD in the secret times where the only eyes that would see him would be God's eyes. He learned that for the sake of all the children looking up to him ... Knowing Jesus would have to be his passion in the secret instead of ungodly vises. Wow what a revelation! 

Note: the Hebrew word for "CUP" in Psalm 16:5 is also translated "owl" ... Think about an owl: Silent in its flying, nocturnal in its hunt, focused in hunting the object of its unseen desire ... Though thought of as unclean. A sinner, normally bent to searching for the forbidden pleasures of sin in the dark, NOW saved by grace...can find that sin will lose its grip on him if the choices made in secret are choices made in a passionate desire to know Jesus. 

Dads and Moms - for the sake of the Children - seek Jesus in the secret ... Remember the Owl! 

Be Grateful for God's obvious blessings and passionate about knowing Him in secret; 

Shalom will grow within and around you. 

HLFA, 

Jeff

Inner Kingdom

As the slats on the blinds were opened, and the morning sun began to filter into the room -- I began to rejoice in the Greater Light: "Hey...I love you!" Came out of me almost reflexively and then the discussion began; "There is no remaining curse where You are, correct? You loved me first, and I love you. There is nothing in Heaven or in the Earth that can separate me from Your Love. Why do I have to ache so much ... because the battle of the "Land of the Leb" is still facing me today?

Please let the battle diminish under the Royal power of Your mighty presence. Amen.

Psalm 10:16-18 "The LORD is King for ever and ever: the heathen are perished out of his land. LORD," 

(O that my "heathen reflexes" would perish out of my inner land) 

"Thou hast heard the desire of the humble: Thou wilt prepare their heart," 

(I am leaning heavily and humbly on You to prepare the Land of my heart) 

"Thou wilt cause thine ear to hear: To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of earth may no more oppress."

(My children are depending on my Heavenly connection to banish the oppression of the "man of the earth" - that old nature, in the preparation of my land. - MY Sin has a way of making my children fatherless and oppressed long into their future ... But there is victory as the LORD is royally welcomed into my Throne room.)

What noble thoughts can challenge our "land of the heart" to submit the rule of this unseen kingdom to the Unseen King of Glory? Does posterity really matter to the self-absorbed and self-inflicted childless ones? Do "others" matter when we constantly grapple with our own self exaltation?

Contrary to popular belief... Loving others is not a token of the goodness of humanity; but the ability to give and to leave "lasting love" is totally dependent on the relationship we have with the God, who so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. "God is Love!" (Read 1 John 4:8,16) - So what is love without God? Not Love from Above, sorry.

Due to it still being the age of time, every gate to the inner Kingdom has it's flaw. 

- The guards of the eye gates have a tendency to catch every flicker of fantasy that shines in their direction.

- Even the eyelids have a tendency to close upward or droop earthward at the sound of eternity. - The ear gate is too closely connected to the mouth gate, especially when it comes to leaking gossip or spouting slander. 

- The nose gate has a tendency to flirt with the familiar the aroma of the forbidden; and with every strange breeze that would blow its direction it would capture the essence with gusto. 

- The keepers of the memory habitually detain the guilt and the shame that separates the land of the heart from God; while at the same time allowing the thief to come in a steal the gold and gems of promise from the treasure chest of eternity.

BUT fear not, the King is not caught unaware of the Battle we face. He is more than ready and powerfully able to step in for the rescue. His arm doesn't grow weary in delivering and His ears do not grow tired of our cries for help. But here is the reality: Without Christ we are condemned already; In Christ there is now no condemnation. BUT - Sin separates and makes us believe that God has turned a deaf ear in our direction and pulled back the rescue that could have been ours. 

SIN creates the dissonance, discord, and disconnect in the inner Kingdom of believers.It is amazing that the choices we make in secret rebellion of His word, create the words that we use to slander ourselves --Nothing breaks the heart of the Father more than to know the self inflicted anguish in the lives of His children. 

There are no ""black Sheep" in the family of God -- that is Sin's subliminal trash talk because of choices that led to feelings of judgment.. that lead inevitably lead to being "out of favor" ... Sorry but every man has the Black Sheep Syndrome, "For all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God." (Romans 3:23) It is "the bend" of the man of the earth. "But God commended His love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."(Romans 5:8).

Now as His Children, He has stated in 1 John 1:9 - "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." 

Here is a potential chain breaker -- 

- Daily, start hearing His Word

- Daily start listening to his Word

- Daily start living the Word

- Daily start sharing the Word in love and in the Power of His Spirit

- Daily rush to forgiveness and not self degradation. 

Remember - in the inner Kingdom - "The Lord is King for ever and ever!"

Let's Bow our hearts before Him.

HLFA,

Jeff

The Edge of Between

Am I the leper?...So untouchable and so unworthy to even be seen, (all that is known of me is this disruptive voice crying "unclean, unclean". Those words spread the fear ... Don't touch or you will be like me!) - there is really no space of love reserved for a leper.

My disease, which seems more assigned and appointed than real, has me longing and aching; While I hang "in between"... While I hang in "the middle" ... Between Heaven and Earth, between the living and the dead; there is a gnawing sense of needing to know that I belong; needing assurance that I am loved, and needing to know that I have worth. Oh to know the spontaneous touch of Eternal Life, and the feel of that Life being given and shared without regret, reservation or remorse. 

I see that You are heading my direction; I stand in anticipation that You will stop Your movement for me, and long enough to embrace me before moving on: And so I wait with bated breath for those everlasting arms to hold me. I wait ... Eyes closed and head bowed. You are there and honored by my waiting ... For You.

I can still smell the mysterious eternal bouquet of your garden of Grace.I can sense the refreshing cool air that flows with your presence in the moment.And still remember the youthful butterfly kisses and playful gestures of love as you encircled and engulfed me in Your Worth ... Making me feel strangely appropriated and treasured beyond my wildest dreams. Oh How I Love you, Jesus.

It was the First Love; it was so new, every fiber of my senses vibrated in sympathetic harmony to the melody of Your Song over me. Every movement of this life was in stride to stay close to you, though you were always near; although I could wander far in a split second, I could never get so far, so high, so low, so fallen ... That You were not there. You bore my shame, You washed my wounds, You anointed my scars, You ravished me, and You captured my heart. And For no other reason than Love, You held me ... For You drew me from out of my nowhere, and raptured me from Above... To be Your Beloved.

I always find myself missing You in those empty moments when my choices have been selfish and full of sorrowful tears; When parting and becoming a castaway had seemed so near, because it would have been my pitiful solution. It was in those moments that Your Longing for me seemed even stronger... in those strangely "in the middle" - "in between" moments, it was there that I bowed to the safety and closeness of the Edge of Between.

There on the Rock, the Cliff again. Safe in the Risk of All You are.There and only there, with no other place to go, with no one to turn to, no one else to trust ... All idols die ... As Jesus has us as we have Him.

Jesus is our All, and all He has ever desired to give us is ours.

Live in the Freedom of the Cliff! Stay on the Edge of Between!

Psalm 18: 2 - 

" The LORD is my rock, (the Safety of the Cliff)

and my fortress, (the Provision of the Stronghold)

and my deliverer; (the Security of His Escape)

my God, my strength, ( My God, no idols climbing this insurmountable Wall) 

in whom I will trust; (Who in my only sought after Protection)

my buckler, (My ever adjusting/adapting Defense)

and the horn of my salvation,(the obvious shining rays of my Deliverance) 

and my high tower." (My High Retreat - Vision of the Future)

I want no other ... So with the appointment of "Leper": I will be His Leper on the Edge of Between.

HLFA,

Jeff

Overcoming Eyes

As I walked in the door, there she was off in the distance scampering to come my way. Her exquisite delight that was always poured out on me, that was always so delicately shown, pulled and tugged at my heart in a way that was irresistible. The problem at this interlude, others were in the way and my attention was divided between people and communication at hand that she was momentarily lost in the crowd.

Moments later, as the meeting was proceeding with much passionate exchange, there she was ... Those eyes that were drawing me in like a powerful retractor beam. Those in the meeting could see my distraction, but could not totally capture the reason because she was so subtle in the way she positioned herself to catch my attention. Those eyes!!

I can't totally pull together the perfectly placed words to describe what was happening ... But I can tell you this: she was relentless in her approach to not only get my attention but to get into my arms. She had that childlike fear of certain characters whose mannerisms were not as approachable as others. This did create an anxiousness to her movements in the background. 

Finally I strongly and purposely motioned for her to come to me; oh yes it interrupted the meeting a bit ... But when she finally rested in the comfort of my arms, she turned on the beauty of innocence and began that tender delicate whispering of her desires. And again I was completely oblivious to my surroundings - there was nothing but me and her tender relentless pleas for my attention, my care, my time, for me.

"Delight Thyself also in the LORD, and He shall give thee the desired of thine heart." Psalm 37:4 

Don't be afraid to develop that tender, delicate, extravagant relationship with your God that reflexively grows from a grateful heart, that longs for nothing more than Him. Even more intense is this: His desire for this with you; because this "Delight", that grows in us, is a product of His desire for Us. And our knowledge, what to fearlessly ask, is the result of our growing New Kingdom nature that was gifted to us at Salvation.

Wouldn't it be awesome if our walk with Him had that childlike courageous desire to be near to Him in every moment and advent of our life? Delighting ourselves in totally Him... As He will constantly be giving us the knowledge and courage of the plea-full desires that we seek of Him.

Today, this powerful relationship is ours 

- see His purposeful and tender gestures, 

and overwhelming words of love drawing us to Him...

 As more and more He becomes all that we want.

HLFA,

Jeff

The eyes of His children overcome Him. Song of Solomon 4:9

Signify-Identify-Commit

Commitment... "I know Whom I have believed, and am persuaded ... That HE IS ABLE to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day." All is good in this statement, with the exception that the spirit of antichrist, who is already at work in this age within our culture of disobedience, and actively influencing the lukewarm sons and daughters of the Kingdom by defining commitment. Commitment .... Commitment must carry with it the self fulfilling prophesy of a strong "comfort clause". Example: "I will and am committed as long as it fits my dreams and my schedule... And always only to the advantage of my comfort." … or so they say!

The story begins:

Yes, the origin of his nationality and social occupation was sketchy at best due to the condition of his savagely ravished countenance... But there lies the open door for the touch of eternity. Though his groans of anguish had all but ceased, the presence of his suffering lay wide open to that scrutinizing gaze of all who passed by. 

Was he a ... "Tinker, trailer, soldier, sailor, rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief. Doctor, baker, fine shoe maker, wise man, madman, taxman, please ... Who's gonna tell me what to do? (to borrow a phase of scrutiny for future persona choices) then they will say that I am true... Maybe, maybe, perhaps I'll come to great success, or possible a dreadful mess." (Yardbirds - 1967)

The need for compassion and mercy was hanging over him like an unavoidable obnoxious bill board; and the silence of his unavoidable suffering was screaming like an angry madman threatening for help. This is where those in touch with eternity had opportunity for an undeniable moment to do the "God Thing". 

Note to self: 

The Pastor passed by because the handling of this individual, no doubt, would cause stains to his "dress for success" clothing, and that would raise eye brows during the timely board meeting. Too many questions must be avoided at all cost. And to take on the responsibility of caring for an individual with a potentially shady past or despicable addiction could come back to embarrass him and the church... Walk on!

The worship leader stopped, gazed for a moment, but he saw no potential for talent for his worship team. Even if he decided to carry him to safety and help the derelict, this suffering lump of humanity could turn out to be a more talented musician than he (once healed); and we wouldn't want any upstaging would we? ... Walk on!

Then came a despised guardian, an obvious stranger, definitely an outsider to the politics of the religious bureaucracy, but no stranger to compassion. In a hauntingly Eternal fashion ... He saw the man, and moved instinctively toward him. He cared immediately but gently for the wounded one and bound up the putrefying mess made by his assailants. Transporting him in the backseat of his vehicle to the nearest Emergency room, He stayed with the man until he knew he was no longer in critical condition. He made arrangements for his care in the days ahead with full surety of additional payment for any and all services rendered to help the man.

"And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence and gave it to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more when I come again, I will repay thee." Luke 10:35 [Let this soak your soul through and through- until you are willing to take the risk, spend to redeem the lost, until He comes again ... HE WILL REPAY THEE.]

O Church of Jesus Christ

Why are we so quick to turn a blind eye?

Why are we so quick to turn away from the need?

Why are we so quick to shun and shame?

Why are we not willing to move as our Coming King would move?

... Risk public opinion

... Risk comfort

... Risk embarrassment 

... Risk disappointment 

... Risk your name and take on His

Identify yourself with the halt, the maimed, the lame and the blind,

Knowing what you have done unto the least of His brethren...You've done unto Him.

HLFA,

Jeff

Signify - Praise Him openly! Identify - with His compassion! Commit - and He will bring it to pass!

The Groaning Home

Five amazing days of incredible miraculous Creator Power displayed by the Word ... And the stage was set for Love. The lush décor was chosen and all the marvels of Love's comfort was in place. Now the curtain was to be drawn back on the mystery, revealing the reason for all of this intricate detail; and all looking on would to be held in awe.

The crowd of creation hushed as the creator stepped into the garden scene, gently dropped to His knees, and carefully reached, kneaded, and formed the pliable warm soil of Eden with His masterful hands to create the beginning of something that seemed to come into focus with the song filled voice of the Bright and Morning Star.

As Creation watched ... They knew that this was the Image of The Habitation, this was His Home created in His likeness, this was the beginning of the Ones that would live in Him, and He in them. Then the hush grew stronger, the Smile of the Creator widened as His Life giving Breath streamed purposely into the nostrils of His Home.

But the Fall, oh the groaning began, the pain arrived, the transgression scarred the beautiful love song of Eden ...

O Creation's shattered soul, brought on by the Hater of Glory's Dream,

Though Eden's home was ransacked sore, this cannot dissuade the Creator's Theme:

Redeemed How Thy song would proclaim it, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb,

Redeemed by His most tender mercies, His Home ... Our Home, forever ..."I AM."

The story would move forward as glimpses of glory would shine through the groaning and the afflictions of those who would be the guardian lovers of the truth, and follow after God with that groaning desire to provide a habitation for Him and carried forward with a Longing for a Home forever with Him.David was known as a "man after God's own Heart" ... And it may have been because of that Groaning House that he lived in ... Read the following:

Psalm 132: 1-5 - " LORD, remember David, and all of his afflictions: How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the Mighty God of Jacob; Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the Mighty God of Jacob."

Read the entire Psalm ... And open your eyes to the blessing that David brought on the people of Mighty God of Jacob {Jacob, the one who wrestled for a blessing, and got a new walk and a new name} because of this desire to provide a Him a habitation. There was no doubt that David had been given glimpses of God's Glorious Home, as the provisions for this Home were prophetically on the way ... Jesus would have His habitation, as the veil of the temple, torn from the top to the bottom to make full payment to openly redeem this Groaning Home of ours and make it His own.

2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature (habitation): old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."

As we begin to be saturated with the desires of taking full advantage of this NEW HABITATION prepared for Him ... All the old "stuff" that caused us groaning and distance from Him -- begins to pass us right by (Like scenes out of a moving train window).

And as we give His Spirit and His Word a full and royal reception into the fabric of our "every day", we can begin to watch all things beginning to be filled with the newness of the future. He is our Refuge, our Eternal Habitation and by the miracle of redemption we are His.

Step over the threshold and enter in!

HLFA,

Jeff

Ps... John 17:20-26

Reset - God Prevails

"For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." Romans 3:23 ... What an amazing passage that levels the playing field for "God Prevails!"

My head and heart are spinning with a spiritual conundrum ... After spending a little time this morning bathing in Romans for the sake of my spirit, I walked out of the water of His word realizing some basic truths, and being challenged by a meditation of intimacy that I had never gazed at before. Yes, it was driven by my broken heart for the state of many seekers who are being swayed away from the safety of God's Word and His Desire (read Genesis 32 - and just study the events that led to Jacob's name change - honestly, I am still captivated).

"Keep thy heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life." Proverbs 4:23

As Kids of the King...Here are the truth's that we must keep as walls for our souls:

1. We are all under the full weight of Sin and its consequences.
2. With or without the written law ... God has written the Law on the hearts of men so no one is without excuse.
3. The Law is the school master empowered by the Spirit that teaches us:

• of God's Holiness and our sin because ... we don't believe,
• of God's righteousness because ... Jesus is with the Father,
• of our need for a Savior to deliver us from judgment and the eternal consequences of sin ... because the Prince of this world is already judged.

Jesus was delivered our offenses, and was raised again for our justification. (Romans 4:25)

WE MUST BELIEVE - Repentance is when our opinions align with His.

Today we live in a world where there is dualistic and pluralistic beliefs and lifestyles that are wrestled with and touted as truth by some because ... "We don't want to offend anyone!" . Take Note: A believer, with a single heart and a single mind... holding evident that the Bible, the Word of God, is the final authority and absolute truth... This believer is thought to be naïve, out of step, and not enlightened by more recent enlightened revelations. Wow ... How arrogance for self proclamation can replace love for the words of our God!

I don't know how often that I have heard this phrase from church leaders (but it is almost becoming viral) "I used to believe like you ... But after deeper study, I now believe differently." (And it is spouted in my direction in a very condescending manner.)

What I am finding as I push the envelope of the conversation, these "shape shifters" are vanquishing passages of scripture that rub their "present generation" perspective the wrong way. They share this teaching with their followers in the context of "grace" ... Teaching that an individual has a God given Liberty to pick and choose passages from the "good book"(not "God's Word") what to believe, and even deem passages as "God said" or "God didn't" as the spirit leads them(What spirit?).

They argue that Jesus is the Word of God, not the Bible, so the words of the book need to be rightly divided to know His truth...Wake up people of God! This is nothing more than a self styled, self serving idolatry ... Where we create a God in the image of our likes and dislikes while separating our selves from the truths of His Word.

Did it ever dawn on us that the Father may deliver change mandates that may discomfort until we align our hearts with His? ... Especially since "there is none that understand nor seek after God." Could there be things that God knows... that we do not, that He is trying to teach us? ... Until we learn, it might not fit our current mode of living... We might be a little uncomfortable until we fit!

If we are resisting harmonizing with "things above" and not becoming more and more like Jesus, and less and less like the world, and not putting behind us ... our selfish ambitions and sacrificial-less living ... something has happened to disconnect us from our "first love"... Jesus.

* There are God-following leaders who constantly challenge the body of Christ to look up, rise up, live up - read, study, meditate, believe and live what God says.

BUT ... Many modern pulpits ring out with passionate but powerless messages of faux understanding, because the voice of purported leadership attempts to negate the validity of scripture by picking it apart and assigning the "offensive" portions to an archaic limbo of sorts. And there is confusion in the congregation, confusion in the community, and an animosity toward the things of God in general... BUT God will prevail!

- "Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope." Isaiah 5:18

- "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil, that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter." Isaiah 5:20

- "Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight." Isaiah 5:21

- "Woe unto you, lawyers (interpreters of the Law)! For ye have taken away the key of knowledge: ye entered not in yourselves, and them that were entering in ye hindered." Luke 11:52

"Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. Blessed are that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with their whole heart." Psalm 119: 1,2

Hear His Word.

Study His Word.

Trust in His Word.

Rest in His Word.

Thrive in His Word!

Be blessed by His Word.

HLFA,

Jeff

Don't give your time to those who negate the trustworthiness and truthfulness of the Word of God ... His Time with us on this side of eternity is of the essence. Redeem the time. God Prevails!

Eternity's Glance

During the year's reading and daily reading of the Word - He will always wind my heart back to this Psalm:

"O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise Him all ye people.""For His merciful kindness is great toward us:""And the truth of the LORD endureth forever.""Praise ye the LORD." Psalm 117

There were tears in the eternal eyes of the Creator as He looked at the memory of salvation's moment: There He was standing, holding His tiny beloved in His strong arms. As they gazed out over the colorful promises of Abundant Life's extravagant flowing countryside, He spoke softly in her ear of the firm but gentle words that would hold her love secure... well beyond the torrential storms of life and well into the future beyond. With one hand on His shoulder, She fearlessly and lovingly tasseled the hair on the back of His head, while they both breathed in the mutual refreshment of the moment's vision.

The memory would never fade with Him; but time and the cares of this world had moved His beloved's thoughts from her first love reflex to be held and tassel His hair. Though He knew that it was just a momentary passageway, He also knew that His love would always draw her back into His Arms. His merciful kindness was the powerful sustaining gift that not only would endow His beloved with the fullness of His goodness, but also the security ... that He would fully bear any and all shame and reproach that she would acquire as she walked this earthly sod. He would never leave nor forsake His little one, His beloved.

Thinking of Psalm 117 - Why would all the nations and all the people be called on to "shine brightly" their boastings about the LORD? What is there about the LORD to boast about that personally causes the hearts of men to want to praise Him? It is found buried not deep from the surface of our heart's searching.

"His merciful kindness is great toward us"... His "Merciful Kindness" is the Great Exchange with the power to replace our reproach and shame with His Truth of Love that endures forever." ... This is mercifully miraculous ... Knowing this causes us to shine his praises. This is offered to all. ("He came unto His own, and His own received Him not ... But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the Son's of God, even to them that believe on His Name: Which were born, not of blood, nor the will of the flesh, nor the will of man, but of God. "John 1:11-13) Not a gift of deep theology, but of deep and lasting connection.

Sad are the sons of men who are enamored by the pyritic glitter and fading value of this temporal world's devises, only to find that the enamoring blinds them hopelessly, and firmly chains them to the constraints of fallen creation. Who then to prove their own righteousness ...they become burdened by the legal restrictions that are misunderstood of the Eternal Word, they view God as an impersonal myth that is part of religion's opiate mixture that dupes that masses of naïve humanity, and they fall deep into denial that they are lost.

The bottom line is that these "clouds without rain" have problems with a vision of a loving God... Who would truly, actively and powerfully involve Himself in the affairs of men. This notion, of faith without works, scares them because it brings a loving accountability from the hearts of believers, not a life of earned reward that totters on the edge of guilt.

Further impudence may be thrown in to a related notion that this same God would bear mankind's reproach and shame in exchange for the reception of His Merciful Kindness through His Son, the LORD Jesus Christ. It is way too easy!!!

Grab the snap shot -- Trust that "He that believeth on the Son has everlasting life". Believing is not a work, it is a childlike response to the obvious light of Love given from the gracious, compassionate and righteous Heart of God.

Psalm 112:4 - "Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous." His name is Jesus!!!

HLFA,

Jeff

Enjoy being held by Eternity's Love... and be lavished by His promises.

Calling All Derelict Encouragers

The wind came rushing into the abandoned room, blowing the dusty sheer curtains almost parallel with the ceiling. As the curtains whipped against the framework of the room, dust was loosened from all of its hiding and resting places creating a literal filth snow storm within the atmosphere of the once dedicated space.

Within the vertical and horizontal wisps of the awakened particle dance and dust air painting, you could almost see the images of the past trying to resurrect within the ache of the missing passion that once filled that holy place with its vivid connection with Eternity. They met Jesus there, didn't they? Why is it in such abandon and dilapidation today?

I ache when I see old boarded up, disintegrating church buildings ... I even have stopped to cry and pray for this corner of the Kingdom. Was "Ichabod" written here - "The Glory is departed!"

• - Could it had been kept clean and tidy, but never really dedicated to the rescue of the outcasts, the broken, the lame, the maimed, the blind, the lepers and outcasts ... Sinners?
• - Could there have been open or secret immortality within the leadership that deteriorated the foundation?
• - Could there have been a growing and public despising of the sacrifices of God, because there was a forceful, selfish, grabbing of the sacrifices by those ministering ... while the sacrifices were still raw on the alter?
• - Could there have been an aging, sad and lonely vision-less congregation who believed that a new birth revival was no longer an option?
• - Could it have been abandoned for a larger growing vision? Hopefully.

Mark 5:1,2 - "And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the Country of the Gadarenes. And when He, Jesus, was come out of the ship, immediately there met Him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit."

With a place with a name like Gadara, meaning "a reward at the end" who would think it would be a place where one would be found out of his mind and beyond help (like Las Vegas???) ... Known as the uncontrollable and uncontainable Maniac, he was all but gone, cutting himself and crying away ...night and day in the tombs. Uncontrolled by human captures, but controlled by a multitude of Demons: insomuch that when Jesus asked the spirit what was his name ... They answered "My name is Legion: for we are many."

(Now don't get too offended) In the safety of our lip service "churches without walls" - there is no place for this type of individual; who best be kept outside the walls (that are not there?) The typical dress up, sit up, fess up, sing up and "be blessed" churches, do not have either the latitude nor the longitude for this type of Risk. In fact, the latest risk assessment plans profile the Derelict as "off limits".

Think about it: there was no way to bring him in - we have no "rope and chain force" in "the crazies" ministries. And "all" within the walls would be at risk of harm. We would simply be safer and happier with putting ropes around the tombs and keeping him there. We have no vision for this unstable element of society... Trust me, if you were to rush him into the typical sanctuary, all Hell would break loose because of the acute change needed to fit in our typical Christian sub-culture.

HEY let's face it - the Church is filled with people who are basically OK, or who are now ok because they were given the chance to experience the fullness of the Sacrifice of Jesus. Somewhere, "the Derelicts" had met "Jesus"; and the followers of Christ (who were wise enough) gave them time and familiar space to testify of the "God-Change" that was gifted them from Above.

What vision process was given to this man, Legion, whose life was ransacked by Hell?

• - Jesus unchained him from his demonic influence... This was God's Compassionate Miracle!
• - He and His followers - clothed him, calmed him and taught him.
• - Though his desire was to join in the subculture that was following Jesus... so "that he might be with Him": "Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but said unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee." Mark 5:19.

Take note Church ... In the heart of a "Saved Derelict" is the seed for a ministry, but probably not to your design expectations, nor under your nearsighted leadership, nor in your "success-limited" time allotment, and probably not in your "well purposed" worship space ...

In fact, if you think that you can control this kind of movement of the Spirit, you have no clue of the grief that may take place ... that could begin to derelict you if you have not prepared your heart for "failings and fallings".

Take heart: "And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel." Mark 5:20

Calling all Derelict Encouragers - Give God the Glory!!

HLFA,

Jeff

Encouragers -- Read 2 Corinthians 4: 1- 8,9,10 - 18

The Garden of Hope

There are many times in our walk with the Lord that we face unexpected painfully disruptive endings. And then we begin to wrestle with a new beginning, not flesh and blood. This is where one season may end in an emotional devaluation or with a spiritual and mental crash. Though the next season may be filled with promise of a "new day" ... There seems to be little helping the cloud of darkness and the feeling of abandonment and uselessness that sets in. BUT HELP IS NEAR because of Emanuel(God with us).

"Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die. Believeth thou this?" John 11:25,26

In verse 27 Martha replied unto Him, "Yes Lord: I believe that Thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." ... Saying this she went "her way" and told her sister, Mary, secretly, that Jesus was calling for her.

Although He is "Now" effectual in all things... that we need "Now" and "For Ever", His working in our lives is not dependent on our fragile ability to understand what will happen next. Martha truly believed in what she knew to be currently possible. She could hear His words, and faith would take her right to Jesus. She could even hyper-faith to the future promise; but a resurrection now? Her brother rise now, after he had been dead for 4 days?

We just don't get it and won't get it .. The strongest and firmest in their faith for a miracle for others, seem so broken... when change that brings insecurity... knocks on their door. BUT THAT IS OK... Martha knew where to put the weight of her faith ... NOT ON THE MIRACLE, but on JESUS. Cry out to Jesus!!

Psalm 97 - Declares the power of the Presence of our God who reigns ... The entire world that we know is shaken at His presence - Mystery surrounds Him, fire goes before Him, lightnings and thunder start the trembling, hills melt while the Heavens declare His righteousness ... (Those who worship anything other than Him ... Have no concept of Him). The closer we walk to Him the more we hate evil and seek deliverance for others because ...He only has the power to deliver out of the "hand of the wicked".

BUT to all who are His declared "righteous" and recreated "upright in heart": there will come those times of "worthless, unsettling, seemingly unfair ... change" ... But He has a garden that He has planted ahead of time for such a moment. It is a strange garden compared to the gardens that grow produce that ripens and then begins immediately to rot.

It is a garden carefully chosen by the Father, soil upturned by the Son's Nail Scarred Hands, watered by the promise of His Word, purified by the blood of the Lamb, fully secured by His Resurrection and freely offered by the Spirit to those who believe: "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart. Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous: and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness." Psalm 97:11,12

Two awesome gifts grow from this Garden of Hope - Light and Gladness. When things get dark, draw from Light that has been planted for you. When you see your life in the talons of hopelessness draw on the Gladness of His promises planted ahead of time for you.

For the "current day believer", we may never feel the fullness of the loss felt by the disciples at the crucifixion of Jesus ... That event brought extreme fear and devastating change... But to exercise our imaginations to feel is not a waste. Seek to feel their loss.

Being fully alive in Christ is one of the greatest assets of this life in Him. Pray with all prayer heightened in our awareness by praise and thanksgiving for all things ... Knowing that ALL things work together for good to them that love Him, The Called according to His purpose ... in this garden of Hope. He will walk into your darkness ... He will bring light and gladness if you let Him. Be ready to greet him and worship Him immediately and accordingly.

One of the first encounters after the resurrection had "the welcome" to this Garden of Hope ... Mathew 28:9 ... We read Jesus' word to the grieving women returning from His empty tomb  as ... "All Hail!" ...in reality...the word is "Rejoice! Be Glad! Spin in dance!" And they fell at His feet and worshipped Him.

Take a moment and read Psalm 98 -- and looking to Heaven ... Breathe in to be ready to sing a new song!!! It is coming - He is coming ... He is here!

Come into His Garden of Hope.

HLFA,

Jeff