Bramble Fire

Judges 9-10

Psalm 139

Proverbs 9

Ezekiel 6

Acts 14

When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God (Acts 14:21-22).

Early in my Christian walk, a Christian counselor and his wife helped me sort through some things that interfered with my peace. I think just about any newly saved individual, particularly older ones, struggling to live in the world but not be of the world could benefit from talking to a Christian counseling team. In this country, at least, most of us have heard and rejected the full truth of the gospel a time or few before settling into a journey of faith. This means we’re probably carrying around some ideas that seriously interfere with our peace.Where we don’t have peace, we have faith in the enemy. One of the most enlightening things my counseling team taught me was that we are not often innocent bystanders. I was venting and complaining about a mock-reality situation where others do seemingly pointless things and then interpret reactions. Most likely, a lot of eye-rolling and sarcasm illuminated my not so Jesus-like attitude about such shenanigans. The counselor told me my argument that I was not doing anything was false, that because we all have our thing we do, my refusal to participate was my participation. When I rejected that response, he told me again. And again. A string of dominoes 36 years long or so started falling down very slowly. When we readily grasp a correction, the momentum of our agreement will often yeild a rapid change of heart. My distaste for that answer meant a bunch of those dominos stood awaiting further meditation. Imagine the actions and choices that stemmed from each domino all those years. My readings today remind me we reap what we sow. That doesn’t mean there are no inncoent bystanders by any means. The prince of this world is at large looking for anyone who will listen to his lies and act on them. Just today, I praise God for mercy that no act of stupidity on my part resulted in harm to my daughter. It may be that the Lord allows one tragic circumstance to avoid another, but we at least know He can turn anything around for good in His time. Regarding day to day testing of sorts, I am glad to see interactions from my counselor’s perspective. It doesn’t matter whether or not I agree with the underlying theory. By the grace of God and the love of Christ Jesus, I have peace.

In Judges 9 and in Acts 14, blood is shed against persons who shed blood. In Judges, Gideon (Jerubbaal), chosen by the Lord as the warrior to free Israelites from oppression, has 70 sons through his many wives and one, Abimelech, through a servant girl from Shechem. Abimelech garners support from the Shechem residents to overtake Gideon’s seventy sons. He murders all but one who escapes, is appointed king, and uses the same brute tactics against others who oppose him later. Jerubbaal’s surviving son Jotham issues a warning to Shechem before fleeing: “if you then have acted in good faith and integrity with Jerubbaal and with his house this day, then rejoice in Abimelech, and let him also rejoice in you. But if not, let fire come out from Abimelech and devour the leaders of Shechem and Beth-millo; and let fire come out from the leaders of Shechem and from Beth-millo and devour Abimelech” (Judges 9:19-20). Fire is what happens. When Abimelech is informed someone new threatened his position, he kills that person and their followers and the next day, he kills those who went out to see the massacre. When the Schechem leaders gather to discuss, Abimelech burns the building with them inside. When he moves on to the next town, a woman drops a rock on his head from the tower where she and others have gathered. “And when the men of Israel saw that Abimelech was dead, everyone departed to his home. Thus God returned the evil of Abimelech, which he committed against his father in killing his seventy brothers. And God also made all the evil of the men of Shechem return on their heads, and upon them came the curse of Jotham the son of Jerubbaal (Judges 9:55-57). It’s interesting that Abimelech, the son of a concubine, destroyed Gideon’s family. Also Shechem happens to be where Simeon and Levi killed all the males, freshly circumcised, to avenge the rape of their sister Dinah (Genesis 34). Later, it will become a holy city to the Samaritans and is where Jesus tells the woman at the well that with His coming, worship is no longer tied to a particular mountain or city but to people who worship in spirit and in truth (John 4).

In Acts, Paul and Barnabus preach the gospel to many in Galatia generating much criticism and belief. Paul heals a man crippled from birth. “And when the crowds saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in Lycaonian, ‘The gods have come down to us in the likeness of men!’” (Acts 14:11). Paul and Barnabus tear their robes, proclaim the name of Jesus, and urge them to turn from vain things to the Living God. Little momentum in agreement takes effect, however, and the people are easily swayed by the apostles’ critics. “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead” (Acts 14:19). Without suggesting that Paul is anything less than a class of his own as an apostle with impeccable faith, Paul (Saul) persecuted and approved the stoning of Christians before his conversion. Many of us never aspire to the rank of Christian that attracts the devils attention, but certainly the apostles were targets of the enemy. Paul being stoned is almost an opportunity to wipe clean the slate to his accuser. His sins were already forgiven, but whatever the effect, a huge declaration is seen when Paul, revived from the stoning, goes back into the city: “But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe (Acts 14:20). The people who stoned him left him for dead, but Paul, faithful servant to Christ Jesus, returns to his work. What can his accuser say now?

The Lord tells the prophet Ezekiel to prophesy against the mountains, hills, ravines, and valleys of Israel: “Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places. Your altars shall become desolate, and your incense altars shall be broken, and I will cast down your slain before your idols (Ezekiel 6:3-4). Idolatry is an act of betrayal against the Lord. Paul spoke of the Living God to the Galatians saying once nations were allowed to walk in their own ways, “yet He did not leave Himself without witness, for He did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness” (Acts 14:17). The betrayal is particularly shameful where a relationship with the Father exists already because we, in some manner, already accepted Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior. Growing up, I prayed nightly for stretches here and there. I would say the Lord’s Prayer, say my own prayer, then repeat the Lord’s Prayer. My prayer may have been done poorly and without sufficient reverence, but it was a conversation. When I later chose to go my own way, disregarding the warnings of the prophets/parents in my life, it was like saying, “all those talks meant nothing. Lord, the comfort you brought me, your faithfulness in hearing me, I don’t need because I believe my successes are my own and there are these other things out there that soothe my ego on demand. I’m going to pursue them now.” The Lord said through Ezekiel, “Clap your hands and stamp your foot and say, Alas, because of all the evil abominations of the house of Israel, for they shall fall by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence. He who is far off shall die of pestilence, and he who is near shall fall by the sword, and he who is left and is preserved shall die of famine (Ezekiel 6:11-12). Praise God Jesus has changed everything for us. Jesus’ sacrifice allows us to recieve forgiveness for all these shenanigans. His Holy Spirit gives us strength, wisom, revelation, and comfort. He drew Paul back into the city after being stoned, dragged outside, and left for dead. When Jotham, surviving son of Gideon, issued a warning to the people of Shechem, he said, “The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, ‘Reign over us.’ But the olive tree said to them, ‘Shall I leave my abundance, by which gods and men are honored, and go hold sway over the trees?’” (Judges 9:8) The trees received the same response from the fig tree and the vine, so it went to the bramble. The bramble said, “If in good faith you are anointing me king over you, then come and take refuge in my shade, but if not, let fire come out of the bramble and devour the cedars of Lebanon” (Judges 9:15). Christ Jesus is by no means bramble, but some of us try all manner of things before we go to the Lord. When we finally go, we might find ourselves being asked, “Are you sure?” Like Wily E Coyote never gives up chasing the road runner, the flesh is never ready to succomb to the spirit. Our spirit has be be built up to bring other pursuits into alignment. Prayer, reading the Word, and worshipping in spirit and in truth are the efforts we can take to show Him, yes, I am sure. Lord God Almighty, there’s much I don’t understand, some dominos are still standing, but accept these choices and actions as evidence my invitation to Jesus is sincere and in good faith. I want to take refuge in His shade.

Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139:23-24).

Wild Goats Waiting and Praying

Judges 4-5

Psalm 136

Proverbs 7

Ezekiel 2-3

Acts 12

When Peter came to himself, he said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting” (Acts 12:11).

In Judges 4 and 5, known as “Deborah Saves the Day” in the Arch Books series, Barak son of Abinoam loses his opportunity to fullfill his destiny as a fearless warrior. The Canaanite armies, under commander Sisera, have been opressing Israel for 20 years. Deborah, a prophetess and judge, summons Barak and questions him, “Has not the LORD…commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor…And I will draw out Sisera…and I will give him into your hand’?” (Judges 4:6-7) Barak responds that he will go if she goes with him. Deborah agrees to go and replies that his decision will cost him: “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (Judges 4:9). Following their triumphant battle, Sisera hides in the tent of Jael, a relative of Moses’ father-in-law. Jael makes him comfortable and drives a peg into his temple, killing him (Judgers 4:18-21). Deborah knew the Lord commissioned Barak; the warrior role could have been his. The name Barak means “lightening” while Jael means “wild goat.” It’s interesting that Jael, a non-Israelite, was given the opportunity to slay their oppressor. In the New Testament, after so many Jews reject the gospel of Christ, the message is taken to the Gentiles, the wild goats. The plans of our Almighty God are always bigger than what we can see in our own camp. As I struggle to stay awake and far from the fridge, I can’t help but ponder, “what do I bring to the battle that leads me away from glory I could receive from the Lord?” Doubt? Rituals? Ego? Our God’s infinite power will be revealed. He, “by understanding made the heavens…spread out the earth above the waters…made the great lights…the sun to rule over the day…the moon and stars to rule over the night” (Psalm 136:5-9). How can I break free from those ties that keep me from running the course set for me by the Lord?

In Acts 12, James brother of John is killed by Herod and Peter is imprisoned. The apostles gather together to pray for Peter, but when an angel of the Lord releases him from his shackles and leads him away from the jail, the apostles don’t believe the servant who tells them Peter is knocking on their door. “They said to her, “You are out of your mind” (Acts 12:15). I’ve been reminded of another message related to the Simeon the magician passage from earlier this week. The Word says the people pay attention to Simon, but they believe Philip, disciple of Christ. I hear a preacher challenging our faith, rebuking doubters and skeptics with the question, “Christians, do you believe? Or are you just paying attention?” “But Peter continued knocking, and when they opened, they saw him and were amazed” (Acts 12:16). In the Israelites battle against the Canaanites, “the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army before Barak by the edge of the sword…and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword; not a man was left” (Judges 4:15-16). One of the amazing things about the Living God is that He’s just so full of surprises. Spirit-filled Christians say, “God’s gonna do something,” and “wait on the Lord.” It’s not jargon. His means and methods are without bounds and beyond our scope of thought. The Lord tells Ezekiel, chosen to be His mouthpiece, “And whether they hear or refuse to hear…they will know that a prophet has been among them” (Ezekiel 2:5). He works through people, His creations. When we’re unsure of what will happen in any given situation, we can pray and have peace knowing God’s gonna do something. When He does, if we believe, we’ll know it’s the Lord. His signature of perfection will be all over it.

Doubt is a huge obstacle to fullfilling the destiny God has for us, but confidence in our own devices hinders us also. Rituals are those things in our day to day life that we must do to be comfortable. It might be something specific like soymilk or half in half in tea or something general like reading early morning vs late at night. The Lord tells Ezekiel, “all my words that I shall speak to you receive in your heart, and hear with your ears. And go to the exiles, to your people, and speak to them…whether they hear or refuse to hear” (Ezekiel 3:10-11). Ezekiel was plucked up by Abba Father, shown a vision of His glory, and assigned a mission. The task of lying on his side for 390 days did not allow for Ezekiel to maintain his personal habits. He couldn’t say, “I need three 15 minute breaks a day, and Wednesday night with my peeps.” After Ezekiel received his instructions, the Spirit carried him to the exiles where Ezekiel sat overwhelmed for seven days (Ezekiel 3:14-15). My ego interferes with receiving from the Lord when I can’t stop adding my personal touch to whatever task I believe the Lord has set before me. Pray and wait keeps me on point, but the ego doesn’t know how to pray. Ezekiel sat for seven days overwhelmed. He saw the Lord of Lords and ate His Word, but Ezekiel didn’t paint his office, order new cards, and upgrade his wardrobe to glorify himself in his divinely assigned role. He sat and waited. Holy Spirit, overwhelm me with conviction. Remind me to always pray and wait so my manner becomes more like Ezekiel’s! Herod is the far extreme. Herod doesn’t know his position is assigned by the Lord. “On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes…and delivered an oration…And the people were shouting, ‘The voice of a god, and not of a man!’” (Acts 12:21-22). That ego is like a helium balloon. It gets inflated and sets off on its own course at the least burst of gas. My personal peace has grown so much since I’ve learned (mostly) to be grateful for that which bruises my ego. It’s not self-deprecating. I am a righteous daughter of the King through the cross of Christ Jesus. As such, I want to eliminate what can poison my thought processes and confuse my heart. “Immediately an angel of the Lord struck (Herod) down, because he did not give God the glory, and he was eaten by worms and breathed his last” (Acts 12:23). Praise Jesus, most of us will not be eaten by worms, but self glorification also breeds doubt in the Holy One. When we rely on our own understanding, we lose faith in what can be accomplished by the God of heaven who alone does great wonders (Psalm 136:26,4). Holy Spirit, if I am given opportunity to be lightening, let me not pass that invitation to wild goats. I want to be secure in my knowledge of God’s infinite power. I thank-you Lord, that you have a mission for each of us. I pray that all over our nation, Ezekiels are delivering your Word to exiles of the Kingdom. I pray that word arrives at the moment they are ready to hear and react. Praise Jesus for our invitation to your glorious presence!

But you, son of man, hear what I say to you. Be not rebellious like that rebellious house; open your mouth and eat what I give you.”" (Ezekiel 2:8).

Costume Change! Praise Jesus.

Joshua 23-24

Psalm 132-134

Proverbs 5

Lamentations 5

Acts 10

“And you have seen all that the LORD your God has done to all these nations for your sake, for it is the LORD your God who has fought for you” (Joshua 23:3).

While I was taking a series of discipleship classes through my church, my teacher advised us to write down our testimony, what we would say to share Jesus with someone, on one side of a sheet of paper. She might have suggested using the investigative questions who, what, when, where, why, how as a basic format, but I can’t recall. I’m pretty sure I never completed that task though. I don’t know why exactly since I love to write, but I’ve had occasion to wish I had it in my hands. It’s not difficult to approach someone smoking and start talking about my deliverance; often their responses fuel an interactive discussion. Sometimes, though, we have opportunity to talk to people who are willing enough to listen but not speak. Silence can be so intimidating. It’s terrible to feel a prompt to share the gospel only to stumble over the words. Today’s readings are full of the promise of Christ Jesus. Joshua, before his homegoing, reminds the Israelites of all the Lord has done for them to bring them from slavery in Egypt to a land of their own. Jeremiah declares the misery of the exiled nation and asks God to restore them to His good will. Peter, in Acts 10, is told to abandon the law by spreading the gospel to gentiles. Psalms 132 centers on the Lord’s covenant with David and foretells the coming of Jesus: “There I will make a horn to sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for my anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but on Him His crown will shine” (Psalm 132:17-18). Today, while having a my swollen eyelid examined, a nurse saw in my chart that some years ago, I sat in that chair for an addiction related problem. She mentioned the history to me in questioning me about the purpose of my visit. I asked her if I could post a “What is The 99?” ministry poster in the office somewhere. She replied only things of a medical nature could be posted and slipped out the door. I could have insisted that this was of a medical nature. I was healed, set free, and delivered by the blood of the Lamb. As it is, my lack of interest in prescriptions will have to speak for itself.

Who? “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him” (Acts 10:38). You know, Nurse Betty, it’s so amazing that you questioned me about that drug from way back when after already asking me what medications I currently take. It’s always good to double-check, and I am just so glad to be living proof of the saving power of Jesus. Do you know the Lord? Because I’d been on something or another most of my adult life, but after my daughter was born, the Lord simply removed that problem from my baggage. I’d tried to change my life my own way before as you can see in that chart, but none of that had any effect. When Christ Jesus delivered me, it was like a disconnect occured between my thinking and my acting with regards to drugs. While I was in bondage, thinking drugs usually meant using drugs. Once I was set free, I would think, initially, but there was no reaction. Like when a Dr taps your knee to check your reflexes, my knee suddenly no longer responded. I did not even know Christ Jesus at the time, but now that I do, He gives me revelation about how He was right there beside me so often all those years. Nurse, I know you’re not an addict. I’m glad you never had those issues, but I also know you’ve seen others fail over and over again, so please try to see the miracle here.

What? “But you, O LORD, reign forever; your throne endures to all generations (Lamentations 5:19). Christ Jesus is about so much more than deliverance from self-induced misery. Do you know that you are a spiritual being? You are not just an advanced bumble-bee. You have the same breath of life in you that God breathed into Adam and Eve. Our God who is a Holy Spirit wants to have a relationship with your spirit. He is already in your life. Cornelius, the gentile Peter visits in Acts 10, worshipped the Lord faithfully, and one day, the Lord sent an angel to him: “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God” (Acts 10:4). Yes, the Lord sees and hears all we do whether or not we are aware of it day to day. Cornelius, a gentile who under the law of Moses had no dealings with the Jews, received the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Lord hears your prayers. When we start listening to Him instead of just talking, He reveals to us how He answers those prayers in ways we can’t readily see.

When? “The crown has fallen from our head; woe to us, for we have sinned! (Lamentations 5:16). Sometimes we lose touch with our spiritual side, but don’t you know even if you don’t pay much attention to your belly button, it doesn’t go away? Our spirits are ever present, and they will not be locked in the coffin or burned in the fire of cremation when we die a physical death. Our spirits will live for eternity, but our God who gave us free-will wants us to choose to spend eternity with Him. Because man chose sin from the beginning, we must be redeemed to enter into His presence again just like a naughty child has to apologize before they can leave their room to rejoin the family. It’s our choice, and we have to choose before we die.

Where? Jesus said at the end times, He will send His angels who will “gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace…Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Acts 10:41-43). Law-breakers are not just societal misfits. When asked which is the greatest command in the law, Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment (Matthew 22:37-38).

How? Before Jesus, worshippers of the Living God sacrificed animals to atone for sin. Blood is our life source. It is precious, but the blood of animals is not holy enough to account for all our wrongs. It’s not that everything we do is bad; its just that most of the time we are following our own will and not listening to the Lord to learn His will. In an elementary class, a child cannot be permitted to just play quietly all day doing things they can do at home without disturbing anyone else. There is a divine purpose to our presence here! When that child is told to participate and refuses, said child is in rebellion even without acting out. Peter talks about Jesus with Cornelius and his family: “They put Him to death by hanging him on a tree, but God raised Him on the third day and made him to appear…to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses…And He commanded us…to testify that He is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name” (Acts 10:39-43). The blood of Jesus is holy enough to account for all sin of the world. Jesus restores us to the Father despite our natural state of rebellion. We don’t receive this precious gift without asking, though, and we can’t ask for what we don’t believe is true. Belief is a choice. If you say, well I just don’t know how I can believe that, it’s like love. It is simply a decision that you make. As much as Jesus did for me, for nearly two years, I didn’t really believe He saved me. I didn’t even know what that meant. Once I re-entered the house of the Lord, praised, prayed, and read the Word a little bit, the choice to believe became much easier. I still make that decision occasionally when the devil tries to tell me it’s all just a marketing hoax. At such times, I don’t mind my shady past. I rebuke you devil. I am saved, set free, and delivered by the cross of Christ Jesus, Lord and Savior, King of Kings.

Why? David writes in Psalm 134, “Come, bless the LORD, all you servants of the LORD, who stand by night in the house of the LORD! Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the LORD!” (v1-2) David was a man after the Lord’s heart from his childhood, communing with Him among the sheep, to His reign as king, dancing unashamedly when the ark is brought back to the temple. Psalm 132 reminds us how precious David was to the Lord. A son of David was kept on the throne of Judah through many generations of idolators and sinners of every kind. Our Father desires relationship with us. He is good and worthy of all praise. He created us for His pleasure. Joshua tells the Israelites before he dies, “Now therefore fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and in faithfulness” (Joshua 23:14). This is why we are here. Believing, declaring belief, in Christ Jesus as the Son of God and asking Him to forgive our sin is a good start. The Holy Spirit birthed in us helps us find the next step. It’s not a mountain to jump over. The God who made us knows what we can and can’t do better than we. “Arise, O LORD, and go to your resting place, you and the ark of your might” (Psalm 132:8). Because of the cross of Jesus, the Spirit of the Lord rests in us. Cornelius received the gift of the Holy Spirit. We too are vessels of the Lord and the ark of His might. Almighty God, “Let your priests be clothed with righteousness, and let your saints shout for joy” (Psalm 132:9)! God is good!

“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve…But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (Joshua 23:15)

Smack in the Middle of Judah

Joshua 16-18

Psalm 123-125

Proverbs 2

Lamentations 1-2

Acts 7

The readings the last few weeks in Deuteronomy, Joshua, and Jeremiah have been working together like book-ends for the Israelite empire: Moses prepares the fledgling nation and Jeremiah warns the people of catastrophic change. Today, while Joshua maps out the inheritances of the 12 tribes, Jeremiah laments Jerusalem’s desolation. Most of the territory the Israelites conquer in Joshua was already under new authority many years before Jeremiah (623 BC); around 703 BC, the Assyrian army carried out the prophecies of Isaiah, Hosea, Amos, and Micah for Samaria’s judgement. The Assyrians, called by the Lord “”the rod of My anger” (Isaiah 10:5) scatter many Israelites in Samaria to various remote locations and also repopulate the land with their own. Intermarriage produces a new breed of Yahweh believers. Jeremiah’s warnings to Jerusalem are ignored, and in Lamentations, Jeremiah artistically expresses the sorrow of their condition. Four of the five chapters have an acrostic structure in the Hebrew language where the first letter of each verse runs through the alphabet. (See article describing acrostic structure in Lamentations.) Poetry conveys grief so well if only because the love for what is lost is seen in the effort taken to describe it. To better appreciate Lamentations, I read part of Ray Stedman’s commentary in Adventuring Through the Bible. He titled the chapter, “God’s Therapy” and notes that we often reject the Lord’s teachings through pain and suffereing:

“”But is God unfair? The apostle Paul states the truth of the matter: “Let God be true, and every man a liar” (Rom 3:4). It is impossible for God to be wrong. It is impossible for human beings to be more just than God, because our very sense of justice is derived from Him! If not for God, we wouldn’t even know what justice and fairness are! It is impossible for human beings to be more compassionate than God, for our feelings of compassion come from Him” (Ray Stedman).

This agrees with King Soloman’s writing in Proverbs: “yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding” (Proverbs 2:3-6). Jeremiah’s prophecies spanned 40 years or more. In Lamenations, his life’s work has come to fruition. What few believed could happen is done: Jerusalem is fallen. Jeremiah writes, “Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude; she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place; her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress” (Lamentations 1:3).

Looking at the map of the twelve tribes’ inheritances, I googled Simeon, smack in the middle of Judah. I found conflicting opinions about Simeon’s outcome: whether they, at least in part, migrated north or were absorbed by Judah. A great article by Steven King, Dominion Camp Ministries, suggests Simeon was integrated into Judah over time with a powerful word on all Christians as tribal Simeons. He summarizes Simeon’s history as the brother who, against Jacob’s will, took revenge on sister Dinah’s assailants and notes Jacob’s prophecy for them as a wanderer is fullfilled in Simeon’s lacking for their own territory. King points to the passage in Judges as evidence of hope for the Simeonites:

Judges 1:3: And Judah said to Simeon his brother, Come up with me into my lot, that we may fight against the Canaanites; and likewise I will go with thee into thy lot. So Simeon went with him.

Judah asks Simeon to come with him to help fight his enemies. In other words, here we have the most blessed tribe in Israel (Judah) reaching down to the most cursed tribe in Israel (Simeon) and basically saying “Come with me.” Judah, the tribe of great kings and the coming messiah, reaches out to Simeon, the tribe of cursed and fallen nobodies destined for oblivion. Simeon’s only hope for salvation and restoration was to partner and become a co-laborer with the tribe of the king…Judah. Sound familiar? ….Simeon’s only hope of ever amounting to anything now lies in his willingness to follow Judah…When Simeon partnered with Judah, Judah’s power became Simeon’s power, and Judah’s inheritance became Simeon’s inheritance…Over time though, because the Simeonites lived with the people of Judah, they began intermarrying until eventually the Simeonites were absorbed and completely assimilated by Judah. This too should be a similar picture to us. After we’ve partnered with Christ, we should allow ourselves to be assimilated until eventually we can no longer be seen, instead Christ is all that remains visible.

If we are to glean anything from our readings in the Holy Bible, part of the Christ-likeness assimilation process is pain and suffering. Ray Stedman points to verses within Lamentations that foreshadow Christ’s suffering while describing Jerusalem’s plight: “Is it nothing to you, all you who pass by? Look and see if there is any sorrow like my sorrow, which was brought upon me” (Lamentations 1:12). Zechariah prophesied this vision of Christ on the cross when the Lord promised through him to pour a spirit of grace upon us “when they look on me, on him whom they have pierced” (Zec 12:10). “All who pass along the way clap their hands at you;they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem” (Lamentations 2:15). Christ Jesus endured mockery from the cross as He gasped for breath asking the Father to forgive us.

Looking at the map of the twelve tribes, I see the merciful plan of our Father to build up a nation only to further reveal His glory by tearing it back down. I see the painstaking love in His sorrow over our suffering in His poetic words through Jeremiah in Lamentations. I see His heart wrapped around Jesus in Simeon’s rejection and redemption. When our love is strong, we simply can’t stop pointing to the source. The entire Holy Bible points to our salvation through Christ Jesus. What God is this who loves us so much? You, Holy Father, are the sole source of my strength. I thank you for every gift. I praise you for the blessed life I lead, but whatever lamentation I may suffer, take not your Holy Spirit from me! All vanity, all pride, any false sense of security, Lord, let it be extracted from this vessel so I may no longer be seen. Your will be done, not mine! Teacher, thank-you for bringing me into your Kingdom. Forgive me for my failures! Let me not remain idle! Show me how to use the gifts you’ve assigned me for your glory. Hallelujia, Jesus is alive!

Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth (Psalm 124:6-8).

Stones and Fire and Holy Ghost Power

Joshua 7-8

Psalm 119:113-136

Proverbs 28

Jeremiah 49

Acts 1-2

So when they had come together, they asked him, “Lord, will you at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or seasons that the Father has fixed by his own authority. (Acts 1:6-7)

Before Jesus ascends to heaven, the disciples ask when their nation will be restored to its former glory. This is their expectation of God’s promise fulfilled. We often forget how great our God is when thinking about our wants and needs. We set our minds on what we think we lack based on the options we’ve seen. From God’s perspective, all knowing in the present, past, and future, the picture of what completes us at any given time might be quite different. Jesus tells His disciples not to ask when but to wait for the Holy Spirit to empower them to be His witnesses. Clear direction keeps them focused and together. In Joshua 7, Achan’s mind was set on treasure he saw in Jericho. The Lord told them not to keep anything for themselves, but Achan confessed: “when I saw among the spoil a beautiful cloak from Shinar, and 200 shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing 50 shekels, then I coveted them and took them” (Joshua 7:21). The scene that unfolds is terrible to imagine. Joshua and the Israelites bring Achan, his sons & daughters, his animals, and all other posessions to the Valley of Achor (Joshua 7:24). “And all Israel stoned him with stones. They burned them with fire and stoned them with stones” (Joshua 7:25). Joshua’s words to him were unsympathetic: “Why did you bring trouble on us? The LORD brings trouble on you today” (Joshua 7:25). The Lord showed Joshua Achan’s wrongdoing after allowing the Israelites defeat in battle with Ai and the loss of 36 men. We might think, why didn’t the Lord call out Achan’s sin before the battle? Then, Joshua’s leaders would be forever digging in the dirt underneath tents looking for contraband. To establish the nation of Israel in lands already inhabited, the Lord desired a people who would consecrate themselves. How will other nations fear Him if the children of Israel don’t?

King David wrote in Psalm 119, “Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law” (Psalm 119:135-136). The events in my life, the beauty of God’s creations, and the cross of Jesus tell me my God is good. No other love matches the love of our God. The gruesome Valley of Anchor shows me the horror of separation from our God. Parents teach their children harsh lessons when the consequences of their behavior threaten their well-being. If my daughter goes into the street when I tell her to stay in the yard, she will get a spanking; if she had younger siblings watching her behavior, the spanking would be even worse because of her influence on them.Achan and his family were punished, but they will be resurrected one day. The nation of Israel had to be established for the promise of Jesus to be fullfilled. Imagine if you designed a school or a hospital in a needy area, acquired all the materials, and then discovered the foundation could not be laid because a contractor was collecting parts and peices for his own trophy case instead of getting the concrete poured. We wouldn’t permit that contractor to halt progress, and we wouldn’t want others mimicing his behavior. The hope of healing for the sick and maturing and equipping for the children would assure us harsh consequences were necessary. This simple analogy is just what figures into my realm of understanding. Knowing the Lord is the Lord is the Lord is enough for Joshua. Following the annihilation of Ai, he renews their covenant with the Lord by reading all of Moses’ commandments to the assembly of Israel.

In Acts 1, Peter mentions the disciple who coveted what was visible to him: “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled…concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus…Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out” (Acts 1:16,18): another picture of separation from God. Peter’s mention of the prophesy suggest they are grieved by Judas’ choice to destroy their family chasing after something akin to a pre-teen dream – enough silver to buy a field. Jeremiah tells the Edomites, “the horror you inspire has deceived you, and the pride of your heart…Though you make your nest as high as the eagle’s, I will bring you down from there” (Jeremiah 49:16). Few of us find it easy to confess, as Achan did, “Truly I have sinned against the LORD” (Joshua 7:20). We can almost always justify our own actions and reject responsibility for influencing others. Acknowleging our lowliness before God is a good way to combat this tendancy; we have to always be prepared to confess our sins and our shortcomings. David said, “Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me” (Psalm 119:133). Yes Lord, we are susceptable to sin, but you protect us. Our greatest protection is in the Holy Spirit received first by Peter and the disciples on the day of Pentecost. Peter addressed the onlookers in Jerusalem, Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to Himself” (Acts 2:38-39). Praise Jesus! We may not know the times and seasons fixed by the authority of our God, but we have nothing to fear with the Spirit of Jesus alive in us. Let us find evidence of His great love embedded in our lives. My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of His righteous promise (Psalm 119:123). Jesus is that fullfillment, and He will return for His believers. Glory to God!

And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw Him go into heaven.” (Acts 1:10-11)

Good-bye Jericho!

Joshua 4-6

Psalm 119:89-112

Proverbs 27

Jeremiah 48

John 21

Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish (John 21:5-6).

Not quite ten years ago, my sister sent an email to my parents & I with the subject line “Keep Adrianne Rolling”. I was driving a Ford Escort stationwagon that was starting to demand a higher maintenance allowance in addition to being an eyesore with the rear bumper skillfully wired to the body of the car. Sis, then a writer for a finance company, was becoming an expert in money management. She emailed a suggestion to our parents to encourage and assist me as neccesary in buying a new vehicle while the market was favorable. I don’t recall if it was then or later that I finally did fiancne my first new car, but “keep rolling” is what I keep hearing in today’s readings. When I did buy one, I suddenly had car payments for the first time and since my insurance on the old car was liability only, my premium increased significantly also. The change required some faith that I could manage the new responsibility, and it cost me a bundle, but the reward was a prize to behold. Jesus found His disciples working together. He called out to them to do something: cast the net on the right side. They listened, acted on His words, and saw His promise fullfilled. Reading about Jericho in particular, I am moved to get in position, listen for the voice of the Lord, and keep rolling.

Get in position! David wrote in Psalm 119, “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens” (v89). Unlike the economy, the Word of God is forever fixed. We are not to pursue Jesus a little here or a little there to balance out our changing agenda. We are to be ready, waiting, like the five wise bridesmaids who brought extra oil for their lamps (Matthew 25:1-13). In Joshua 4-6, the Israelites get in position to form a nation out of enslavement that will continue until we all meet the King of Kings. The Lord instructs the Israelites to set up memorials in and out of the Jordan River of twelve rocks each to represent each tribe and mark the place where the Lord held back the water for them to cross. He then instructed the new generation to circumcise themselves.and burn down Jericho with no survivors other than Rahab and her family who assisted the Israelite spies. Of the circumcision, the Lord said through Joshua, “Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you” (Joshua 5:9). The Lord who established the earth (Psalm 119:90) created a nation accountable to Him. The Israelites position is clearly seen in the victory over Jericho, not with chariots of steel but seven trumpets of rams’ horns to declare His glory. He could have just given them great strength as Samson or skill as David against Goliath, but then they would not be in position to revere and serve Him. Our great God has a plan that spans ages beyond our comprehension and a purpose for every participant.

When Jesus called our to His disciples on the boat, they were in position working together. “Jesus said to them, ‘Come and have breakfast.’ Now none of the disciples dared ask him, ‘Who are you?’ They knew it was the Lord” (John 21:12). Having followed Jesus for several years, they were attentive to His voice. David wrote, “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Through your precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way” (Psalm 119:103-104). It’s easy to love God, but we require understanding to hate every false way and not veer off course when following Jesus presents us with difficult choices. While Jesus sat with His disciples on the shore, He asked Peter three times if Peter loved Him. Each “Yes” response from Peter was followed by instruction from Jesus: “Feed my lambs” (John 21:15). “Tend my sheep” (John 21:16). “Feed my sheep” (John 21:17). Maybe the slight variation of words indicates the path of growth and maturity we take as Christians. Nourish the little ones. Care for all my peeps. Pour into others. For certain, the repeated question put the conversation close to his heart. If the Lord wanted us confident in our own abilities, the battle plan at Jericho would have been drastically different than marching around the wall for seven days and shouting for it to fall. The Lord wants us broken and yeilded to Him because what He can do through us is so much better than a mark-down and a low interest rate. “Peter was grieved” (John 21:17), but I would imagine that conversation was replayed many times throughout His life. The disciples were saying goodbye to Jesus in the flesh but were about to begin a new relationship with Him in the Spirit soon to experience His love in new and amazing ways as healers of the sick. Our love for our teachers grows much when we start putting what they teach us into practice. How heartbreaking when hindsight reveals their wisdom, and we know they tried to reach, but we were not attentive to their voice. King Solomon wrote, “Faithful are the wounds of a friend; profuse are the kisses of an enemy” (Proverbs 27:6). Peter was grieved, but how he must have cherished those words later in times of joy and sorrow. Blessed be the word that prompts us to change! Let us hear your voice O Lord!

Finally, we keep rolling. As long as I am rooted in the Word, seeking God in prayer and praise, and accountable to another Spirit filled Christian, let me never allow questions or doubts to frustrate my principle desire to fullfill the Lord’s will for my life. Psalm 119 reads, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart” (v111). Other versions read “your statutes” or “your laws”, but truly, the interpersonal teachings of the Lord experienced by revelation are what form the aspects of our character never despised, the seeds we tirelessly plant in our children. Rahab, the prostitute who negotiated safety for her family with Joshua’s spies has testimony concerning the Holy One of Israel that becomes her heritage forever. She marries into the tribe of Judah to birth Boaz, grandfather of King David. She was in position when the Israelites entered Jericho to scout the land. Her home was on the border of the gate. She heard about the Red Sea and the destruction of other cities. She listened for the voice of the Lord in the spies and accepted their promise of protection without guarantee. She watched her city burn and undoubtedly survived some difficult times scratching out a new career as the Israelites continued their path through other cities. Following the attack, Joshua said, “Cursed before the LORD be the man who rises up and rebuilds this city, Jericho. At the cost of his firstborn shall he lay its foundation, and at the cost of his youngest son shall he set up its gates” (Joshua 6:26). Glory hallelujia! When we are reborn in Christ, the temptation to see our salvation as a whitewash and rebuild what brought us success in the world is strong. Joshua’s army, following the direction of the Lord, “devoted all in the city to destruction, both men and women, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys, with the edge of the sword” (Joshua 6:21) except for Rahab’s clan. “”And they burned the city with fire…Only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD” (Joshua 6:24). What we keep should have a purpose in the Kingdom. Identifying non-perishables can be confusing, but that is why Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to live in us and activate the God-breathed spirit we received at conception. Learning to trust God and rely on the Holy Spirit is how we keep rolling. The God who delivers me from grief and bondage and blesses me with all I have can surely manage my day to day. Whatever I struggle with, I know ultimately the lesson will be one I’ll cherish forever, and the final picture will be one of His design. Like Rahab, we have to look past the city of corpses burnt to the ground to see the birth of a King, one who changes the heritage of all peoples.

Jesus told Peter, “Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you used to dress yourself and walk wherever you wanted, but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go” (John 21:18). Wow, carried where you do not want to go. There is nothing false in the promise of God. His love is not the kiss of the enemy. We are not reborn because the market is favorable or for a cash-back incentive. When we accept Jesus, truth is revealed. Peter healed many and suffered much. Jesus’ words to him guarantee the Word of God will never lie. Trust in God, and keep rolling! The Lord speaks through Jeremiah to the people of Moab: “Flee! Save yourselves! You will be like a juniper in the desert! For, because you trusted in your works and your treasures, you also shall be taken” (Jeremiah 48:6-7). We cannot be in position, listening for the Lord’s voice, and pursuing relationship with the Lord without burning something in our worldly life. The Holy Spirit does not adorn our current business. He brings us new favor and life everlasting when we believe Christ Jesus is the Son of God, ask Him for forgiveness, and accept Him as our Lord and Savior.

Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants. (Psalm 90-91).

Let the Veil Down Let the Praise Go Up (Judy Jacobs)

Deuteronomy 33-34

Psalm 119:41-64

Proverbs 25

Jeremiah 44-45

John 19

“It is the glory of God to conceal things, but the glory of kings is to search things out” (Proverbs 25:2)

I love week-ends. Today three little girls played with my daughter at home. My fridge was non-operational this morning, and shortly after I ordered a replacement, one of the little girl’s daddies repaired it. Why would I ever take the back cover off a refridgerator? I should be more curious. But Praise God whose strength is made perfect in my weakness for new testimony to add to what was stirring in my heart early this morning before I stopped writing to address household issues. I prefer to start fresh in the morning and post before I move on to the day’s events, but at least a couple TMIs here were done at night. Reading in John about the crucifixion of Jesus brought to mind my first understanding of salvation. In May 2008, I started attending a church, one I’d visited in the past, accompanied by a new friend. I liked the church, and though I thought I was saved, a minor panic attack one week-end provoked me to recommit myself at the altar a month or so later. Sometime in June, after the friend and I ate dinner with my family, I confessed in the car that I didn’t really know what salvation through Jesus meant: how does that work? I went to church and was involved with a youth group growing up, but between my flighty nature and wide mood swings associated with asthma medication, I was often not tuned in to what would benefit me. I told my friend I believed in Jesus but I didn’t understand how His death and resurrection offer me salvation. It is said that the mind cannot store what is revealed to the spirit, so we should always be careful to write down revelation. As I listened to my friend’s explanation, I was captivated. I know I was glad the pieces of the puzzle were finally fitting together and maybe I even felt a new personal need and love for the Lord. I do recall that not long after we talked, I remarked to him that I listened and something clicked for me, but I could hardly remember a word he said. He might have responded that we can’t remember revelation, but that would have gone right over my head as jargon.

I do recall a conversation later wherein I learned about the veil, an aspect of the crucifixion not mentioned in John. Matthew 27 reads, “And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split” (v50-51). The veil is thick woven material, not something that could be ripped like a sheet of paper. The instructions to make the veil are given to Moses in Exodus: “And you shall make a veil of blue and purple and scarlet yarns and fine twined linen. It shall be made with cherubim skillfully worked into it” (Exodus 26:31,33). The veil showed our separation from God. His presence rested on the mercy seat, and only His appointed priests at a time specified in the law, could enter into the Lord’s presence. “And the veil shall separate for you the Holy Place from the Most Holy. You shall put the mercy seat on the ark of the testimony in the Most Holy Place. And you shall set the table outside the veil” (Exodus 26:33-35).

Moses, whose earthly life ends in today’s Deuteronomy reading, spoke to God on a mountain away from the rest of the Israelites and through a burning bush. From his time on the mountain, his face became so glorified the Israelites couldn’t look at him so Moses wore a veil (Exo 34:29-33). The Lord also hovered over the tabernacle as a cloud not approachable by man. “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle” (Exodus 40:34-35). The Lord’s presence in the tabernacle guided the Israelites through the wilderness to the promise land. “Throughout all their journeys, whenever the cloud was taken up from over the tabernacle, the people of Israel would set out. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not set out till the day that it was taken up” (Exodus 40:36-37).

This amazing presence of the Lord dwelt in the Most Holy Place behind the veil. A nice article at The-Tabernacle-Place.com entitled “The Holy of Holies and the Veil” also describes the veil noting it was ripped top down, an act from God above necessarily because man could not accomplish this due to the veil’s height and thickness. The author writes:

“The torn veil illustrated Jesus’ body broken for us, opening the way for us to come to God. As Jesus cried out “It is finished!” on the cross, He was indeed proclaiming that God’s redemptive plan was now complete. The age of animal offerings was over. The ultimate offering had been sacrificed. We can now boldly enter into God’s presence, ‘the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf.’ (Hebrews 6:19-20)”

Praise God the mystery is revealed, and it’s in writing! Our God is an awesome God! He, a perfect holy spirit, could not walk among us after we followed Satan’s call in the Garden of Eden, but He created us for His pleasure and He loves us. On our own, in our flesh, however closely we study the law, however often we offer praise and seek forgiveness through sacrifice, we will ultimately choose wrong. In Jeremiah 44, the Israelite women in Egypt reject his message from the Lord: “we will do everything that we have vowed, make offerings to the queen of heaven and pour out drink offerings to her, as we did…in the cities of Judah…For then we had plenty of food, and prospered, and saw no disaster” (Jeremiah 44:17). Their refusal makes no mention of the rest of their nation’s exile and the fall of Jerusalem. Like me, thinking I believed in Jesus but not knowing what He did for me, the Israelites were blind to divine authority in their lives; they didn’t see the connection. When we are cold, we don’t carry a coat, we put it on gratefully. The Lord’s plan was not for us to forever carry His presence in the tabernacle but to wear His presence as a holy garment. We can today because Christ Jesus, the Lamb of God, came down from heaven, lived a sinless life in the flesh, died to atone for our sin, and sent His Spirit to inhabit and redeem our souls. All we have to do is believe. Then we allow the Holy Spirit work in us to make us worthy of His glory.

As the soldiers divied up and cast lots for Jesus’ garments and tunic, Jesus voiced from the cross a change in relationship. “When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom He loved standing nearby, He said to His mother, ‘Woman, behold, your son!’ Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ Jesus is entering into His glory. Who is mother to the Author and Finisher of our Faith? Mary’s role has been fullfilled, but Jesus, whipped to shreds and nailed to the cross with thorns piercing His head, has compassion for her heartache. Woman, behold your son! Through the blood of Christ, we are restored to the Father, so John becomes a brother in Christ, a son to Mother Mary. Hallelujia, revelation and understanding never cease as we seek the Lord! Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection offer me relationship with a Holy God, whose presence might set me aflame if He did not channel it to me through the cross of our Savior Christ Jesus. I praise you Father that you chose to restore us to you, that you made a way for a stubborn people. Lord Jesus, I praise your name forever grateful that you suffered among us and tied yourself to the altar to complete God’s redemptive plan. Holy Spirit, never leave me!

“Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life” (Psalm 119:49-50).

Rejoicing in the Delivery Room

Deuteronomy 28

Psalm 118

Proverbs 22

Jeremiah 39-40

John 16

The LORD is God, and He has made His light to shine upon us (Psalm 118:27).

Hallelujia, as of early early this morning, I am an Aunt to Baby Ryan Jeremy. I just have the one picture above; the other below is of my newborn daughter with me. This long awaited nephew, first born son to my beloved sister, seals us together as a family. My baby girl has a cousin, my sister and I are mommies and aunts together, and my parents have both a grandson and a granddaughter through two joyful daughters. “The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and he adds no sorrow with it!” (Proverbs 10:22)

When Jesus tells His disciples He will be leaving for awhile to join the Father, He says their sorrow will turn into joy. “When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world” (John 16:21). The birth of a baby changes our identity and the world around us. Pregnancy is uncomfortable and exciting as preparations are made, but when the first baby is delivered, suddenly we are parents. Our activities and environment are instantly changed. Out of the depths of our hearts emerges a capacity to love completely in a whole new way, and like moving to a new place or starting a new job, a world of opportunity for fresh starts is before us. We hold the miracle of life in our arms, looking into the babys’ eyes and blessing their every move as just the cutest thing that could ever be. Praise God for the delivery of a healthy baby boy to my sister who I love so much. I am so happy she’s a mommy because I know her heart full of love is just going to keep growing.

Being reborn as a follower of Christ Jesus is much like the transformation to parenthood in a more gradual way. Our activities and environment change and out of the depths of our hearts emerges a capacity to love completely in a whole new way. Moses, in Deuteronomy 28, offers a beautiful blessing on the Israelites who obey the voice of the Lord our God. I pray this blessing over Baby Ryan and parents as the miracle of life unfolds before them: “Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the field” (Deu 28:3). Whether we are surrounded by busyness and distractions or seemingly alone in a place where our choices are few, God is with us. He breathed life into the womb, He brought the seed to full term, and the amazing little infant successfully delivered is made in God’s image. “Blessed shall be the fruit of your womb…Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl” (Deu 28:3,5). The Lord is our provider. If we consult Him daily, we will have what we need. We won’t have to buy one of everything in the store just in case when we habitually and prayerfully seek the Lord because He sees our tomorrow while we are sleeping. He will guide our choices when we ask Him for help. Our basket will be full, and the tools we need will be available. “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before you. They shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways” (Deu 28:7). The Lord doesn’t want us to fret and worry. He will resolve problems for us. Trusting in God doesn’t mean no enemy will rise against us. Don’t lose faith because something unexpected happens. The Lord allows us to try things our way, but when we turn to Him in faith saying “Save us, we pray, O LORD! O LORD, we pray, give us success” (Psalm 118:25), the problems we face flee before us seven ways. “The LORD will open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands. And you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow” (Deu 28:2). The Lord wants to bless us so we may bless others and glorify Him. When we glorify God, others are drawn to Him to receive life through Christ Jesus and find the peace that passes all understanding. Gracious Lord, Almighty King, let Baby Ryan discover the treasury of your loving care. Pour your Spirit upon this family so they grow in your perfect way.

David wrote in Psalm 118, “The LORD is God, and he has made His light to shine upon us. Bind the festal sacrifice with cords, up to the horns of the altar!” (Psalm 118:27) A lifestyle of trusting in the Lord is as new and different as a new born baby. Years of lessons from what we do wrong and theories about what we did right that don’t include God cloud our thinking. All the “I”s without any “He”s give us an inaccurate perspective. Spiritual retraining is needed to habitually pray, trust, and wait. Adonijah, David’s son, defied authority and listened to advisors who wanted him to succeed David as king. When his plan to steal the throne from Solomon failed, Adonijah ran to the temple and clung to the horns of the altar in a plea for mercy. Sacrificing our will for faith in God might defy what promotes our ego, but let us see the miracles of life God creates in every tiny face, bind our self will with cords to the horns of the altar to burn and beg for mercy for not consulting our God and our Savior before moving forward with our own plans. David said, “The LORD has disciplined me severely, but he has not given me over to death” (Psalm 118:17-18). In Jeremiah 39, after the Babylonians trample Jerusalem’s palace, the Lord tells Jeremiah to assure the servant who spoke to Zedekiah on Jeremiah’s behalf : “I will deliver you on that day…you shall have your life as a prize of war, because you have put your trust in me, declares the LORD’” (Jeremiah 39:16-18). Ebed-melech the Ethiopian received the blessings Moses wrote by trusting in the Lord enough to approach Zedekiah king of Judah to ask for Jeremiah’s rescue. We, too, have not been given over for death. Our merciful God delivered a promise to us in His only son. Jesus said, “for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God” (John 16:27). Christ Jesus is our rescuer. Obeying His commands in the gospel, to believe He is the Son of God, to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, and mind, and to love our neighbor as ourselves, brings to life the beautiful blessings Moses offers. When our self will attempts to circumvent our faith, let us remember the words of Jesus, before He tied Himself to the cross of our salvation: “Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:32-33). Whether we are parents or not, we each are blessed in some way just to be alive, free, educated, and prosperous. Whatever our troubles, Jesus will help us overcome them to bring us to heaven with our Father. A pregnant woman knows a baby is alive in her. Reborn Christians know the Holy Spirit is alive in us. Rejoice! “This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:23-24).

Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, He will give it to you…Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (John 16:23-24).

Strength in the Spirit

Deuteronomy 22-25

Psalm 114-115

Proverbs 20

Jeremiah 37

John 14

Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”? (Proverbs 20:9)

John 14 where Jesus tells His disciples about the Holy Spirit is such an amazing chapter. The Holy Spirit is what we can experience of the gift of Jesus now. Accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior gives us eternal life, but how can I get my head around that? While we pay a mortgage on a house, we get to live in that house. Imagine if we couldn’t live in that house until we paid the entire mortgage. Many of us would never arrive. The gift of the Holy Spirit shows me my relationship to God and how I fit into a world with Him today. To grasp at eternity, reading the Bible, I see over and over again our God sees us from a generational perspective as well as individually. He tells Abraham his descendents, outnumbering the stars in the sky, will inherit the promise land, and 400 years later they do. I know our God promised deliverance from our sin a few thousand years ago, and today I have that deliverance. The promises in the Bible span many years; it’s not eternity, but it’s what I can draw on my paper. King Solomon wrote, “The spirit of man is the lamp of the LORD, searching all his innermost parts” (Proverbs 20:27). Basic chemistry labs use a centrifuge to separate dense matter from light matter to isolate components. I know, more or less, who I am in the flesh. I can readily identify my own carnal nature. The Holy Spirit separates me from my flesh so I can see the love of God. He’s the pure component. When I’m out of the test tubes, done with the centrifuge, and in His form, I will worship Him for eternity.

The Law of Moses detailed in Deuteronomy reveal our God’s holiness. The statutes exist to create a nation set apart for God. Moses reminds the people, “Because the LORD your God walks in the midst of your camp, to deliver you and to give up your enemies before you, therefore your camp must be holy” (Deu 23:14). He tells them to pay promptly the hired servants who are poor and needy, whether Israelite or not, “lest he cry against you to the LORD, and you be guilty of sin” (Deu 24:15). The Lord wants them to be holy so they can be a strong nation, not diluted by the practices of pagan societies. We isolate components to see their full strength. The full strength of the Law, though, is still only human. We cannot become a spirit while still in the flesh. Jesus tells His disciples, “I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you” (John 14:16-17).

In Jeremiah 37, Zedekiah and the people of Judah have ignored Jeremiah’s warnings to turn to the Lord. The Chaldeans who have beseiged them leave for awhile when Pharoah’s armies emerge briefly, but Jeremiah’s word from the Lord, in one of my favorite doom and gloom quotes, is that Judah will yet be destroyed: “the Chaldeans shall come back and fight against this city. They shall capture it and burn it with fire…For even if you should defeat the whole army of Chaldeans who are fighting against you, and there remained of them only wounded men, every man in his tent, they would rise up and burn this city with fire’” (Jeremiah 37:8,10). The image of the wounded few shows the strength of our Almighty God. The Chaldeans were unholy vessels, but the undiluted strength of the Lord will propel them into action. When Jesus was nailed to the cross, the devil might have thought we were his. We, too, are unholy vessels, but with the Spirit of Jesus living in us, propelling us into action, we defeat the lies and traps of our mind and of the world. Jesus said, “the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you”(John 14:26). God made us, so He exists in all of our consciences, but in the flesh we might live like the people of Judah, ignoring the Lord’s warnings. Our spirits become full of dense matter from pagan society. We need the Holy Spirit to draw us back to the Lord. Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

David wrote, “What ails you, O sea, that you flee? O Jordan, that you turn back?…Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob, who turns the rock into a pool of water” (Psalm 114:5,7-8). How does such a powerful God exist in me? Jesus said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). Our God lived and walked among us, without sin, the only pure spirit to ever exist in the flesh. He endured temptation and pain, and He gave His life as a sacrifice to atone for our sin. The Holy Spirit is such an amazing miracle. He is that perfect gift that makes my life so much easier, that brings people I love closer to me, that gift I don’t know how I ever lived without. Our Father raised Jesus from the dead to reveal His power and glory so we would believe and ask Him for the gift. He doesn’t just assign it to each of us. We have to choose. That is free-will. When the disciple Thomas asked Jesus to reveal the Father, Jesus answered, “How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work” (John 14:9-10). When the Holy Spirit becomes strong in us, we readily see the effect. Our flesh, the dense matter in the centrifuge, is still there, but the light of Jesus is distinct. In Mark 10, Jesus responds to a man who addresses Him as Good Teacher, “Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone” (Mark 10:18). The law of Moses defines the evil in us, but the Holy Spirit magnifies the love of God. I praise God for loving me so much He gave His Son for my life. Everyday I rejoice in knowing the Holy Spirit, and I didn’t have to pay my entire mortgage at once or do well in chemistry to receive Him. I just asked Jesus to be my Lord and Savior. He sent me the Counselor, the Teacher, the Comforter who is always with me. God is good!

If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me (John 14:23-24).

Too Long to Tweet: Festivals & Daily Assignments

Each year you must celebrate three festivals in my honor: Festival of Unleavened Bread, Festival of Harvest, Festival of the Final Harvest.. You must not offer the blood of my sacrificial offerings together with any baked goods containing yeast. ~Ex23:14-18

Three annual festivals to honor the Lord who alone is Holy, who provides for us, and whose abundant love and mercy offers eternal life with Him. Festivals reminds us that there is something more than what we see and experience day to day, but the world has introduced all manner of celebrations that distract us from desiring the ultimate splendor of heaven. The Lord instructs them not to use yeast which spreads itself through a batch of dough to puff it up; it adds nothing but fluff. Blood is unadulterated; it is the life-giving substance from our Creator used in the Israelites sacrificial and atonement offerings, and despite a lack of reverence for it today as made by God, the blood of Jesus, the perfect lamb of God, is what we need for salvation and what brought the Holy Spirit to our earthly world where, by the grace of God, He spreads love and defeats the enemy through believers.

Make no treaties with them or their gods. They must not live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against me. Ex23:32-33

The Lord told the Israelites not to mix with the peoples of the land lest they fall into sin. 2000 years later, Herod beheaded John the Baptist out of peer pressure. He “respected John; and knowing that he was a good and holy man, he protected him.” Mark6:20 In a moment of lust, he promised his step daughter any request up to half his kingdom.

Then the king deeply regretted what he had said; but because of the vows he had made in front of his guests, he couldn’t refuse her. Mark6:26

A lost opportunity for humble repentance. This is where someone locked in bondage of addiction of whatever type might by the grace of God relinquish their independance in hope of freedom and life.

My guilt overwhelms me—it is a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and stink because of my foolish sins. Psa38:4-5

Of course, it is hard to step down from a 100 foot ledge. Surrendering car keys and access to a checking account don’t really compare to a King who publicly goes back on his word for the sake of a locust eating preacher. This is why praise and prayer are daily habits, not just tri-annual festival activities. Our heavenly Father wants to protect us from ourselves as He protected the Israelites and brought them success according to their level of readiness.

I will send terror ahead of you to drive out the Hivites, Canaanites, and Hittites. But I will not drive them out in a single year, because the land would become desolate and the wild animals would multiply and threaten you. I will drive them out a little at a time until your population has increased enough to take possession of the land. Ex23:28-30

In a similar way, Jesus showed who he was through healing miracles but spoke in parables to the masses who were not ready to hear the mysteries of the Kingdom explained. After he fed 5000 people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish, he walked on water towards his disciples struggling against wind and waves in a boat.

Then he climbed into the boat, and the wind stopped. They were totally amazed, for they still didn’t understand the significance of the miracle of the loaves. Their hearts were too hard to take it in. Mark6:51-52

It’s difficult to comprehend the awesome power of the Lord. Certainly Herod and the Israelites knew it. Paul prayed that Christians “would understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms.” Eph1:19-20 It’s hard enough to understand what can be demonstrated in an academic environment. In math, we are given a set of variables, and we do assignments to learn how to get an unknown from a known; we often have to show our work to get credit because the process is significant. To accept Christ as Lord and Savior, we must accept our Almighty Father as our source of life, Creator of heavens & earth; without that established X=1, we will not be able to work out our faith consistently to find the right answer which is Jesus.

To the Israelites at the foot of the mountain, the glory of the Lord appeared at the summit like a consuming fire. Ex24:17

Praise God for visions of His glory which help us remember Him. Part of getting through a math assignment is having a familiarity with all the theorems and postulates and laws that might be useful for solving the problem. We won’t advance in understanding just by memorizing them; we have to apply each one correctly. Review and practice allow concepts to take root so they can be applied both when we’re tested and in our everyday lives. The Israelites had agreed to the 3 annual festivals and to serve only the one true God twice saying “We will do everything the Lord has commanded. We will obey.” Moses then sealed their covenant with the Lord by splattering the blood of a sacrificial bull. And though these nobles of Israel gazed upon God, he did not destroy them. In fact, they ate a covenant meal, eating and drinking in his presence!” Ex24:11

See, I am sending an angel before you to protect you on your journey and lead you safely to the place I have prepared for you. Pay close attention to him, and obey his instructions. Ex23:20
Schools don’t expect us to succeed in our classes with no help from instructors. However, to receive their help, we must do what they say, and they might say we didn’t learn enough in our prerequisite and advise us to take it again. That’s where we have to lose our pride and take a step back. Doing so successfully puts us way ahead of where we’d be if we insisted on struggling through the higher level class on our own such that even if we passed, we wouldn’t be able to apply our knowledge. Eventually, we might promise our step daughter anything and wind up beheading John the Baptist to avoid losing face in front of our peers. King David, confessed his sin before God and sought His protection: “I choose to hear nothing, and I make no reply. For I am waiting for you, O Lord. You must answer for me, O Lord my God. Psa38:14-15 This won’t likely be our response if the festivals that celebrate our God’s Holiness, provision, and generous love and mercy don’t compete with our worldly celebrations either daily or 3 times a year.

God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure…He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. Eph1:5,7

It is natural to get caught up in our lives acting as King wherever we can. Just like academics, sports, computer games, or anything else, faith-building requires attention for us to have it when we need it. Even if our lives are so stable and our life skills so advanced that we’re never confronted with anything that overwhelms us, each of us will pass into eternity one way or another, and we don’t want Jesus to say “I never knew you.” Hobbies are great, but when they don’t allow us to pursue a relationship with the Lord, they become bondages. Herod developed Jerusalem’s water supply, founded new cities, and had dealings in ship-building and copper mining, but he also murdered every child under two in Bethlehem in a failed attempt to stop Jesus who had no interest in his job. We may not murder anyone, but what do we do that stops the work of Jesus? Not do it, for one for we each have an assignment, and our Lord wants each of us to succeed.

Yet even now, be free from your captivity! Leave Babylon and the Babylonians.Sing out this message! Shout it to the ends of the earth! The Lord has redeemed his servants, the people of Israel. Isa48:20

Jesus Paid it Forward

This morning I had the joy of mailing off or delivering 6 home sewn purses as the result of a sneaky Facebook promise that slipped into my note collection through the once open door of FB Note Participation Addiction. It was, I think, the last note I responded to, & illustrates well the concepts of (1) keeping watch over every crevice that allows entry into our heart and lives, & (2) the Lord can use just about anything to groom us.

The note was entitled "Pay It Forward," & as the movie title suggests, the note writer promised to pay forward something, specifically an item created by the note writer, to the first 5 volunteer recipients who commented on the note before the end of 2009. A Google search indicated it circulated well but did not reach the newsworthy status of "25 Random Things." Initially, I wasn’t going to lose any sleep over Pay It Forward. After all, cookies & pumpkin bread mail well.

However, the Lord took me to Hobby Lobby one week-end recently. (By that I mean, I was trying to think of some way to make good on this promise because I didn’t want any devil to have an easy strike against me; I hate Hobby Lobby and have only grudgingly gone when with my mother or grandmother. Still, it was in my head as the best option & while I was convincing myself to go, my mother called to say she had a 40% coupon there & dad was going to try drop it off at my house on his way into town). So, at Hobby Lobby, I stumbled across some wool felt squares & felt décor that I thought I could do something with those plus some pretty black and tan dotted fabric. A 2nd trip to wal-mart yielded the black fabric, the black handles, & the black cording.

It was more than I intended to buy and certainly more than I intended to sew, but as soon as I got started, I fell completely in love with the project. (Otherwise I’d have turned to a cookie or a homemade Christmas card solution at best). More noteworthy, the varied parts & pieces that found their way to the check out counters without a clear plan in mind turned out to be pretty close to exactly what was needed. Now, don’t think I expect my 6 to carry their new purses around for any particular purpose; if nothing else, the bags probably won’t wear & tear very well. The point is, a lesson my church has been teaching for the last 6 weeks also, that my God is extravagant. The purse itself might not be all that great, just as we are faulty human beings, dirty vessels in constant need of cleansing and infilling of the Holy Spirit, but the Lord is equally subtle and zealous as He goes overboard with the love, time, & attention to detail that He’ll put into our lives if we let Him & often even if we don’t (grace). My effort at creating these purses can’t get close to Jesus does in our lives, but I believe the Lord has taught me several things with this project.

He loves us more than I’ll ever understand, & not only do I need to trust Him to work out details in my life but I must show that kind of love to others by my actions. More than just being pleasant & kind, love is spreading the gospel to those who don’t know Jesus and praying for and with others as a matter of routine. Anyone can ask after the kids, offer empathy, or buy a fruitcake, but the Lord cares enough to select black pearl or black retro buttons and matching handles and cording. When we say, "can I pray with you about that?" we admit our best efforts and advice might get us to a high level of mediocrity, but the real solutions happen when we invite the Lord to enter through agreement in prayer,

Subtle and zealous He is. Sometimes we have no idea He’s among us until we find ourselves warm & dry on the safe side of the river with no visible bridge. Simply by creating a distraction, this project I grudgingly undertook to escape a potential curse also opened my heart to offer unrelated once valued items to others who needed them more than I. A slight fear of losing what I might need later changed almost overnight to a burning desire to get rid of old security blankets. More than the feel good aspect of giving at Christmas, I cherish the absolutely remarkable knowledge that my Lord and Savior reached down and tweaked my heart to His will. The feeling of closeness and dependability that produces is indescribable. If He can tweak my heart, He can certainly hear our prayers.

As for being a prayer warrior, I don’t mean to suggest I’m a veteran. In fact, I’m only starting this journey, & it is exciting! Just like I didn’t know how much I’d use my iPhone until I bought one, I didn’t know how much I depend on Jesus until I welcomed him into my life. But Christmas isn’t just for me; Jesus said Go & disciple others. We just have to love him enough to do it. "Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matt 28:19-20)