Leigh's Life Lessons

Waterless Places

2012-01-07T10:54:00.000-08:00

Walking In Waterless Places

Matthew 12:43,New American Standard Bible:

Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, itpasses through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it.

Survival and the Rule of“Threes” – In an emergency a person can live for:

· Three Minuteswithout Oxygen

· Three Hours withoutShelter

· Three Days withoutWater

· Three Weeks withoutFood

Water sustains life inplants and people. Figuratively, it also sustains our spirit.

Keepers’ of the Springs:

Before there was indoor plumbing, water was drawnfrom rivers and springs close by where communities of people lived. Wherever there was a good water source,people gathered near and shared that source. When a leader was chosen in thecommunity he would delegate important responsibilities to trusted persons ofthe community. One of the responsibilities he delegated was the position of“Keeper of the Spring.”.

The Keeper of the Springwould go to the water source regularly – even daily, when necessary – to makesure that there was nothing floating in the water that would defile, or poison,or clog the flow. This job wasimportant for all the members of the community – remember Three days withoutwater? Well, defiled water could kill aperson even faster than that.

Spiritual life is muchlike physical life in these instances. Life in our physical bodies is meant tomimic the life of our spirits so that we can use these natural things as anexample for our Christian walk.

Walking Against Gods Plan:

We do have a choice. But if we choose to walkcontrary to God’s will for our lives, we shove aside the Holy Spirit and allowour own will to displace God’s Spirit in our lives. In doing this we allow our“unclean nature/spirit of the old man” to take control. Then we, like theunclean spirit in our text, are allowed to wander in “waterless places.” Places where no Christian is meant to dwellas the Holy Spirit can’t live there.

My “Spiritual SurvivalRule of Threes” looks something like this:

· Three Minuteswithout Prayer unceasing, and our wireless connection to God has been cut.Satan has placed earplugs in our spiritual ears.

· Three Hours withoutresting on His promises, and we are defeated by the enemy of our souls.

· Three Days withoutLiving Water flowing in our spirits, and we have been defiled in our minds – wehave given Satan control

· Three Weeks withoutReading God’s Word and our spirits are on the verge of death.

God gives us time to repent and come back to thefold. He will fill us again with His Holy Spirit when me change our mind andallow Him back on the throne of our hearts’ once again. – Back in His properplace.

Then we will experienceonce again the refreshment of Those Living Waters flowing through our heartonce more.

Matthew 12:43-45 NASB:

Now when the uncleanspirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, anddoes not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which Icame’; and when it comes, it finds it unoccupied, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and takes along with it seven otherspirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there; and the last state of that man becomes worse than thefirst. That is the way it will also be with this evil generation.

What is true in thenegative in this passage also holds true in the affirmative. When we repent andlet the Holy Spirit reign again in our hearts and lives. He will sweep cleanthe throne room of our spirit and take up residence once more. Now we knowthere is only one Holy Spirit, so He won’t be bring seven others more holy thanhe to join Him. But He will give us more of His spiritual attributes so that wecan grow seven times closer to Jesus than we were before.

I know this is true, forwhen I was in college I walked with God for a short time and was filled withthe Holy Spirit. I even spoke in tongues. But after some bad experiences with ahusband that claimed to be a “Christian” I fell away from my faith and foundmyself much as these verses describe the state of the man when the evil spiritreturned with his buddies. I was wandering in those “waterless places.”

But when my spirit had“bottomed out” Jesus showed Himself to me once again. I invited Him to comeinto my heart and life to live as Savior and King forevermore. Today I am more than seven times greater inmy walk with God than I had been when I first believed.

If God can make thesemighty changes in my life, He can do the same in yours. But you have to make achoice to allow Him complete access to the throne room of your spirit!

Chooseto Serve God and allow His Spirit to run free in you today.

New Year - New You!

2012-01-02T22:33:00.001-08:00

So as the New Year is looming nigh

And our spirits are soaring high

Let's take the time to seek out God

Ask Him about the path we trod

Does it please Him in every way?

Do we give Him thanks for each new day?

Are we searching out His word?

And have our neighbors His message heard?

Or do we faint at the tasks at hand?

Though our plans to us seem grand

Yet our Father must sometimes laugh

When He views the plans we draft.

Resolutions we have often set

Then a few days later, we do forget

But if our hearts to God be true

We must make a change or two

Listen to His loving voice

And truly make a righteous choice

To do His will each and every day

And spread the Gospel along our way

Lead our loved ones to God's throne

So that each may be His own

And give yourself to Him anew

Let Him make His changes in you

That you may lead a holy life

And be prepared to be His Wife

Eternity with Him to share

With all God's people, from everywhere

Spread His Gospel far and wide

And do not His light in your life hide

May the New Year be different for you

Tomorrow and every other day, too!

Happy New Year, 2012

Leigh

12/31/11

Christmas or Happy Holidays?

2011-11-21T19:35:00.000-08:00

Or, Is Christmas the birthday of Jesus, or not?

Many at this time are saying "Happy Holidays" while others are compelled to reply with "Merry Christmas." I don't get upset at those that say "happy holidays," but it does upset me that some employers require their employees to say it so as not to offend any that do not celebrate this winter season as Christmas [such as believers in Islam, Judeaism, Messianic Christians and ALL who don't hold Judeo-Christian beliefs and values].

I do hold with a Christian worldview. I believe that Jesus is the "only begotten Son of God." That He was born of a virgin and lived a perfect life. That He was Crucified. Was dead and in the grave three nights and three days. Rose from the dead on the third day. And assended to His spiritual home until the appointed time of His physical return.

History tells us that Christ Mass or Christmas was started by the Catholic Church to help combine the mystery religion of Rome to the Christian Religion. It is celebrated in December to coincide with the winter solstice. The Pope said that Christians should celebrate is as Christ's birthday without telling them of it's true origin. I, on the other hand, Celebrate Christmas in honor of Christ, His Life and all that He has done in mine! I call this knowing celebration 'redeeming the time.'

Colossians 4:5-6, Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

I celebrate this otherwise pagan holiday in order to spread the story of Christ's life, death, and resurrection; and of true salvation in His name. Taking back a day that Satan has polluted with paganistic celebrations; in order to give honor and glory to God, who made it to begin with.

If Christians want to celebrate Christmas, I believe they should know the true origins and, like me, redeem the time. Make Jesus the center of this hoilday season. Have Christ centered activities in your homes to bring Him the honor He is due. Set up a nativity scene. Buy an advent wreath and a book on advent season traditions and readings, and share them with your family and friends as you celebrate.

I will soon share discussions on the advent season and will answer any questions and comments that you have. If you want yours posted, please include your name. If I am not ashamed to share my name with you on my postings, you should not be embarrassed to share your name, either. Any comments received without names will not receive any attention. They will be deleted.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays or Happy Hanukkah,
if you prefer.

Just celebrate Jesus this season, regardless of which greeting you choose!

What is the Reason for THIS season?

2011-10-30T17:36:00.000-07:00

OR, Where Did Halloween Come From?

With Halloween looming on the near horizon, I thought I would do a little history lesson on the origins of this holiday and it's components.

History

Halloween, originally call "All Hallows Eve" or “All Saints Eve” is the day before "All Saints Day," which is celebrated by the Roman Catholic Church. The official name of “All Saints Day” is the “Solemnity of All Saints” also called “All Hallows” or “Hallowmas.” “All Saints Day” is celebrated to commemorate those in the Catholic Church that have passed away in their faith.

Halloween has been said to originate in the Roman feast of Pomona, the goddess of fruits and seeds. Some have also placed its origin in Parentalia or “the festival of the dead.” But more typically it is linked to the Celtic festival of “Samhain” [pronounced sow-an or sow-in]. Both the Celts and the Gaels of the British Isles kept this festival well before Christians had come into the area. The name comes from an old Irish word for “summer’s end” and was typically a time for feasting and gathering together of families. Ancient Irish, Scottish and Welsh texts describe it as the setting for supernatural encounters. The word “Halloween” was first used in the 16th century and represents a Scottish variation of the phrase “All-Hallows-Even” or Evening.

Symbols and Imagery
The symbols and artifacts that are associated with Halloween have formed over time. Like the Jack-O-Lantern, carving pumpkins comes from the tradition of creating lanterns from turnips to remember the souls lost in purgatory. Traditionally the turnip was used in Ireland and Scotland, but immigrants to North America used the native pumpkins which were larger – and easier to carve – and readily available. It was first recorded in 1837 and was generally associated to harvest time. It didn’t become related to Halloween until the mid 19th century.

Imagery of this day has come from many sources, such as works of Gothic and horror literature – like Dracula and Frankenstein – and from classic horror movies like the Mummy and the various Frankenstein films. Pranks were first noted to the day by the Scottish poet, John Mayne, who in 1780 wrote of them, “What fearfu’ pranks ensue!” Ghosts, bogies and goblins became part of the festivities in 1785 and influenced Robert Burns Halloween. Other natural elements of autumn, like scarecrows, corn husks and fall leaves also became prevalent about that time. The images of death, evil, occult and mythical monsters, bats, black cats, spiders and the colors orange and black have all come in there time.

Trick-or-Treating and Guising
The practice of going in costume from house to house asking for treats – like candy or sometimes money – and asking, “Trick-or-Treat” became a part of the festivities dates to the Middle Ages and – like the Jack-o-lantern – came from the medieval practice of “souling.” Poor folks went door to door on Hallowmas [All Saints Day] receiving food in exchange for prayers for the dead on “All Souls Day” [November 2nd]. It began in Ireland and Britain, though similar practices for the souls of the dead have been found as far south as Italy. Shakespeare even makes mention of the practice in his comedy Two Gentlemen of Verona, When Speed accuses his master of “puling [whimpering or whining] like a beggar at Hallowmas.”

In Scotland and Ireland guising, the practice of children dressed in costumes going door to door and asking for food or coins, is a traditional Halloween custom. It was recorded in Scotland in 1895, where people dressed in costumes carrying lanterns from scooped out turnips, visiting homes to be rewarded with cakes, fruit and money. This practice also crossed the oceans to North America. It was first recorded in 1911, where a newspaper in Kingston, Ontario, Canada reported a group of children going “guising” around the neighborhood. Ruth Edna Kelley, A journalist of Massachusetts wrote the first book length history of the Halloween holiday in the US; The Book of Hallowe’en [1919]. There are references of souling in the chapter “Hallowe’en in America”;

“The taste in Hallowe'en festivities now is to study old traditions, and hold a Scotch party, using Burn’s poem Hallowe'en as a guide; or to go a-souling as the English used. In short, no custom that was once honored at Hallowe'en is out of fashion now.”

Pagan Roots
While all of these practices look benign on the surface, and there are no records in mainstream literature of pagan involvement in this holiday; I have spoken to members of the pagan religion who state that there are ancient manuscripts recording practices of this holiday which give a much different version of its history.

Yes the practice was to honor the dead, but when there was no treat given to the caller’s at the door, the “spirits” of those dead souls [or rather the living family members who were of the Celtic or Gaelic religion] played tricks upon the homeowners. These tricks were things like burning down their barns, setting fire to the thatched roofs of their hovels or letting their animals out of the barn to get lost. There were other, more gruesome “tricks” that were played on neighbors who were better off – like their landlords, etc. My sources would not give me the details, as they didn’t want to upset me unnecessarily. Even if I knew them, I don’t think I would want to share them here for the very same reasons they weren’t shared with me. Knowing that this holiday's beginnings actually were pagan and occultic with evil doings involved should be enough, even without all of the gory details.

Redeeming The Time
So whether you believe the benign version or the tails I have been told by very reliable sources is up to you. Which ever you believe, you know that this celebration was and is not Christian in nature. So what do we do with it? In Colossians Paul says we should “redeem the time.”

Colossians 4:5-6, Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time. Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

Celebrate the Halloween Season as unto the Lord Jesus. Use the day to point others to His Way. Our church, Bread of Life Christian Fellowship of Mound House, NV, usually hold our annual “Creation Celebration” on that evening. We rearrange the church sanctuary with a labyrinth that displays all of the days of creation on wall-size panels. As you walk through the labyrinth you will see our artistic re-creation of the first six days of the history of the world, as told in Genesis chapter one. We play carnival-type games, show a Christian Video, serve treats and hand out small gifts and candy to our guests.

This is the way we have chosen to “redeem the time.” You and/or your church may want to look for other ways to redeem this holiday. Pray and ask God to lead you in what He would have you to do. Whatever you choose, just remember we are to walk in wisdom toward unbelievers and to speak with His grace when they ask why we celebrate in the way that we do.

… grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be glory both now and forever. Amen. II Peter 3:17-18

Jesus Describes His Bride

2011-09-25T18:50:00.000-07:00

Jesus Describes His Bride

‘One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls fullof the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you thebride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to amountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming downout of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance waslike that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had agreat, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On thegates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were threegates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on thewest. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the namesof the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod ofgold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like asquare, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found itto be 12,000 stadiain length, and as wide and high as it is long.He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, whichthe angel was using. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, aspure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kindof precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, thethird chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian,the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenthchrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.Thetwelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The greatstreet of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

I did not see a temple in the city, because the LordGod Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or themoon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is itslamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bringtheir splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there willbe no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it.Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful ordeceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book oflife.’ [2]

I know this is a large group of scriptures, so let’s breakit down. The angel told John that he would show him ‘the bride – the wife ofthe Lamb.’ Then he went on to describe a great city, the New Jerusalem comingdown out of heaven. It was a walled city twelve gates, formed like a cube.

TheWall - says that we are Sanctified/Setapart unto the Lord, our heavenly husband. Built of Jasper - Transparent - allis visible, nothing is hidden from His view.

12Foundations- hadthe Names of the Apostles in them. It was they who had been directly taught byJesus and then taught the early Christians what they had been taught.

TheCity [theBride] – was formed of pure gold – it was without any impurities orimperfections. Transparent - all is visible, nothing is hidden from His view.All have been refined as with fire, like pure gold in the refiner’s kettlesafter the slag has been scraped off of its surface.

Thefoundations were decorated with all kinds of precious jewels, just like acrown. These Preciousstones were a symbol of the Twelve Tribes of Israel [more precisely The Law andThe Prophets]. For these are the way those of ancient times were taught aboutJesus. They were the very same stones that God instructed Moses to put on theephod for the high priest to wear before the Lord as a representation of the twelvetribes of Israel.

These jewels arealso symbolic of the many crowns that are mentioned throughout the Bible thatwill be rewarded to us at His final coming. When He rewards all for the thingswe have done and the things the things we have not done. These crowns are: The IncorruptibleCrown, the Crown of Rejoicing,the Crown of Righteousness, the Crown of Life, Crown of Glory and Honor, theCrowns of Gold, the Beautiful Crown, the Crown of Loving Kindness, the Crown ofHis Tender Mercies, the Crown of Knowledge, the Holy Crown, and the RoyalCrown. He rewards us with these crowns because for our faithfulness and for theacts we do in His name. But we must recall the crown He wore in our placeduring His last hours on earth; the crown of disgrace that He bore for us – thecrown of thorns.

So thefoundations of the Heavenly Bride are the teachings of the Apostles, sprinkledwith the teachings of the Law and the Prophets and decorated with the jewels ofthe many precious crowns that are waiting for us when we meet Jesus at Hisfinal return. They are yet to come, but here with us in effigy in the symbolismof our likeness as his bride in His final revelation to the apostle John whileon the Isle of Papmos.

12Gates –Had the names of the 12 tribes of Israel on them.

The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made ofa single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparentglass. Revelation 19:21

Boughtwith a great price, like the Pearl of Great Price that a man gave all that he ownedto possess[3]- We are this [these] Pearl[s]; one Pearl for all the gates. He paid thegreatest price to obtain it; His death on the cross.

Eachgate in the Old city of Jerusalem had a specific purpose and symbolic meaning,these meanings were all fulfilled in Jesus’ life, death and resurrection - hepaid it all and fulfilled it all, once and for ALL!

TheTwelve Gates of the ancient city of Jerusalem were the Sheep Gate, The FishGate, The Old Gate, The Valley Gate, The Dung Gate, The Fountain Gate, TheWater Gate, The Horse Gate/King’s Gate, The East Gate/Beautiful Gate/GoldenGate, The Ephraim Gate, and The Prison Gate. Here I will share how Jesusfulfills all of these gates in us.

TheSheep Gate– This is the Gate through which the temple sacrifices were brought into thecity. Jesus is the perfect lamb that was slain for the sins of the world. Ilike to believe that on the day He was crucified He was led through this gateon the way to the hill of Golgotha.

‘Hewas oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is broughtas a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so heopeneth not his mouth.’ Isaiah 53:7

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him andsaid, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This isthe one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me becausehe was before me.' John 1:29, 30

The Fish Gate - the fish, and other wares forsale, were brought into the market place through this gate. This gate issymbolic of our jobs, careers or occupations and that we should be occupiedwith the cares of God’s Kingdom.

As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he sawtwo brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting anet into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will makeyou fishers of men.” ²⁰At once they left their nets and followed him. [4]

Jesus called these fishermen to become ‘fishers of men.’They were the first of many that He called to this purpose. Jesus recognizedthat they were employed, and offered them new employment for the Kingdom ofGod. We as His followers today He has also given the occupation of beingfishers of men. The compulsion of fishing for the souls of men in order to drawothers into His kingdom was and is of greatest importance. For only those whoare a part of the Kingdom of God, are the Bride of Christ.

TheOld Gate- is said to be representative of the Old Covenant; which is the Covenant godgave to Abraham. This covenant was renewed generation by generation through Himspeaking to the Old Testament patriarchs. Many feel that the Old Covenant wasthe Law that was handed down to Moses. Even so, Jesus fulfilled every aspect ofthe law in His life, death, burial and resurrection.

¹⁷“Donot think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not cometo abolish them but to fulfill them. ¹⁸ I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear,not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any meansdisappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Matthew 5:17, 18

All that was foretold by the Prophets and Patriarchs wasfulfilled while Jesus was here the first time through the things that He saidand did, except for one thing – The Feast Of Trumpets. This feast, last of theOld Testaments celebrations, may also be called the Marriage Supper of TheLamb. And it will be fulfilled when Christ returns for His bride. When all isfulfilled then what Jesus said in the passage above will be accomplished. TheLaw and the Prophets will be done, complete. Hallelujah!

TheValley Gate– this gate led to the Valley of Hinnom, and the place called Gehenna.Originally it was a place dedicated to the worship of Molech and the burninghuman sacrifices. Later it was a place where the fires never went out from allof the defiled things, refuse – garbage, which were burnt there. As Davidimplied in His most known Psalm, Valleys in our life are dark places.

I have thought on these dark places. I take it from thestudy of topography. Mountaintops have nice, scenic views. So they are symbolicof the high times we have in the Spirit. We can look down on the battles justfought and the victories won and rejoice. But there is little growth going onthere on the peaks.

Inthe valleys growth takes place. It is also where the mountain streams flowthrough to nourish the growth on their way to the seas. The living waters ofthe Holy Spirit strengthen and feed us in our valleys and bring growth in our spirits.And when we pass the test Jesus leads us to the mountaintops once again.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow ofdeath, I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.[5]

Mountaintop experiences arewonderful; victory is celebrated there. But we all need the valleys, for this is where the growing is done.Accept your valleys, and learn much. Then come to the mountaintops to celebrateyour victories with Jesus and other saints who have also triumphed!

TheDung Gate- The way to the trash dump. This is figurative of what our righteousness is inthe eyes of God, before Salvation. And how He imputed the righteousness ofJesus to us when we answered His call came to Him for salvation. We all have topass through the Dung Gate before coming to the Cross. We must realize that weare sinners and that we need a Savior. We need Jesus to remove the dung and toclothe us in His righteousness.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all ourrighteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and ouriniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6 KJV.

I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in myGod. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robeof righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as abride adorns herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

What is more, I consider everything a loss compared tothe surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I havelost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, nothaving a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which isthrough faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith.Philippians 3:8-9

Jesushas taken out the trash that once was within the Bride. She has walked throughthe Dung Gate and left the refuse far behind!

The Fountain Gate – this gate was near the pool ofSiloam. It was said to be representative of the Holy Spirit. It may have beenbuilt by an artesian well, thus contained ‘living’ water. Jesus spoke of giving‘living water’ to the Samaritan woman at the well:

The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and Iam a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do notassociate with Samaritans.)

¹⁰Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks youfor a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you livingwater.”

¹¹“Sir,” the woman said, “you have nothing to draw with and the well is deep.Where can you get this living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us thewell and drank from it himself, as did also his sons and his flocks and herds?”

¹³Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks the waterI give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him aspring of water welling up to eternal life.”

¹⁵The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirstyand have to keep coming here to draw water.”[6]

When we receive Salvation in Christ Jesus, we are givenHis Holy Spirit to live within us. He leads and guides us in our new life. Butthere is more of the Spirit of God available to as many as ask for it. Jesusspoke of it in Luke 24:49, KJV:

And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you:but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from onhigh.

And the gift was given to men for the first time in Acts2:1-4: When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. ² Suddenly a sound like theblowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house wherethey were sitting. ³They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest oneach of them. ⁴ Allof them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues asthe Spirit enabled them.

This fullness of the Holy Spirit is still available forall believers today, seek God with all of your heart, in truth and sincerity,and He will pour it out on you.

Romans 11:29: … for God’s gifts and his call areirrevocable.

So just believe and receive. Walk through the FountainGate to receive the living waters of His Holy Spirit. May they always bubbleforth from within you.

The Water Gate - The Gibeonites [water bearers dueto their deceit to Joshua and all of Israel][7]brought in the water to be used in the city through this gate.

This gate was said to be symbolic of the word of God; ofwhich Paul said in Ephesians 5:25-27; Husbands, love your wives, just asChrist loved the church and gave himself up for her ²⁶ to make her holy, cleansingher by the washing with water through the word, ²⁷ and to present her to himselfas a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holyand blameless.

Weknow the word of God as the Bible. When this verse was spoken the written wordof God was just the Old Testament. But Jesus also spoke God’s word while Hewalked among us. He allowed us to see how to live rightly by His verylife. His apostles carried Jesus’ wordsin their hearts and minds, and spoke them again and again through out theirministry. They also carried His example of holy living within them, and didtheir best to live likewise.

Whenwe study the Bible, it washes our hearts and minds, renewing them and purifyingus continually. As long as we follow after God and live according to theexample given in His word. This is exactly what Paul was saying to theEphesians in the passage above. This is what walking through the Water Gate isall about.

TheHorse Gate- This was the King's Gate, the gate through which His horsemen rodewhen going to or from battle. In the Old Testament the Israelites were alwaysfighting the enemies that lived around them – the Philistines, Amorites,Ammonites, etc. As Christians we also battle continually. But Paul tells usthat ours is not a physical battle like Israel of old fought; no it is aspiritual battle:

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, butagainst the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this darkworld and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.[8]

Whenwe have committed ourselves to Jesus, He becomes our King, and the Battlebelongs to the Him. He gave us armor for protection and weapons to defendourselves with:

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mightypower. ¹¹ Put on thefull armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes …Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, youmay be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.¹⁴ Stand firm then,with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate ofrighteousness in place, ¹⁵and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel ofpeace. ¹⁶ In additionto all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all theflaming arrows of the evil one. ¹⁷Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word ofGod. ¹⁸ And pray inthe Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With thisin mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.[9]

And we never fight alone; we fight in the power andstrength of the Lord God Almighty!

All those gathered here will know that it is not bysword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s, and he willgive all of you into our hands. 1 Samuel 17:47

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was awhite horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judgesand makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns.He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed ina robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heavenwere following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white andclean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down thenations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepressof the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.[10]

Praisebe to Jesus – He fights beside us, in us and through us!

TheEast Gate- Also call the Beautiful or Golden Gate. This is the gate where, it isbelieved, the Messiah will enter the Jerusalem when he returns. It isthe gate of our heart that He enters when we make Him King and Lord of ourlife. It is also symbolic of the gate into our heavenly home.

Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So beearnest, and repent. ²⁰Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opensthe door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.

²¹ To him who overcomes, I will give the right tosit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on histhrone.[11]

AsChristians, as Christ’s Bride, we have been seated with Him in heavenlyplaces since the beginning of our relationship with Him. For we have allowedHim entrance into the throne room of our very heart. The heavenly throne issymbolic. It represents the place where Jesus dwells continually; and thatplace is in our inner most being. I know that I have said this before, but itbears repeating here. The place that Jesus went to prepare for us[12]is not some mystical mansion high in the skies and called heaven; no it is therooms of our heart and mind. This is the place He most wants to dwell in, sothis is place He has gone to prepare. To sweep out the cobwebs of our pastlives and make it totally new. Davidwanted Jesus to be able to dwell within him when he wrote Psalm 51, for hesaid:

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; wash me,and I will be whiter than snow.⁸Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.⁹ Hide your face from my sinsand blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰Createin me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.¹¹ Do not cast me from yourpresence or take your Holy Spirit from me.¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grantme a willing spirit, to sustain me.[13]

When David prayed these things the Holy Spirit didn’tlive within men, He came and went as men’s hearts were prepared or not. Davidhad felt the presence of the Holy Spirit many times, but here the Spirit wasgone. David had sinned and the Spirit had left him. David had a heart thattruly wanted to serve God, so he repented and asked the Lord to let His Spiritreturn to lead and guide him once more.

Behold the King has entered the East Gate of ALL who haveasked Him to rule and reign within them! And yet we still await His ultimatereturn to earth to carry His Bride away. Come quickly, Lord Jesus, come.

TheMiphkad Gate - This is the gate of Inspection and is said to be symbolic ofthe Great White Throne Judgment. Allmen, saints and sinners alike, will be judged of God at Christ’s return.

‘But now he [Christ][14]has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to do away with sin by thesacrifice of himself. ²⁷Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, ²⁸ so Christ was sacrificed onceto take away the sins of many people …’

Hebrews 9:26b-28a

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we areat home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgmentseat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things donewhile in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10

As Paul has said, we must inspect ourselves to see ifthere be any sin within. For Jesus will inspect us at the final judgment to seeif we pass muster, so to speak. He will separate us according to what we havedone for Him and His Kingdom, as in Matthew:

TheSheep and the Goats

³¹“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he willsit on his throne in heavenly glory. ³² All the nations will be gathered before him, and he willseparate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from thegoats. ³³ He will putthe sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right,‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdomprepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me somethingto eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger andyou invited me in, ³⁶I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I wasin prison and you came to visit me.’

³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, whendid we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?³⁸ When did we seeyou a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick orin prison and go to visit you?’

⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth,whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did forme.’

⁴¹ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Departfrom me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil andhis angels. ⁴² For Iwas hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave menothing to drink, ⁴³I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did notclothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’

⁴⁴ “They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we seeyou hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison,and did not help you?’

⁴⁵ “He will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whateveryou did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’

⁴⁶ “Then they will go away to eternal punishment,but the righteous to eternal life.”

Readingthrough this passage again, I am reminded of the song Keith Green wrote basedon it. I have to agree with his findings; the only difference between the sheepand the goats is what they did and did not DO. In fact it is the same asthe difference between the wise and foolish virgins we discussed just a fewpages ago.

Sheep are relatively docile creatures, and Christ likenedthe church to them on more than one occasion. Sheep are known for followingtheir shepherd. Yes you get a rare one occasionally that tries to go astray,but by and large sheep are followers.

Goatson the other hand are rather stubborn. They prefer to break free from theshepherd when he is leading them to a pasture of sweet, green grass, beside thebabbling brook. Their eyes have caught sight of a tin can that they MUST gocheck out. They toss it about and play ‘kick the can’ with it for a while.Finally when they get tired of it, they toss it one last time and catch it intheir mouth to devour it. Later that night when they are trying to sleep thatcan they were so fond of earlier in the day has given them indigestion. Go Figure!

Peopleare just like the sheep and the goats. And Jesus will separate us into ourrespective herds at the final judgment and send us where we belong for alleternity. I am so glad that I have finally decided not to tug against theshepherd’s crook, and to be happy to just follow after Him forever.

So,which herd do you think you belong in?

Joshuasaid to the Israelites long ago, and Jesus repeats the appeal to us today:

But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, thenchoose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods yourforefathers served beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose landyou are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.”[15]

Choose today whom you will truly serve – and prepare forthe final judgment of God where we will all walk through the Miphkad Gate to our finaldestination.

TheEphraim Gate - A Northern Gate looking out over the land of Ephraim [whichmeans doubly fruitful - Jew & Gentile / Earthly & Heavenly]

I will surely bless you and make your descendants asnumerous as the stars in the sky and as the sand on the seashore. Yourdescendants will take possession of the cities of their enemies, ¹⁸ and through your offspringall nations on earth will be blessed, because you have obeyed me.” Genesis22:17-18

We are the children of the promise God made to Abraham.We are the Israel of God. Paul reminds us of this:[16]

May I never boast except in the cross of our LordJesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to theworld. ¹⁵ Neithercircumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. ¹⁶ Peace and mercy to all whofollow this rule, even to the Israel of God.

As children of the promise to Abraham, we are blessed;and we are blessed again as children of God and joint heirs with Jesus.

The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit thatwe are children of God, ¹⁷and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeedwe suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. Romans 8:16-17NKJV

It matters not to God whether you are Jewish, or Gentile,slaves or freemen. He has called each of us to be children of the promise,children of God Most High. He has called ALL to receive His double portion; Histwo fold blessing.

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach thegospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel ofChrist: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth;to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness ofGod revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live byfaith. Romans 1:15-17

By accepting Him we show Hisrighteousness to the world. For once we walked in darkness of spirit, but whenJesus comes within, we walk in the light, for He is that very Light!

And you will be called priests of the LORD, you willbe named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and intheir riches you will boast.⁷Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead ofdisgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit adouble portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs.⁸ “For I, the LORD, lovejustice; I hate robbery and iniquity. In my faithfulness I will reward them andmake an everlasting covenant with them. Isaiah 61:6-8

The Bride walks through the Ephraim Gate and receives adouble portion from her Heavenly Bridegroom. Come walk through the gate, be ofher; and be eternally, Doubly Blessed!

ThePrison Gate- This is where they held prisoners [the jail]. Peter is seen in Acts 12 beingled out of this gate by an angel. Each of us, before we came to Jesus, were inprison to our various sins and vices. He came to set the captives free. He alsosets actual prisoners free from their jail cells. I know this personally. I wasin a California jail facing a year in prison and a large fine, but Jesus gaveme a second chance [or possibly my 100^th]. He saw my heart andshowed it to the judge who in the Mercy of the Lord set me free after servingonly seven days, and without any fine.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because theLORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind upthe brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³ and provide for those whogrieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, theoil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, aplanting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. Isaiah61:1-3

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,and news about him spread through the whole countryside. ¹⁵ He taught in theirsynagogues, and everyone praised him.

¹⁶He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day hewent into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read. ¹⁷ The scroll of the prophetIsaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he hasanointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedomfor the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release theoppressed, ¹⁹ toproclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, ²¹ and he began by saying tothem, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Luke 4:14-21

Jesus announced in His home church that He was theirMessiah, but they rejected Him. They were in bondage to the traditions and lawsof the Jewish Religion. Jesus was offering them freedom. They didn’t believe orreceive what He had to say. They could not accept that He was opening the doorsto their own personal prisons. They were bound and blind. The final gate theBride has walked through is the Prison Gate. She is Free At Last!

While John the Baptist was in Herod’s prison he sent his disciplesto Jesus to ask if He were the one, or if they were to keep looking. In replyJesus quoted part of this very passage in Isaiah:

When the men came to Jesus, they said, “John theBaptist sent us to you to ask, ‘Are you the one who was to come, or should weexpect someone else?’”

²¹At that very time Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evilspirits, and gave sight to many who were blind. ²² So he replied to the messengers, “Go back andreport to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lamewalk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, andthe good news is preached to the poor. ²³ Blessed is the man who does not fall away onaccount of me.” [17]

Jesus came in days of old to set us free from whateverprisons that were holding us captive, keeping us from worshiping Him andenjoying His presence in our lives. But there are many who refuse to unstoptheir ears and open their eyes to the truth of His gospel of peace.

Those of the Bride have walked through the 12 gates intheir walk with Him. They are preparing to spend all eternity with Him when Hereturns. May ALL be so prepared!

The great street of the city was of pure gold, liketransparent glass. Rev 21:21b

Thestreet was of pure gold, transparent and clear as glass - the way through thecity was clothed with the righteousness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy of Holiesis now within the heart of every believer. It is no longer hidden behind theveil of the temple, or the dark recesses of our finite minds. But living andbreathing and in full view of all who would behold it. And it is in the heartof the Bride, right where it belongs!

I did not see a temple in the city, because the LordGod Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

Revelation 21: 22

AsHis Bride, we are the true abode of Jesus. He is our Lord God Almighty. WithHim living inside of us, we live and move and have our being truly in Him andHim alone. He is our Life, our very reason for existence. Therefore, there isno longer any place for a physical temple for God to dwell in. For He has beenallowed access to the temple He originally created as His dwelling place. Thehearts and lives of the men and women He created!

The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine onit, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp.Revelation 21:23

This perfect abode of God has no need of any artificiallight. It only has need of that Light which comes directly from Him. The lesserlights of sun, moon, and stars pale in comparison to that true illuminationwhich comes for Jesus alone and shines through the lives of His followers. Forthey have found True Light and no longer does darkness dwell in them or aroundthem in any way. They have truly been given to the Light in every aspect oftheir being. They have learned the truth of 'dio a luz'[18]. . . 'given to light!' The Bride has been birthed into everlasting Life andLight of Jesus, her Beloved.

On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there.Revelation 21:25

Thisnew life in His light CAN'T be shut up behind any gate or wall, it shines forthand will make itself known wherever it may be - it can't be hidden under abushel, or any other barrier. It knows no boundaries. And no darkness or nightcan abide anywhere close to it. There is no evil that can take up residencewithin His Light, nor can any sickness or sin. They have all been vanishedforever!

And thenations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings ofthe earth do bring their glory and honor into it. Revelation 21:26

In this verse Hefulfills for eternity His promise to Abraham that all the nations of the earthshall be blessed through his descendant, his seed.

Christhath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for itis written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing ofAbraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receivethe promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner ofmen; though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no mandisannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promisesmade. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed,which is Christ.[19]

Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone whodoes what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written inthe Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27

Onewho is a true part of Christ's Bride will have no room within them to allowanything in that is not of Him. He is Truth; no lie can enter in. He is Light;no darkness can exist in His presence. He is Holy and Righteous; hatred,deceit, wickedness or anything evil cannot come near to Him or to those thatare His. Only those found written in the Lamb's book of Life - the TrueBelievers and Followers - will be a part of His everlasting Kingdom; His Holyand Perfect Bride!

… And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, soshall thy God rejoice over thee. Isaiah 62:5b

And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, comingdown from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.Revelation 21:2

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let himthat heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will,let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17

Yes we, HisBride, are the heavenly New Jerusalem, the Great and Coming City of Peace,Ruled by the Prince of Peace; Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lordsand our Heavenly Husband; Amen.

Even so, Lord Jesus, Come!

__________________________________________________________

[1] Ephesians 5:25b-27

[2] Revelation21:9-27

[3] Matthew13:45-47

[4] Matthew4:18-20

[5] Psalms 23:4

[6] John 4:9-15

[7] Joshua 9

[8] Ephesians6:12

[9] Ephesians6:10-11 and 13-18

[10] Revelation19:11-15

[11] Revelation3:19-21

[12] John 14:1-3

[13] Psalms51:7-12

[14] Words inparenthesis added for clarity.

[15] Joshua24:15

[16] Galatians6:15-16

[17] Luke7:20-23

[18] This is aSpanish term for childbirth. How appropriate for those who are born again.

[19] Galatians 3:13-16

Are You Single After Losing Your Mate?

2011-02-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

I can’t say that I can that I can relate to you; I have never been where you are. So I won’t try to sell you any platitudes. But our God can relate to all of us, no matter what season of life we may be in. God can use you to do many things that we who have not been married to the love of our lives yet are not prepared to do. I am reminded of the prophetess Anna who met Jesus when Joseph and Mary took Him into the temple for His very first time, to present Him to the Lord. She makes her appearance in Luke 2:36-38 NIV; ‘There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.’ Anna went from being a daughter in her father’s home to being a wife, then a widow after only seven years in the home of her husband. But she loved the Lord, so she went to live in the temple and serve God for the rest of her life. The Bible doesn’t mention that she had children, but as she made a home for herself in the temple, I think that we can say that her marriage didn’t produce children before her husband died.

I do know one woman of God who has in recent years become a widow; her name is Nancy, she is my mom. Mom and dad were married in 1957 and spent the next 51+ years together. Their marriage was a partnership was one of three parts; God, mom and dad. Together hey raised five children in the best way they knew how. There were bumps along the way, but we mostly turned out OK. Now that dad has passed into eternity, mom is learning her new position, both in her life and in her relationship with Jesus. But she is not alone; she has the support of her biological family and her church family. Two of my brothers have moved into her home to help her with the upkeep and expenses. My oldest brother has also taken on the job of what he lovingly calls ‘the granny nanny.’ He stays with our grandmother while mom works.

Mom is an RN. She works in a rehab hospital caring for people who are unable to care for themselves, either short term or long term. Being a nurse was something she always wanted to do. But because she married dad right after graduating from high school, she put off her dream of being a nurse until after she had finished raising us. Then she went back to school and graduated from WNCC in 1992 with an AA degree and her RN nursing certificate – she only had to pass the state boards to be a licensed nurse.

Although she came into her career later in life, God knew that it was her calling from the very beginning. And He prepared her for it all along the way. Now in her new found singleness she is still using her hands to work His gifts of healing in the lives of her patients. God gave her her calling when she was a young girl living at home with her mother. But her not fulfilling this calling until later in life was all a part of His plan for her life. He knew that my dad would leave her while she was still young at heart and not ready to retire yet. She is still working full time and caring for others as she has done for her children until we were grown and gone, and like she did for daddy until he no longer needed her to any more. I know that she will continue to minister for Jesus in her work place until He gives her a new direction for her life.

Now she hasn’t always been happy in her life of singleness since my father passed away. In fact she went through a time of grief and depression. She had to go through the whole process of letting go of the pain of losing the love of her life. But she did so by seeking the guidance of our pastors and reading God’s word. For it is God alone who gives her, and any of us, the strength that needed to get up every day and encourages her all along the way.

Philippians 1:21-26 NIV says, ‘for to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.’

I feel that mom has taken this passage written by the apostle Paul to heart. As long as she lives, she will serve Jesus in the callings He has given her in her work place, in her home and in her church. If you find yourself without your mate, you can hold onto this passage, too. I am sure that she will always have days when she misses my dad, but she still has Jesus as her Heavenly Husband to take care of her. He does a better job than she could ever do on her own or even if she had a new husband to fill the void left by my dad’s passing. And she does put her trust in Jesus to take care of her now and forever.

Make Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV your new guide for life; ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.’ And believe that Jesus cares for you and knows what is best for you no matter where you are in your life’s timeline!

Singleness With Children

2011-01-29T20:04:00.000-08:00

This I feel may be the hardest part of living a life of singleness; and I have lived it. Most of the time that my children lived under my roof I was a single mom. It is a very hard job, for not only do you have to be the mother, but you will also be dependant on in many of the same ways as their father would be if he were still in your home and in their lives.

I am the mother of two, now adult, children. I was there only source of support, and I didn’t due a good job of it most days. I married, or lived with, men that I thought would be good fathers for them; only to find out that my choices only brought them more hurt and damage to the minds, bodies and spirits. Their father was physically, emotionally and sexually abusive. But I felt that I deserved his abuse, as I had been unfaithful early in our marriage. I stayed in this unhappy union until the day he started abusing our daughter. As soon as I could get a way out, I left him and never looked back. But he was not the last man that I would attempt to have a life with; both for my fulfillment and theirs, too.

My second husband and their first stepfather was a pedophile who sexually assaulted my daughter for four years until one night when she was 10 years old and spoke three little words to me that changed our lives forever. She said, ‘Daddy hurt me.’ Those were the worst words she ever spoke to me and were also my worst nightmare. In those three words I learned that this man that I had met in church had been a liar and a thief.

He had lied his way into our hearts by claiming that he was a Christian. He even went to church with us every Sunday and became a member of its deacon board. But I learned through our recovery process from his sin that he had given his heart over to a generational spirit of sexual sin. Did you know that the sin of another could damage your spirit? They can. For you will be wrapped up in his lies and lost in his arms of loving care. All the while that he is speaking his love into your ears he may be sneaking out of you marriage bed into the bed of an innocent child. I learned my husband would make love to me while thinking of my little girl laying in her bed and what he was planning to do to her once I was fast asleep.

My son slept in the same room with my daughter, but we had put up a plywood partition down the middle to give them each their own space. He became quiet and sullen for days at a time and I couldn’t figure out why, until the night my daughter finally told my husband’s secret. I remember that he even tried to physically attack this man whom they had called daddy. It was very reminiscent of David and Goliath, my son was barely three feet tall and of very small bone structure, but this man was five feet 10 inches tall and quite rotund. My then ‘tiny Tim’ of a son is now a soldier in the US army and has spent time in Iraq fighting the armies of our enemies.

When all came to light this man was put into prison and we began the healing process, together. It took us years to get to a place were we could trust again, but we grew through the healing together, with the help of many councilors, prayers and the help of our pastors and our family. Some of the pain form this time I can still see in the faces of my children. I still pray for them to fully recover and to give their lives over to Jesus once and for all time.

My second attempt of providing a new father for my children didn’t fair much better. This man had many psychological problems, many of which I will never know of. Went we met he was going to the same church that a friend attended and I met him after service one Sunday morning .

The kids and I had come home to Carson City, Nevada and mom and dad’s house for Christmas. While we were gone someone broke into our apartment and vandalized it on Christmas Eve. I got the phone call from my Sister and Brother in law early on Christmas morning. When I told the kids, they didn’t want to go back. So my mother and I went back to Oroville, packed up what was salvageable and moved us into their spare bedroom and our belongings into their pump house.

While we were living with my parents I started dating this man who was my friend’s friend. We started dating in January and got married in November, the day after Thanksgiving 1992.

I knew that he had some mental issues, but didn’t know the extent until some months later. He had a mental breakdown while working one day and his doctors recommended that we move away from his parents as they exacerbated his problems. So we moved into a small town in northern California called Westwood. He was not mentally able to hold down a job, so I became the sole financial support of our family. This caused me to be away from home many hours six days a week. My husband would follow my children all over town when they weren’t in school. And when I was home, he would stalk me, too. Along with this stalking he became verbally abusive. Eventually he totally snapped and tried to end my life by throwing me down two flights of stairs. It was shortly after this that my friends talked him into taking a vacation to see his parents. I bought him a one-way ticket back to Carson City and then proceeded to file an order of protection against him so that he could no longer be within 500 feet of my children or me. Our relationship lasted less than two years, but we weren’t divorced until 1997 when I met who I thought would be my third and last husband. What a joke was on me!

This man picked me up when I was very broken in mind and spirit. I ‘fell in love’ but he fell into control. My mind was so shattered that I lived in my own internal world and blocked out the real world. I took care of my children’s physical needs – fed them, clothed them and provided them with a warm home. We had another single woman and her son sharing our home so that we could afford to live in a larger place on a five-acre plot of land. I needed more money than welfare gave us to pay all of our expenses, so I went to work, under the table, for a local bar and grill that was close enough to home that I could walk if needed. This bar belonged to his mother, so we became good friends and after a few months lovers.

In October of 1996 my children and I moved in with him. He was a good man, but he was not a Christian and he felt he had no time for God in his life. I later learned that he actually felt that he was undeserving of anything that God might like to give him, including forgiveness. For he had committed great sin, the sin of which Cain was also guilty. After I left him I returned to ask for his forgiveness and to give him forgiveness, too. What I found was a man who was more dead inside than alive – dead in his spirit and just about as dead in his body. But he was still adamant that he was not in need of a savior as he was a good man.

This man didn’t abuse my children or me, at least not in ways that most would consider abuse. His abuse was in the way that he felt that he could have total control us. I accepted his control for seven years, but my children would not. My daughter met a boy at 16 that she ‘fell in love’ with, but later learned it was only lust. She became pregnant, they got married when she was 17 and spent a very bad 11 years together. My son rebelled in this house of control and left my home just after his 15th birthday. He moved from my home to my parents house, then to my sister and brother in law’s house and finally to the house of my youngest brother, as he was very hard to handle and had a hot temper. He has since learned to control his temper and to put the energy to work for him in better, though not godly, ways.

So why have I told you my horror stories? I tell them to you to tell you that you don’t have to live through these things if you choose to live your life walking hand in hand with Jesus. Since I have dedicated my life totally into His keeping I know that I can make better decisions for my children. But I no longer have that opportunity as they are grown, married, and have children of their own. So I want to share with you how you who still have children in your homes and are single can make the best decisions for them and for yourself.

In James 6:2-6 God says; ‘Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.’

We single women face temptations every day, but James tells us that we should see them through hearts of joy. Joy, not happiness, for happiness is dependant on the happenings around us going well. But joy is from the Holy Spirit of God that lives within us and keeps us always seeking the face of Jesus, especially when times get rough. One of our temptations as single mothers is to look for the easy way out for us and for our children. Now most of us know that taking what looks like the easy way out never ends up being as easy as it seemed in the beginning. This is why James tells us to ask God for wisdom. Now James also says that when we ask we must ask in faith believing that God will give it to us. Because if we doubt God, we will be tossed about and battered by the storms of life; much as I was when I sought out my answers on my own when I was raising my children. But if we believe God not only will He give us the wisdom we seek, He will give it to us generously!

James also says that we need to walk in perseverance, as perseverance is used to bring us to a place of completeness in our spirits and maturity in our hearts and minds – building our faith in God all along the way. Now you would think with all the things I have experienced in my life that my faith would be full grown by now; but you would be wrong. I still have times of doubt and periods when my faith is very lacking. But God uses these times in me to test me just as He will in you; for we will not be fully complete or mature in our faith until Jesus comes to claim His Bride and take her home with Him for eternity. So I, like you, have to be totally dependant on Jesus for meeting the needs, the needs of my home and my heart. But I know where to look for the things they each need; it is the same place you must look for meeting the needs of your family and yourself, too. In the word of God.

Philippians 4:11-13 says; ‘I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ Paul found that He could depend on Jesus to meet all of his needs, no matter what they were. He never asked those he serve in this spreading of the gospel to support him, he knew that God was in control and would see to it that he was well taken care of. Even while Paul was in prison members of the Christian faith that came to see him and bring him the things that he had need of. The only prompting they had in doing this was the leading of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

But Jesus didn’t mean for all of us to hide our needs so that He could meet them. He also told us in James 5:13-16 to bring our needs to the body of believers. Lets read the passage together; ‘is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.’

Ok, so this all sounds surreal, but it is true. God has met my needs through the prayers of the saint, their faith combined with mine. Let me share a couple of these instances.

When I was very new in the Lord and very much inexperienced in the ways He has to provide for us I found myself in need of gas to get back and forth to work. I only had $1 between me and next payday, which was a week away. That night I went to a Bible study with my sister and her group of young adults and college students. The leaders of the group, Gene and Hazel, asked for all those with needs to come into the middle of the circle and the rest of the group would pray for us, that God would meet our needs whatever they were. No one asked me what my need was. Only my sister and I knew that my gas tank was empty and that I still had another week before I would get paid. Yet we all prayed in faith, and believed that Jesus would meet all the needs present. The next morning on my way to work I paid for a dollar’s worth of gas and pumped the same; yet when I got into the car and looked at the gas gauge the tank was full. Jesus had filled my tank with 20 gallons of gas, but I had only paid for and pumped for 1 1/3 gallons [gas was 75 cents a gallon then, so you know it was a while ago]. This was my very first experience of God meeting my needs in a miraculous way.

The other experience I want to tell you about has happened about five and a half years ago. I had been working for a call center in Reno for a little over a year. When I first started there it was a very good place to work, but after about three months a larger corporation bought out the provider we were working for and the working conditions became unbearable for me. We were being treated more like money machines than people and it was taking a physical and spiritual toll on me. I would cry as I drove into work each day and again as I drove home each afternoon. I was miserable and I let God and my church family know how I felt. We all began praying and asking God to show me what new job He would move me into.

When it came time for me to take my vacation I started looking for a new job and found nothing. But God told me to walk out in faith, trusting that He would supply all of my needs, so I trusted Him completely. I went in to pick up my paycheck after the first week of my vacation and gave my notice. I told them that when my vacation was over I would not be returning. I walked out of that building with only one more week’s income coming in, but I walked out know that I would never have to cry my way into or out of my workplace ever again.

I won’t tell you that God immediately opened the doors to my new and better job, no I worked a couple of different temp jobs while I waited for Him to put me in that position. But I prayed and tried to listen to His leading. One day I knew that God told me to take a job at McDonalds. Now I was 40 something years old and had never worked for a fast food place before, and I didn’t want to ever do so. And I let God know so, but He really did know best. I took a job working as a receptionist/repairman dispatcher for a small businessman. I quickly learned that this man had no godly practices when it came to his business. He wanted me to lie to his customers and his suppliers in order to make him look good. But God told me that I couldn’t work for this man, no matter what he was paying, and it was quite a good wage. I worked for him for less than a week and quit, standing on my belief that God wouldn’t want any of his children to work for a man who didn’t follow his plans for his life or his business.

Now here I was once again with no job and God yelling in my ear that I was supposed to have applied at McDonalds, so I went down to the McDonalds that I had first seen the ‘help wanted’ ad painted on their front windows, walked in the door and requested to speak with the manager about a job. I handed her my resume, filled out an application and 15 minutes later I walked out with a job. It was a part-time position that was supposed to work into full time after a 90-day probation.

I worked there for about a week and a half but never got enough hours to pay my rent, so I started looking other places for a full time position during my time off. I asked God again to meet my needs and He did. I quit McDonalds on a Friday morning turning in my uniforms as I walked out the door. My son told me that he was making a go of working for a temp agency, so I went straight there from McDonalds and filled out an application. While I was in the office the manager got a call from HDFSI looking for a couple of temps right away. That was September 3, 2005, and I started there that day. During my third week on the job I heard that there was a full time position open in the customer service department. So I brought in my resume and met with the head of HR for an interview. I have been ministering for Jesus in that office for about five and a half years at this writing.

God has been so good to me there. Not only has he met my needs through placing me there in that place; but He has also used me to meet the needs of others while I have been in their employ.

If God can meet my needs, He can do the same for you, to. It does take unwavering faith in God and listening to His voice for the call on your life. And complete trust in Him as you follow His lead to meet you every need.

Proverbs 3:5-10 says; ‘Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.’

Let God be your guide in all situations. Like the verse says, ‘trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.’ When I was looking for work, I tried to trust in my own understanding and not in God’s, so it took me a while to find the path that He wanted me to walk. But it has been a lot easier walking His path than the ones that I had chosen. So if you follow God’s plan, and not my example, you will find His ways are much better than our own.

Those of you with children to raise yet are in the very best hands, God’s Hands! He has promised in Hebrews 13:5-6; ‘Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.’

Men may have left us, hurt us or caused us unmentionable heartache, but they can’t destroy us unless we allow them to. But God will never leave us. Oh yes, we can walk away from Him and many of us have, including me in times past, but he will always by right there where we left Him. So turn around, repent of your selfish, evil ways, and seek Him once more so that He can lead you in the right paths once again. Jesus said in John 14:6a; ‘Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life...’ He didn’t say He was a way, for there is no other way to life eternal but through accepting Him as Saviour and Lord. He did not say He was a truth, for He is ALL Truth incarnate. He also did not say He was a life, for through Him is the ONLY way we can live a Life worthy of Him and His Kingdom. He is the creator of all life and He alone is what true life is all about. In Him is the only way we can really live True Life.
Trust Jesus and give your kids into His care and He will lead you all through any situation you may encounter along your journey to the Heights!

Until next time!

Serving God In Singleness - The Choice Of One Who Can Accept It

2011-01-28T18:27:00.000-08:00

Today's reading is from Exodus 5:22-7:24, Matthew 18:23-19:12, Psalm 23:1-6, Proverbs 5:22-23

I want to focus today on Matthew 19:1-11; When Jesus had finished saying these things, he left Galilee and went into the region of Judea to the other side of the Jordan. 2 Large crowds followed him, and he healed them there. Some Pharisees came to him to test him. They asked, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any and every reason?” “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh?' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.” “Why then,” they asked, “did Moses command that a man give his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away?” Jesus replied, “Moses permitted you to divorce your wives because your hearts were hard. But it was not this way from the beginning. I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.” The disciples said to him, “If this is the situation between a husband and wife, it is better not to marry.” Jesus replied, “Not everyone can accept this word, but only those to whom it has been given.

Jesus starts off speaking to the Pharisees when they asked Him about the acceptible reasons for divorcing. They thought they could trip Him up with their questions, so they asked if a man may divorce for any and every reason? But Jesus was onto their tactics. He told them bluntly that God had never planned for men and women to divorce as when they were wed God made them one theywere no longer two, so how could men divide them?

So then the Pharisees asked why Moses had allowed a man to write his wife a certificate of divorce and send her away. Again Jesus answere that this was only permitted because of the hardness of men's hearts, not because of any change in God's plans of us. He wanted men to walk according to God's original plans for men and woman. Jesus gave only instances of adultry as frounds for divorcing.

After the Pharisees left the disciples went a little further in their questioning, lets read this portion in the Contempory English Version;

The disciples said, "If that's how it is between a man and a woman, it's better not to get married."

Jesus told them, "Only those people who have been given the gift of staying single can accept this teaching. Some people are unable to marry because of birth defects or because of what someone has done to their bodies. Others stay single for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. Anyone who can accept this teaching should do so."

I think that the disciples were just popping off like some of us did as children when we were reluctant to do what our parents had required of us. You know, pouting and stomping our feet in disgust amd dismay.

But Jesus understood this and let them know that staying single was only meant for those who were given the gift of being single, were malformed in some way or had chosen a single lifestyle in order to do more work for the Kingdom of Heaven.

Most men and women are meant ot live as married couples, and they do. But there are a few of us who will never marry, or remarry, as they feel called of God to work for Him and remain married only to Jesus for the rest of their lives. This is what the apostle Paul was also saying when he spoke of in I Corinthians 7:7-10, also in the Contempory English Version;

I wish that all of you were like me, but God has given different gifts to each of us. Here is my advice for people who have never been married and for widows. You should stay single, just as I am. But if you don't have enough self-control, then go ahead and get married. After all, it is better to marry than to burn with desire. I instruct married couples to stay together, and this is exactly what the Lord himself taught. A wife who leaves her husband should either stay single or go back to her husband. And a husband should not leave his wife.

So if you are wondering if you are to stay single or get married, or remarried, ask Jesus if you were chosen to receive this gift of singleness or to prepare for a life of wedded bliss. Only He knows what gifts He has for each of us.

My current gift and my calling at this time, and I feel may last for the rest of my life, is to remain single and minister to other women who are currently in this state.

Thank you Lord, for this gift of singleness! I hope I use it well and to your glory!

Until next time!

Messiah - Salvation - Was From The Very Beginning

2011-01-27T22:14:00.000-08:00

Today's reading is from Genesis 48:1-50:26, Exodus 1:1-5:21, Matthew 16:13-18:22, Psalm 20:1-22:31, Proverbs 4:20-5:21

I had a bit of catching up to do due to some medical issues I had to deal with this week. So today I caught up on my Bible reading.

What I want to focus on is Genesis 49:10, The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until he to whom it belongs shall come and the obedience of the nations shall be his.

Israel was prophesying about Jesus our Savior and Israel's true Messiah. David was remembering learning this prophecy in his youth in Psalm 2:6-9 when he wrote; “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” And in Psalm 60:6-8 when he wrote; God has spoken from his sanctuary: “In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Sukkoth. Gilead is mine, and Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah is my scepter. Moab is my washbasin, on Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph.” And in Psalm 72:8-11 when He wrote; May he rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. May the desert tribes bow before him and his enemies lick the dust. May the kings of Tarshish and of distant shores bring tribute to him. May the kings of Sheba and Seba present him gifts. May all kings bow down to him and all nations serve him.

Isaiah also refered to this prophecy of Israel's when he spoke his prophecy in Isaiah 11, specifically verses 1 and 3a; A shoot will come up from the stump of Jesse; from his roots a Branch will bear fruit. The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of might, the Spirit of the knowledge and fear of the LORD— and he will delight in the fear of the LORD.

This prophecy was fulfilled, totally completed when John wrote in Revelation 5:1-7, which reads; Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?” But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.” Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne.

God's plan for the redemption of mankind has been in the works since the very first sin was commited in the garden. All of the patriarchs knew of it as they talked to God while they walked this earth. All the prophets of old knew it, as He spoke it into their ears when He gave them His messages for children. King David knew it as he was taught it from his youth at the feet of his father Jesse. And John, the disciple whom Jesus loved knew it as He was there when it happened and was reminded of it when he was seeing The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which he wrote for us to have and to hold onto until Christ's return. What a wonderful God we serve!

Until Next Time!

The Deceiver ... Deceived

2011-01-13T18:47:00.000-08:00

Today's Reading is from Genesis 28:1-29:35, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 11:1-7 and Proverbs 3:11-12:

We have all heard or read the story of how Jacob bought the rights of the first born from his brother Esau when he was tired and hungry from hunting. I think he was trying to make happen all that his mother had told him of God's promise to her of His plans for her children. That promise was written in Genesis 25:22-26a. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, “Why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the LORD. The LORD said to her, “Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau’s heel; so he was named Jacob. This may be the very reason that started Rebekah's doting on her younger son. Jacob was born second, so she knew that it was he who would be the leader of the family after Isaac's death, because of God's promise. This proud mother repeated the promise of God to her sons while they were growing up. As Esau was born Jacob grabbed onto his heel and came out shortly after his older brother. And so a cliche was also born, right on the heels of his brother. The name Jacob in the Hebrew literally means 'he grasps the heel', but figuratively it means 'he deceives.'

So when Jacob found Esau in a weakend state he deceived him into giving up the rights of a first born son by selling him a bowl of lentil stew in exchange for these rights.

A few years later when Isaac felt he was near death he called Esau into his tent and asked him to go hunting and bring some game home to prepare him his favorite meal so Isaac could pass on the blessing to him and his family after him; but Rebekah heard her husband giving Esau these directions and she called Jacob to her and she plotted to have him receive Isaac's blessing instead of Esau. I think she was trying to fulfill God's promise for her favorite son, just as Jacob had stepped in when he bought the rights of the first born earlier in their lives. When Esau learned of his brother getting there ahead of him to get the blessing of their father he became angry and threatened to kill Jacob after the passing of their father and the mourning period.

To save Jacob from Esau's anger Rebekah sent him off to her brother's home in search of a wife, or so she told Isaac.

Now in today's reading Jacob in living and working for his uncle Laban and had been there for about a month. Laban asked Jacob what he thought his work was worth. Jacob, having fallen in love with Rachel, said that he work seven years to marry her. When the time had passes, Jacob came to Laban and requested his wages - his bride. Laban called the neighbors together and through a great feast to celebrate the wedding. That night he dressed the bride in the veils of their tradition, and sent her to Jacob in his tent. It was dark inside so his briide was not easy to see, but they went about the normal process of becoming one flesh, as is described in Genesis 2:24; That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united to his wife, and they become one flesh.

In the morning when all was bright in the sunlight of the day Jacob saw that he was now married to Leah, not Rachel - the love of his life. In his anger he confronted his uncle Laban who shrugged it off saying, 'It is not our custom to marry off the younger daughter before the oldest. Stay with Leah for the seven day bridal period and then you can marry Rachel. Laban knew a good thing when he saw it. He was getting 14 years of free labor from Jacob and marrying off both his daughters with our providing a dowry for either of them. He saw it as a win/win for both him and his daughters. Jacob loved Rachel so much that he agreed to Laban's terms and served seven more years, but to him they seemed as only a few days as he was so in love with her.

Now this is only the beginning of the deceptions that Jacob would suffer under Laban's hands. But I believe it is where Jacob begins learning that this is not how people should be treated. God has placed him in the Bible School of Hard Knocks and as we read through Genesis furthervwe will see the many lessons that he learns along the way.

Today the Deceiver has been deceived and learns that deception is not the right way to receive the promises of God. Deception has taken him away from his father and mother, lost him any relationship he might have had with his twin brother and has made him delay his marriage to his true love. Before he returns home to his family his mother dies and he will never see her again.

Such great losses he has had from his deception and that of others in his live. Let's hope he learned what we can from reading this passage, lets hope he learns to put the deception of others in his past and follow God's leading only in the future. We will read more on the life of jacob in the days ahead, and while we do lets ask God to remove any inclination toward deception from our hearts and give us a closer walk with Him.

Deception Vs Trust

Deception is taking matters in your own hands

While trying to see the fulfilling of God’s Plans

It’s lying and stealing while trying to receive

The things for which God only asked you to believe

Trust is leaving all thing is in the palm of God’s hands

It is for our good that He has laid down the best Plans

Watching and waiting for His perfect timing

Raising from the valleys, His mountains to be climbing

Rebekah heard that God had a good plan

But she thought she could help out by lending a hand

God’s plan did win out, but she lost her son then her life

By trying to help God, it caused her such strife

She should have trusted and let God take the lead

Then she may have lived Jacob’s grandchildren to see

But when Jacob returned, his mother had passed

The price of his deception has he learned at last?

Jacob wrestled with God and He surely did win

Now a new life Israel would begin

His wives and his family were headed toward home

But on the road back to Canaan they weren’t alone

Esau was headed his brother to meet

So he sent his servant with presents him to greet

Israel didn’t want to face him and restart the fight

That had sent him off to Paran on that long ago night

Where once had been deceit he wanted to build trust

So meeting his brother was truly a must

Together they spoke and made up a pact

Jacob – now Israel – and Esau, the brothers were back

Learning to live in the old neighborhood again

And trusting God that no war would begin

Israel settled in Sukkoth nearby

And Esau returned to Seir with his guys

The moral of this story is to trust God and wait

If it is His plan, he will never be late

Deception is not the way to get there

It’s by trusting in God and staying in tune with prayer

Until Next Time;

Leigh

Peace, be still.

2011-01-12T09:07:00.000-08:00

I know there have been several days I have not been online, but I have not skipped ahead. I have read all the passages between where I left off and today's passages. But I will limit my comments to what I have read today.

Today's Reading is from Genesis 24:52-27:46; Matthew 8:18-9:17; Psalm 10:1-18; Proverbs 3:7-10.

In today's passage from Matthew we find Jesus asleep in the back of the boat while a storm rages around it and His disciples struggle to keep the boat from capsizing. Being Perfect Peace, He finds no difficulty in getting rested, though all is roiling as a cooking pot around Him. But His students find no place of peace, even though Peace is their among them. They are wrestling instead of taking comfort in the Peacefulness of Jesus presence. their faith was small and weak, much like ours is when we face difficulties. Matthew 8:24-27 says; Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!”   He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm.  The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

I like Jesus' reply in Mark 4:39-40 the King James version a little better; it reads,  And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?  Jesus stood up, taking His place of authority. He said, 'Peace, be still,' proclaiming who He was [Peace], and told the sea and the storm exactly what to do [be still.] And they obeyed! But His students were full of doubt, fear and disbelief at what Jesus had done. How like them we are! Jesus does wonderful and awesome things for us, yet we say in our disbelief, 'How did He do that?'

But He taught His disciples that they and those would follow them would do greater things than they had seen Him do. He gave them power to do likewise when He sent them the gift of the fullness of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. And He sent them out in His name, His authority, when He commissioned them. This commission is spoken of in Matthew, Mark and Luke, each with different aspects of it. Today I will quote from Mark's version.  He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.  And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  Mark 16:15-18

When Jesus told them 'these signs will accompany those who believe,' He was telling them of some of the authority [power] they would have in His name when they walked in the faith He had given all believers. Luke 24:49 told them how they would receive thiss power, 'And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.'

So the power and authority of Jesus are ours for the taking. But we have to wait for the promise of the Father - the infilling of His Holy Spirit, as Jesus said in Luke 24:49. This doesn't mean that He will repeat the happenings of the day of Pentecost every time He fills a believer with His Spirit.  But He did mean that it was for ALL Believers. Peter learned this and told us of it in Acts chapter 10.

We all know the story, in fact it was our children's lesson in church just last Sunday. Peter is praying on the roof just before the  lunch. God sends Him a vision of a sheet full of unclean animals. Three times it comes down from heaven and God says to Peter to rise and eat and three times Peter refuses saying that he has never eaten anything that was unclean. But God's reply to him is “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.”   A few minutes later the servants of Cornelius arrive and request Peter to go with them back to Caesarea and the house of Cornelius, their master. I can just see that lightbulb from cartoon appearing above Peter's head as he understands the visions he has had while praying on the roof, so he goes with them and speaks this lesson to the believers gathered in Cornelius home and preaches Jesus to them. Right in the middle of his message these 'Gentiles' are all filled with the Holy Spirit, and were speaking in tongues. Peter knew that this was Jesus at work in them so he and the other Jewish believers with him took them all down to the closest river and baptised them all into the family of God.

We must also trust. Proverbs tells us this very plainly; Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6.

When we trust with our whole heart, we will walk in the fullness of His gifts and promises. But when we have doubt, we loose power and surrender our God given authority. There are many who are taught, and fully believe, that the gift of speaking in tongues [and other spiritual gifts] was only for the church during the time that the New Testament was being written. But this is not Biblically founded. Yes they use the passage in 1 Corinthians 13:8-10 which says; 'Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears.' They quote this without the rest of the passage, and they are clearly meant to be used together. Verses 11-12 read, 'When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.'

I don't know about you, but I still see the 'reflection' of God's completeness in my life. He has not yet brought me into my completly perfected state. So I think that I can safely believe that these gifts have not 'passed away' yet.  We still have them ALL for our use in growing His Kingdom.

Let us trust Him completely and use wisely His gifts of power and authority, and all that come with them, until He comes to bring us into complete perfection.

Let us say with all of His might to the storms in our lives;

'Peace, be still!'

Abraham laughed, God named his son 'he laughs'

2011-01-07T18:48:00.000-08:00

Today's Reading is from Genesis 16:1-18:19; Matthew 6:1-24; Psalm 7:1-17 and Proverbs 2:1-5

I have read our passage in Genesis many times; at least three times since July 2002. But I noticed something today that I had not noticed before. Genesis 17: 15-17 God is giving Abraham his promise of a son once again, it reads; God also said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you are no longer to call her Sarai; her name will be Sarah. I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her.” Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, “Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?”

Abraham laughed; and then God said he would really have a son and name him Isaac. We have all heard and/or read the passage where Sarah laughed, but I had never seen the laughter of Abraham. And this verse says more than that Abraham laughed, it says he fell down on his face and laughed. In my minds eyes I see Abraham on the floor rolling in laughter, you know like the emoticon for rolling on the floor laughing, [rofl]?

And our Heavenly Father has a marvelous sense of humor; for the name Isaac means 'he laughs.' God named Abeaham's son after his act of unbelief - his laughter - so that Abraham would never forget God's promise, or his very response to it. How wonderful is God's love toward us, and His patience, too.

It is later in today's passage, when God and two other men of heaven [angels?] visit Abraham that Sarah laughs. Genesis 18:8b-15; While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. “Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him. “There, in the tent,” he said. Then one of them [GOD] said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.” Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?” Then the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ Is anything too hard for the LORD? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.” Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.” But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.” Words in parenthesis I have added for clarity.

I think we can take comfort in the sense of humor our Lord has and that he may even smile a bit when we try to hide from the truth in some small matter. But He always points out our errors and and brings us back to the truth.

Keep God grinning with all your child-like antics!

~ Until Next Time! ~

Wisdom’s Rebuke

2011-01-06T18:00:00.000-08:00

Today's Reading is from Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; 6:1-10 and Proverbs 1:29-33

I was really taken with our passage in Proverbs today, but to place this in it's proper context I want to look at verses 20-33 - the topic heading here is 'Wisdom's Rebuke.'

Out in the open wisdom calls aloud, she raises her voice in the public square; on top of the wall she cries out, at the city gate she makes her speech: “How long will you who are simple love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you— when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. “Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD. Since they would not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them; but whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease, without fear of harm.”

Wisdom is speaking here; the Bible calls Wisdom by female adjectives [she, her]; but true wisdom comes from God. So I feel that God is using this decsription of as Wisdom for Himself, God is giving this rebuke to those who are simple and foolish. Todya's passage actually starts in the middle of a thought, a conclusion God has made about the simple and foolish ones He is addressing here. This conclusion starts in verse 28 and I have underlined it above.

God has call the foolish to repentance in order for Him to indwell them with His Holy Spirit and fill them with true wisdom; but they have refused and ignored His pleas. He has waited long for them to trun around and make Him their choice; so when they finally do call on Him for wisdom, He denies their pleas. Their cries at this point are from relief from the consequences of their follies, NOT repentence. Without repentence [a true change of heart], God can't dwell within us and fill us with His wisdom and peace.

But He is ever waiting for the lost, simple and foolish to Look to Him, have a heart change, turn from their ways and seek His face. Then will He hear from heaven, dry their eyes, bind their wounds and heal their hearts and bring Salvation to their lives. Once repentence takes place and Salvation has taken root, healing can begin and our hearts and lives can hold the wisdom God waits patiently to impart to each of us.

James 1:5-8 says; If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

My footnotes say 'The Hebrew word rendered simple in Proverbs denotes a person who is gullible, without moral direction and inclined to evil.' Likwise 'the Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often elsewhere in the Old Testament, denote a person who is morally deficient.' So I feel that these are both persons in an unsaved state. One who has not chosen Salvation, doesn't know that he needs the wisdom God desires to give him. Once drawn by the Holy Spirt, we can now see our need and request it, as is stated in James.

If you need to find Salvation in Jesus, please comment and I will introduce you.

If you know Jesus anad walk in His ways, but need more wisdom; ask in faith believing, and Our Heavenly Father will give you this gift you request. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. James 1:17

Until next time!

The Altar of the Lord

2011-01-05T08:02:00.000-08:00

Today's reading is from Genesis 11:1-13:4; Matthew 5:1-26; Psalm 5:1-12 and Proverbs 1:25-28

In Genesis this morning we are introduced to Abram, Sarai and Lot. God has called Abram from the land his father journeyed to, the city of Haran. God has called Abram to leave all that he has known, his family and friends to travel to a place he has never been - the land of Canaan. There is nothing said of his family's relationship with God, but Abram must have known and worshiped Him, for he was obedient to His call.

At 75 years old Abram, his wife and his nephew, Lot headed out for...'God only knows.' They packed up all that they owned, loaded the camels and waived goodbye to their relatives and headed west. They wandered from place to place until the reached a spot between Bethel and Ai. Here Abram built an altar to the Lord. In Genesis 12:8 it says; From there he went on toward the hills east of Bethel and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east. There he built an altar to the LORD and called on the name of the LORD. This is the first one the Bible records that Abram built. But he must have seen his father build one before or been instructed on why and how to build one by someone, right? The Bible doesn't say. It only says that he built the altar, gave a sacrifice and called on God.

As we travel through the Bible this year, we will see the building of altars in many places in the Old Testament. Altars are also spoken of in the New Testament. In our Matthew passage, verse 23 it says; "Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift ..." All through th Bible altars are places where people have given gifts and vows to God.

If you have Jesus living in you heart, you have an altar where you can offer up gifts and make vows to Jesus, too. It is built in your heart and you can make your offerings to Him any time. I believe this for the temple in Jerusalem held the altar to God once it was built. and now Paul has written in 1 Corinthians 6:19a; Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? So, if our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, I feel that we can be sure there is an altar to God held within our heart of hearts, for it is the new Holy of Holies.

Think on this as you go through your day and sing praise unto Jesus. Psalm 5:1-3 is one of my favorites and is part of our reading today; Give ear to my words, O LORD, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray. My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Until next time!

The Raven and The Dove

2011-01-04T17:27:00.000-08:00

Today's Reading is in Genesis 8:1-10:32.

I like the picture God gives us through the actions of the raven and the dove in Genesis 8:6-12; After forty days Noah opened a window he had made in the ark and sent out a raven, and it kept flying back and forth until the water had dried up from the earth. Then he sent out a dove to see if the water had receded from the surface of the ground. But the dove could find nowhere to perch because there was water over all the surface of the earth; so it returned to Noah in the ark. He reached out his hand and took the dove and brought it back to himself in the ark. He waited seven more days and again sent out the dove from the ark. When the dove returned to him in the evening, there in its beak was a freshly plucked olive leaf! Then Noah knew that the water had receded from the earth. He waited seven more days and sent the dove out again, but this time it did not return to him.

The raven willingly left the confines of the ark. Even when he found no place of rest, he still wandered the skies watcing and waiting for the waters to recede. All he was concerned about was his freedom. I feel this is a picture of most men and women today. They reach an age of maturity and pull up stakes, leaving behind the peace and security they found in the house of their parents. They may have nothing on which to stand, but they fly the coup anyway. They give no thought to what they are going to do for shelter. Their basic needs are simple in there eyes. Food is plenteous so they look no further than their bellies. Their motto is something like; 'Damn the torpedoes, full steam ahead.'

The dove released in this passage does a quick tour of the area, and finding no place to call home returns to the safety of the ark. When again set free, she takes another tour or the area and finds the top of an olive tree to rest on for a moment. This not being a true home where she can make a place for a family, she grabs a twig and takes it back to her safe haven to show Noah that the situation outside is improving, but still is not ready to be a proper resting place for her. Whe she is released the third time, she has found the perfect place to build a home and raise a family. She now feels safe and secure enough to venture out on here own for she has found the safety and assurance in which she can live with out fear.

Jesus is our ark of Salvation. He is where we find rest and peaceful contentment. When times are rough He carries us in His arms; and when we are strenghtened He walks beside us - never leaving us alone to fen for ourselves. David knew this when he wrote Psalm 4:8; In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety. We can trust in Jesus with our whole heart, just as David did. He is my hiding place; is He yours?

Until next time

The Ark and The Baptist

2011-01-03T05:45:00.000-08:00

Today's Readings are for yesterday and today. They come from Genesis 3:1-7:25; Matt 2:13-4:25; Psalm 3:1-4:8 and Proverbs 1:10-23

In Genesis 6 God has reveled that He was angry with the human population and has decided that He is planning to flod the whole earth with water. But Hwe has also made a way of escape for mankind. He had Noah build an ark and sent the chosen animals to take the ride of their life with him and his family. The Ark took 100 years to complete. Although it isn't said in the scripture, I feel that Noah and His family shared God's plans with all who came to the sight to laugh at this boat building project. But no one outside Noah's family chose to take that ride with them.

God knew that their would be no takers. He knew that their hearts were totally wicked and that they didn't want to change, even if it meant dying.

God's plan of salvation in Genesis took prepartion - the hundred years of building and preaching. Then all those aboard the ark were 'baptised' when the fountains of the deep and the clouds erupted in this earth covering flood. They had been saved from destruction when the ark landed on dry ground and God opened the door.

John the Baptist came as the one 'sent to prepare the way of the Lord.' He spent time in the wilderness, in God's boot camp, to be prepared for the job he was called to do. When God's assignment was time at hand, John started preaching on the Jordan river to the people from Jerusalem, Judea and the surrounding regions. He taught them repentance, them baptised them and pointed them to Jesus for the forgiveness of sins.

God plans are always consistant. He always leads His children to Repentance, Salvation and Baptism, He is the Same yesterday, today and forever.

In Psalm 3:7-8 Men cried for Deliverance, and God sent Salvation. Arise, LORD! Deliver me, my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Salvation is followed by Blessing from God!

Look unto the Lord for your Salvation, in matters of your spirit and all other matters of your life, too!

And keep looking for Jesus in all things.

Until we meet again!

The Light Comes ...

2011-01-01T13:16:00.000-08:00

Today's Reading is from Genesis 1:1-2:25; Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-6 and Proverbs1:1-6. If I haven't told you previously, I am reading from the NIV, in case it doesn't match what you are reading.

It is the start of a New Year and God has brought us back to the very beginning of time. As soon as He has formed the earth, God gives it Light. even before He has made the sun, moon and stars; He seperates the Light from the darkness. And He said all that He had made was Very GOOD. This creation of light and the division of Light and darkness is in Gen. 1:3-5, And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day.

In Matthew it tells how God gave the light of a star as a beacon for the Wise Men to follow on their journey west to Bethlehem to meet the One born to be The Light of the World! Matt. 2:1-2; After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”

God sent His Son to guide us into all righteousness. In Psalm 1:1-3 God calls those who walk in His Counsel, His righteousness 'Blessed.' Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,
and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither— whatever they do prospers. Even in Old Testament passages God let His people know that they were the heavenly city of the New Jerusalem. Here He uses the same terms He used in yesterday's passage from Revelation. We are trees of life planted by the streams of living water, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in every season; the Love, Peace, Joy, etc. given in Galatians and elsewhere in the scriptures. And we will prosper at whatever God has called us to do!

And our passage in Proverbs 1:1b-6 says the Word of God is given for our guidance and wisdom to help us walk in the ways of God and His rightrousness. ... For gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

In this year may we follow the path He has given us by the Road Map of His Holy Word; not just today, but each and every day; until He calls us home to His glorious side.

Happy New Year, ALL!

Purification Fires Come Before Gold Shines Bright and Beautiful - Relfecting God's Glory

2010-12-31T13:35:00.000-08:00

Today's reading comes from Malachi 3:1-4:6; Revelation 22:1-21; Psalm 150:1-6; and Proverbs 31:25-31

“I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me. Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come,” says the LORD Almighty. But who can endure the day of his coming? Who can stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner’s fire or a launderer’s soap. He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness ... Malachi 3:1-3

I feel the messenger Malachi is speaking of is Jesus. For it is the blood of Jesus that purifies us like the refiner's fires do to make gold and silver pure. The refining fires he uses are the situations / obstacles He places on our path. We need to find a way to get past them - whether it be over, under, around or through - before we can make progress down the road we are traveling. These obstacles may be people, or things he is using to bring us to another milestone in our relationship with Him. You know we may be obstacles on someone elses path, too.

He uses people to teardown our defenses - the walls we build around our hearts - so that He can strengthen the connection we have to Him through His Spirit. He uses some people to teach us that loving is good and that we all need to love and be loved. He also uses people to teach us it is OK to trust - to learn who can be trusted and just how much AND who cannot be trusted.

I said that He also uses things as obstacles too. Places we need to conquor - either by leaving them or by traveling to them, belongings we need to rid ourselves of because we are holding onto the past, feeelings we harbor - either positive or negative - that are hindering our growth, or maybe even the chosen profession we are working in - or at.

Did you know that you could be working at something and not actually be a part of it? I work at a call center helping customers with the problems they may be having on their accounts. But I learned last night that I don't actually work in that place. I don't really belong there. But I still need to work at this job until I both conqour it and am released from it. God has placed me there for a purpose, and that purpose is not complete - yet! He has allowed me to help many people there, and I have learned much through my sojuorn, but it is not quit over. Someone still has something to learn by my being there - and it may or may not be me.

But the pathway does become clear once again - at least for a time - and we can see right into the throne room of our Savior and King. Rev 22:1-4a says;
Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him. They will see his face ...

Yesterday's passage said that the Bride - the church of Christ - IS the New Jerusalem, right? So, if we are this Spiritual City that God dwells in, this passage speaks of our hearts when He has purified them - washed them clean with His blood - in preparation on our eternal home with Him. The water of life - the Holy Spirit of God - runs freely through our streets, the pathway we follow to His throne.

This throne is within us if we have accepted Him and allowed him access to live within us. we have to open the door of our heart and allow Him full and total access. Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me. Revelation 3:19-20

Eating with someone is the most basic form of communion. Communion, sweet fellowship, with a person can be found is this sharing of a meal together. It is a time of peace where we give our bodies and our souls that which sustains them, food and the presence of another. Jesus longs to be that other that you commune with and the meal you would share with Him may not be meat and drink, but His words - His very Spirit - coming to life within your spirit. This time of communion with Jesus produces the fruit that are growing on the tree of LIFE within our hearts and lives. The very Fruit God gives is Love, Joy, Peace / Peacefulness, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, and Self-control. These fruit will be growing year-round, they will always be available to us in abundance! and when we look in the mirror we will behold our faces changing to be an exact likeness of Jesus, for He dwells fully within us. We will SEE His face in ours.

When this preparation comes to you - while you are going through it, take time to give your praises unto Him for the progress He is making in you - in you very heart, soul and mind. Let Him know you are thankful for ALL He has given you - even the refining fires. Psalm 150 answers all those questions that every good investigator asks. IT tells us Who, how, where, and why we are to give unto God. It also tells us the most important thing - the What - to give; we are to give Him all of our praise!

I think I will do a little creative re-writing on this Psalm. So, here goes!

Praise The Lord - Every Body!

Praise Him in the Sanctuary of your very Heart!

Praise Him for all of His wonderful acts of Creativity and his Mighty Power!

Praise Him for every great thing He has done in you,

through you and for you!

Praise Him with the fanfare of the Trumpets!

Praise Him with Keyboards of all types,

Clarinets, Flutes, Saxes, and Bagpipes!

Praise Him with all Percussion Instruments

and Clapping Hands!

Praise Him with all of your Movements and Dancing!

Praise Him with every kind of Stringed Instruments!

Praise Him with the tinkling of the castanets,

The crash of cymbals and the resounding sounds of the Gong!

Let all creatures which breathe

Praise the Lord with every fiber of their being!

Praise Ye The LORD!

As we close out 2010 and look forward to the New Things God is going to do in and for us in 2011,

Remember ALWAYS the words of this Psalm and

'Praise Ye The LORD!'

The End of the Year Brings Preparations for New Challenges in the New Year.

2010-12-30T05:52:00.000-08:00

This week the Lord has told me to renew the journaling I used to do during my quiet moments with Him. I thougth to buy a new journal to begin with the new year, but then I felt God leading my to do my journaling here, so that I could share His lessons to me directly with you. I felt this was His leading for two reasons. One, so that I was making better use of both my time and my resources - not buying another journal to be written in that would be tossed in a shelf at the end of the year and most likly lost shortly thereafter. And Two, so that those of you who read this blog would be able to see what He is doing in my as it happens - and not have to read it some months or years down the road, when it is no longer pertinent to my daily walk. So today I start thie new daily walk with Jesus and with all of you! I am reading from the NIV One Year Bible

If you want to read through the Bible with me in the new year I will list the Pasages here each day. Today's Reading is from Malachi 1:1-2:17, Revelation 21:1-27, Psalm 149:1-9 and Proverbs 31:10-24

In Malachi's passage God is repremanding Israel for her lack of obedience and her total disregard of His law. In 2:1 He tells Israel; "And now, you priests, this warning is for you. If you do not listen, and if you do not resolve to honor my name,” says the LORD Almighty, “I will send a curse on you, and I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have already cursed them, because you have not resolved to honor me."

As New Testament Believers, We don't need a priest to talk to God for us, so I feel this rebuke is for us. We fall far short of the calling He has placed on our lives in the same ways Israel did here. But when Jesus took our punishment on Calvary, He paid our debt - He took our curse on Himself. It proclaimed it completed on the cross as well as in our passage in Revelation 21:6-7; He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children ..."

But we still need to grow as children into the Beautiful Bride He has chosen. He sees us as the wife of noble character He describes in Proberbs 31:10-24. His Bride should be all of this and so much more. Look at what He says we are worth to Him in verses 10-11; A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

But we are not quite there yet. In the new year we will be preparing to take our place as the Bride, so that when Christ returns we will look just like He descirbed us in Proverbs and also in Revelation 21: 9-14; One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The Gates of Christ's Church are the teachings of the Prophets of the Old Covenant. They come from historic beginnings of God's Chosen People and the lessons He taught them through those who honored Him down through the ages. We enter into relationship with Christ in the same manner that they did - through the very Gates they used; through the leading and drawing of the Holy Spirit.

Likewise the Foundations of Christ's Church are the Apostles of the New Covenant. A covenant that was sealed with the Blood of God's perfect Lamb - Jesus Christ. These men were taught by Jesus in the flesh - walking side by side with them - as they walked through their not os ordinary lives. Not ordinary by men's views, not God's. By learning their lessons directly from Jesus, they had first hand knowledge of how He expected them to handle all of life's situations - th good, the bad AND the ugly! Who better to stand our relationship with Christ on? But their teachings were just the foundations - the milk of a new babe in Christ, as it were. God expects us to look to them for examples and guidelines as we spread our wings in this new life of holiness in His Spirit; but as we grow into the men and women Christ is calling us to be we need to take our focus of the men of the Bible and focus on the One who they were focused on - the giver of the very words these men wrote for us - Jesus.

Yes, Jesus! You can find Him in the writings of the Old Testament Prophets and in those of the New Testament Apostles; and you can hear Him speak directly into your hearts, minds and lives. Both through these written words from History and directly into your very ears / hearts and minds. Listen. Listen very closley, hear Him calling your name? Then follow His commands for you - He can never lead you astray. Never Will!

I rend to hear Him best in the music - not necessarilly the words of the songs, but the chords that He strumbs on my heart as I listen to the notes He plays in my heart and mind. Yes, when I am following close after Jesus, I hear music that is not clearly audible to those around me. It keeps me focused on My Lord and King and the pathway He has chosen for me to walk.

Maybe He has songs he is trying to share with you, listen...listen very closely and carefully. It will swell in you heart and lift your soul rigt up into the heavenly places to sit at the feet of Jesus - as Mary did when He walked among men - to learn all that He has for you and that special place He has reserved for you quiet moments alone with Him!

Let us work hard in our time of preparation so that we may be this beautiful Bride for Jesus!

“Happy Halloween?”

2010-10-26T14:03:00.000-07:00

Please be advised that the opinions stated in this article are my own and may not be held by my church, Bread of Life Christian Fellowship, any of its staff or other members.

Thanks! Leigh

It is almost that time of year again when those around us will begin wearing costumes and spouting the acceptible phrases of the season ... Yes, that's right it is the beginning of the holiday season and Halloween is almost here; and I feel it is time to share this article with you all once again.

Why is it that people are afraid to use the words, “Merry Christmas” on the phone or in public, but these very same people have no problem uttering the phrase; “Happy Halloween”? It seems to me that it should be just as “un-pc” to utter this religious holiday rhetoric as it is for a Christian holiday. But I guess it’s all in the name of the God or god served.

Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, and Happy Easter are all meant to honor the true and living God. But they are all considered ‘politically incorrect’ to voice in any type of public forum or arena. But if you want to utter any type of greeting in honor of the “holy” days of any other god or deity, it is totally OK.

It is just as offensive to me, and many other Christians, to have people, customers and others, end their conversation with “Happy Halloween” as it is for those who oppose our spouting any type of Christian greeting. Both greetings are “religious” in their origins and scope.

True, many people have no concept that Halloween is actually a religious holiday; and many of those who do know, do not care. They feel we who are offended by the phrase “Happy Halloween” are being ‘nit picky’ or ‘overly sensitive’ on this issue. But I think if we are to be tolerant of their fights to religious freedom and practices, they should have to be just as tolerant and considerate of ours, as well.

Each time I mention that I don’t celebrate Halloween I get the weirdest looks and comments. I try to keep any explanation short – usually just mention that we have Creation Celebration instead; to give our children a Christian Alternative to this very Pagan, and some feel satanic, holiday. Those who hold the opinion that this holiday is satanic may very well be correct in the broader scope of things. As anything that doesn’t give honor and glory to Jesus as “King of King’s” and “Lord of Lord’s” is in essence giving that honor to something or someone else – namely Satan.

In Mark 9:39-40, NIV it says; "Teacher," said John, "we saw a man driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us."

“Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “No one who does a miracle in My name can in the next moment say anything bad about Me, for whoever is not against us is for us …”

So It stands to reason that the reverse is also true – if a person is not for Christ, he is against Him, or for HIS adversary, the devil. (If a+b=c; then c-b=a, both ARE true.)

Satan comes like an ‘angel of light’ as we find in II Cor 11:13-15; “For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore [it is] no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

And this ‘minister’ in ‘angel’ garb “as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour …” as Peter states in I Pet 5:9. So it is very important that we weigh all things against the word of God before we start spouting “seemingly innocent” greetings, or participating in any so called ‘harmless’ activities offered by those around us who may not be as well informed as they should be.

Please prayerfully consider what I have written before adopting it as your own or sharing it with others.

Thanks for allowing me to voice my opinion in this manner!

Leigh

Loving Your Wife As Christ loves The Church

2010-08-28T09:12:00.000-07:00

While walking through the halls of my job earlier this week I had a chance to stop and speak to another Christian Sister and to share with her a prayer request or two. She in turn shared her heart with me. She spoke of how her daughter and son-in-law had recently been struggling to hold their marriage together and of the words of wisdom she was able to speak into their marriage to them both; but mostly to her son-in-law.  And thus began the Lord’s gentle leading for this new area of life He wanted me to look into.  So that I might share my lessons learned, and the wisdom of others, with those who need what we can glean from them – the Husbands and Fathers among us who are striving to do as Jesus commanded us in the scripture and to teach these lessons to their sons so that they may be passed down to the generations yet to come. The lessons of which I speak will be related to the message Paul shared long ago when he penned the verse; ‘Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;’ Ephesians 5:25.

And so today I would like to begin a conversation on the practical applications of how this would look in our modern world. And to remind us that our world really hasn’t changed as much down through the ages as we have been led to believe – or should I say as we have been ‘brain washed’ into thinking is fact and is actually a work of pure fiction. This conversation is not just for the men in the family of God, it is open to all who would participate with, and learn from, what is shared.

Even with all of the lies out there telling women they can do anything a man can and do it, and that we can do so as well or better than he and telling men that they need to show their 'femine-side', there remains a ring of truth to the phrase that was once common amongst our men.  That being the women were [are] the fairer sex, the gentle half of the whole that is needed if a marriage, Christian or non-Christian, is to work well and last for a lifetime. For very few marriages, both in the church and outside, last for more than a few years before they start to go down hill and eventually to disintegrate into the divorce courts.

As I have said this is to be the start of a conversation. With that said, I will be sharing in this forum the insights of those around us who have ‘loved for a lifetime’ and are willing to share bits of their wisdom with us as we tackle this area of life. I will be providing biblical tidbits throughout this conversation so that we can keep our message centered on Jesus, as He is to be the rock on which our whole life is to be grounded - He is our 'firm foundation.'

So today we will continue where we started, in Ephesians. The passage I want to share is 4:17-5:33, for in this passage Paul is addressing believers with a plan for living Godly lives centered in Christ’s teaching. And I believe this to be where He would have us begin our conversation. Here I have quoted that selection from the NIV:

So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer live as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking. They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts. Having lost all sensitivity, they have given themselves over to sensuality so as to indulge in every kind of impurity, with a continual lust for more. You, however, did not come to know Christ that way. Surely you heard of him and were taught in him in accordance with the truth that is in Jesus. You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a man is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them. For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. For it is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible, for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you." Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing] her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the church— for we are members of his body. "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh." This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

As I close today, I ask each of you to take time to read through this passage multiple times. Try reading it daily as you begin your day, or perhaps as you end it – maybe you need to do both. Think on the meaning of each verse so that you will be prepared to join in our conversation; for this is the reason I think Blogs were created – to be a jumping off point for conversation.  And as I too study this passage, I will add what I learn from our Lord here so that we can discuss it and share together in the ‘message’ Paul was teaching to believers so long ago, and to us today.

Until next time!

Getting Out Alive!

2010-06-01T07:48:00.000-07:00

I read a quote while I was out this morning [May 12,2010]. It said; ‘Never take life seriously, no one ever gets out alive anyway.’ This really bugged me. I started thinking don’t they know Jesus? They have never experienced ‘true life’ if they believe this. My mind would not let me rest, or eat breakfast, until I thought this through, or wrote it through anyway. So here goes.

I once believed much like the person who created today’s topic. So I lived entirely for and in the moment. I followed the high in drugs to manage the day and get things done. Then looked for the low in other drugs and alcohol in order to find sleep – never true rest, just sleep so that today would end and perhaps tomorrow would be better; but it never was … at least not until I had hit absolute bottom and the only direction there was was up. And that pit was very deep and very, very dark!

My bottom was in a cell with 20+ other women in the Butte County Jail in 1984. I had made my first real decision in my adult life in the moment that I chose to be there. Yes I said chose, for I did indeed choose to be incarcerated on an outstanding warrant I had known about for months. I know it seems pretty sad when jail time looks to be better than the home life, and I use that term very loosely, that I had. But it was the lesser of two evils at that particular moment in my life. But that discussion is for another day and another article. I had never taken my life, or my responsibilities, seriously – ever! But from the very first moment that I stepped into that cell I knew I had to start, right then and there. I knew if I didn’t that this was going to be just a pit stop for me on my way to eternity in hell and death. And that thought scared me more than the impending hearing and sentencing for my crimes against the state of California and the County of Butte. I was through hiding from life.

So I started looking for answers. Boy am I glad that I was raised in a Christian home and knew where they could be found. I looked for, and found, the ONLY Bible in the Women’s Detention Center of that jail. And I started reading it. I don’t know what I read, and it really doesn’t matter. I knew it was ALL God’s truth and I could believe EVERY word. What did matter was that I started to pray and really believe that God did hear my prayers and would answer them.

I didn’t pray to be released from my prison, I knew that I deserved to be there and so much worse. No my prayers were to find peace for my children for all that and all the pain I had caused them; and to find a real, true relationship with Jesus. I knew in my heart of hearts that without this real relationship I wouldn’t get out of this life, and possibly not this cell, alive. I knew I was on a collision course with death; not just physical death, but spiritual, eternal DEATH. And now I truly wanted to live.
So how do you find life when you have chased death and her companions for so long? You search for the source of life; you find Jesus. I knew from my youth that Jesus could be found in the pages of His Holy Word and in earnest prayer. So I sought Him in these places while I lived in the balance between life and death.

While I was in jail a ministry group from Honeyrock Christian Discipleship Ranch came in on Sunday evening and preformed a play in the gym. Both the men and the women were allowed to go at the same time into the gym to see what this group had to offer. For both groups to be allowed in the gym together was rare, but as this ministry group was well known to the jail staff, they knew all would be fine while the team was in charge. That Sunday afternoon in a darkened gym in the Butte County Jail I found Real Life. How, you ask? It was like this:

The ministry group presented a play about Sally and the effects the divorce of her parents had on her life from the age of three through to her adult life. It broke my heart, for there on that stage I saw the lives of my children and how my actions had shaped and formed them and their choices.
Now I was sobbing openly for the first time in many years, and not for myself! I was sobbing because Sally was my daughter, was my son. Their lives were exactly what this little girl on stage had lived and felt and believed about herself. And I was truly repentant for having caused my children to live the life that Sally had also lived there on the stage for all to see. God had shown me my nakedness for all the world to see but mostly for me to see. Looking back I know that there was between 100 and 150 men and women in that gym, but in that moment there was only Jesus and me. And I was on my knees with my face to the floor, but looking straight into the face of my God for the very first time of my life seeking to be forgiven for all that I had caused my children to experience in their short lives.
I don’t remember going back into the cell, but I do remember the ladies from the4e ministry team coming in and having Bible study with us there. They were not afraid to be in with women who were considered dangerous for they knew their safety was held secure in the arms of Jesus.
I don’t remember what was read from God’s Word that night, but I do remember giving my life to Jesus there in that cell with those beautiful ladies from Honeyrock. I also remember asking them what was a Honeyrock and how did one get to go there. One of those ladies, Vivian Myers, gave me their card with a phone number on it and told me to call when I was released from jail. I did just that two days later.

How does all of this come from that which I quoted at the beginning of this story? It was that Sunday night, April 29,1984, that I knew for a fact that I had passed from searching for death unto seeking life – for sure and for always. I KNOW that when this life is over, I will not leave it in death, which is eternal separation from God. I have found life, and that more abundantly, In Jesus! For He said in John 10:9-10; ‘I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.’ I will LIVE forever in His presence and for His Holy and Eternal purposes.

I still try not to take life too seriously, and to enjoy it fully. But I know even if I die, yet shall I live.

‘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. Believest thou this?’ John 11:25So the quote that started my thinking process is false and proved so by the very words of Jesus. Believe and see that He is GOOD. Follow Him and LIVE Forever!

Nicole C. Mullen - Redeemer

2010-05-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

We Are The Body Of Christ

2010-05-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. Romans 12:4, 5

But now are they many members, yet but one body. And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you. 1 Corinthians 12:20, 21

The Body:
The human body has many parts visible: arms, hands, torso, legs, feet; and invisible: heart, lungs, circulatory system, digestive system, elimination system. All of these parts have very special jobs to do.

The body of Christ also has many parts – parts that are the spiritual equivalent of our human body parts. Each member of the Church performs at least one ‘body’ function, some of us more than one.

Head:
The head is where all the knowledge is stored. It does the planning and makes decisions for the body. It also houses the eyes and ears and mouth – as input devices; they take in sight, sounds, and nourishment. The mouth is also an output device – it speaks what is stored inside the head.

For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and He is the Savior of the body. Ephesians 5:23

And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. Colossians 1:18

Christ is Wisdom and Truth. He is the Blueprint, the plan for an abundant life. He is the Way. Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. John 14:6

His Word is the nourishment for our spirits:

Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. Acts 14:17

The Mouth speaks the Plan, spreads the Truth to those inside and outside the body – to bring in new members and to encourage the existing ones. It also speaks the words of nourishment.

The Ears hear the needs of the body and of the others in need.

Eyes see the needs.

The Feet and Legs take the body to where the needs are.

The Hands and Arms bring healing and meet the needs of those in need.

And so on.

Let’s look at a little different analogy: Christ and the Church are much like a computer networking system. Christ is the CPU and His Holy Word is the Hard Drive. Together they hold the whole of Truth, Wisdom and Knowledge.

Pastors / Teachers are the fingers on the keyboard tapping out the message stored on the Hard Drive. They are also the sound system pouring out the Word to the Congregation to encourage and edify them for ministry to those outside the body.

Evangelists are the ethernet cables taking the signal beyond the local community to the world at large.

The Congregation are the peripheral components of the system.

Writers = printers / disc burners. They produce messages sent to them from the Hard Drive through the inspiration of God’s Holy Spirit – the electrical current passing from the CPU to all the components of the network.

Singers and musicians = disc drives. They share the music that flows through the network by the power of the Spirit’s current. This in turn inspires others to closer contact to the network’s source, Our CPU – Jesus Christ.

Janitors, and other ‘unseen’ components = the mouse. You see the form and the essence of the actions they perform, but you never actually see them do their very important jobs. But if their functions were not performed it would be very noticeable in a very short time.

Each component is connected to all of the others by either seen or unseen cables or connectors. We are all interdependent upon each other and totally dependent on Christ – our CPU.

So we are all integral parts of the system; but are we doing all that we could or even should to support the other components in the system?

Are we sending the messages from our Central Processing System to those who need to hear them?

Are we taking the message beyond these four walls?

Are we printing the words He has given?

Are we singing the songs of Praise to His name to bring Him honor and glory?

Are we plugging into the currant of His Holy spirit to be revived and recharged?

Are we sending the messages back to our CPU of all the needs that we see and hear, taking our prayers to the Master?

God Says; No! My people are not properly connected to the network. They are broken and hurting. They are trying to patch up the system with bits of bubble gum and bailing wire. Even though they may be “Mac Gyver” in the natural world, in God’s Computer Network they are not the repair technician He has ordered to scan the system for necessary repairs and to complete the needed healings. And the system is broken, becoming more so day-by-day. In fact on the monitor of His system God has made the screen saver out of the error message which reads; ‘Warning, multiple network cables are disconnected. Please see your System Administrator for necessary repairs.’

So how do we find the broken connections? How do we start the healing the wounds within the body so that we can reach out to the needy on the outside? Pray.

Prayer is our lifeline to our CPU. It is also the first step in receiving the healing we need. By making our requests known to the body and praying one for another God starts healing our connections to each other and to Him. Prayer is not only a repair kit it is also a part of His diagnostic system. It opens our hearts and minds to the things of the Spirit so that He can have access to all of our hidden files, even those deeply hidden in our secret, dark, dusty closets.

And the LORD appeared to Solomon by night, and said unto him, I have heard thy prayer, and have chosen this place to myself for an house of sacrifice. If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land. Now mine eyes shall be open, and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place. For now have I chosen and sanctified this house, that my name may be there forever: and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. II Chronicles 7:12-16, KJV.

I know that these verses are talking about Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem, but Paul says in I Corinthians 6:19, ‘What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?’ I feel this verse is also speaking about each and every one who is a component in God’s Computer Networking System. We are His people. He has chosen to call each of us His Home, the dwelling place of His Holy Spirit. His Eyes are always watching us and His Ears are listening for us to call upon Him with our prayers.

As His people we need to humble ourselves before Him, seek His face repent from our sins and turn from our wicked ways. God will always keep His promises – He always has. He never lies. He confirms these truths for us in Numbers 23:19, ‘God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? Or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?’ Knowing these truths, if we do these things from II Chronicles in earnest, from the bottom of our Heart – Believing and Trusting God; then God WILL do all that He has promised. He WILL hear from heaven. He WILL forgive our sin. And He WILL HEAL our land.
Only by repairing the many broken connections within God’s Networking System will we be a whole and vital machine prepared to perform the most complex functions He has designed us for. Then we will be able to energize all of the peripheral components and reach each soul He means to become a part of His Church – His Computer Networking System – The Body of Christ – The Lamb’s Bride.

Psalms 55: 16-18, 22; As for me, I will call upon God; and the LORD shall save me. Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. He hath delivered my soul in peace from the battle that was against me: for there were many with me . . . Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.

James 5:13-15 says; Is any one of you in trouble? He should pray. Is anyone happy? Let him sing songs of praise. Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise him up. If he has sinned, he will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.
Call upon God, seek His face, repent from your sins and be reconnected to your real power source. He will repair the network and heal our land just like He promised Solomon in II Chronicles 7:14. And The Body Will Work Well Once Again

Jesus Describes His Bride

2010-03-28T22:43:00.000-07:00

‘… Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.’ Ephesians 5:25b-27. NIV

‘One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia in length, and as wide and high as it is long. He measured its wall and it was 144 cubits thick, by man's measurement, which the angel was using. The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.

I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.’ Revelation 21:9-27 NIV

Wall - Sanctified/Set apart unto the Lord, our heavenly husband. Built of Jasper - Transparent - all is visible, nothing is hidden from His view.

12 Foundations - Names of the Apostles in them.

City/Bride was formed of pure gold - Without any impurities or imperfections. Transparent - all is visible, nothing is hidden from His view. All have been refined as with fire, as pure gold in the refiner’s kettles after the slag has been scraped off of its surface.

The foundations were decorated with all kinds of precious jewels, like as of a crown. These Precious stones were a symbol of the Twelve Tribes of Israel [more precisely The Law and The Prophets]. For these are the way those of ancient times were taught about Jesus.

These jewels are also symbolic of the many crowns that are mentioned throughout the Bible that will be rewarded to us at His final coming, when He rewards all for the things we have done and the things the things we have not done. These crowns are: The Incorruptible Crown, the Crown of Rejoicing, the Crown of Righteousness, the Crown of Life, Crown of Glory and Honor, the Crowns of Gold, the Beautiful Crown, the Crown of Loving Kindness, the Crown of His Tender Mercies, the Crown of Knowledge, the Holy Crown, and the Royal Crown.

So the Foundations of the Heavenly Bride shall be the teachings of the Apostles, sprinkled with the teachings of the Law and the Prophets and decorated with the jewels of the many precious crowns that are waiting for us when we meet Jesus at His final return. They are yet to come, but here with us in effigy in the symbolism of our likeness as his bride in His final revelation to the apostle John while he was on the Isle of Papmos.

12 Gates – Had the names of the 12 tribes of Israel on them.

And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: - Bought with a great price, like the Pearl of Great Price that a man gave all that he owned to possess - Jesus is this / these Pearls. He paid the greatest price. One Pearl for all the gates.

Each gate in the Old city of Jerusalem had a specific purpose and symbolic meaning, these meanings were all fulfilled in Jesus life, death and resurrection - he paid it all and fulfilled it all, once and for ALL.

The Twelve Gates of the ancient city of Jerusalem were the Sheep Gate, The Fish Gate, The Old Gate, The Valley Gate, The Dung Gate, The Fountain Gate, The Water Gate, The Horse Gate/King’s Gate, The East Gate/Beautiful Gate/Golden Gate, The Ephraim Gate, and The Prison Gate. Here I will share how Jesus, our ‘Pearl of Greatest Price’ fills [or fulfills] all of these gates in us.

The Sheep Gate - the Gate through which the temple sacrifices were brought into the city. Jesus is the perfect lamb that was slain for the sins of the world.

‘He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.’ Isaiah 53:7

The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! This is the one I meant when I said, 'A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.' John 1:29, 30 NIV

The Fish Gate - the fish were brought into the market place through this gate.

And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. Matthew 4:18-20 KJV

Jesus called fishermen to become ‘fishers of men.’ They were the first of many that He called to this purpose. And we as His followers today He has also given this compulsion of fishing for the souls of men to; in order to draw others into His kingdom.

The Old Gate - is said to be representative of the Old Covenant; which is the Law of Moses. Jesus fulfilled every aspect of the law in His life, death, burial and resurrection.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5:17, 18

The Valley Gate - Led to the Valley of Hinnom, and the place called Gehenna - it was a place dedicated to thee worship of Molech & burning human sacrifices. It was later a place where the fires never went out from all of the defiled things that were burnt there. As David implied in His most known Psalm Valleys in our life are dark places in our lives.

But I have another thought on these dark places. I take it from topography. Mountaintops have nice, scenic views. And they are symbolic of the high times we have in the Spirit, but there is little growth going on there. A valley is where most of the growth takes place. It is also where the mountain streams flow down to and through on their way to the ocean. The living waters of the Holy Spirit water us in our valleys and bring the growth in our spirits. And when we pass the test he leads us to the mountaintops once again.

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. Psalms 23:4

Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Matthew 5:4

But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace. Ephesians 2:13-15

The Dung Gate - The way to the trash dump. This is figurative of what our righteousness is in the eyes of God and how He imputed the righteousness of Jesus to us when we came to Him answering His call unto salvation.

But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. Isaiah 64:6

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. Isaiah 61:10

And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Philippians 3:9

The Fountain Gate - Was near the pool of Siloam. This gate was said to be representative of the Holy Spirit. Jesus spoke of giving ‘living water’ to the Samaritan woman at the well: Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water. The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water? Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle? Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not … John 4:9-15a

The Water Gate - The Gibeonites [water bearers] brought in the water to be used in the city through this gate.

This gate was said to be symbolic of the word of God, of which Paul said in Ephesians 5:25-27; Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The Horse Gate - This was the King's gate and the gate through which His horsemen rode when going to or from battle/war. Jesus is our King, and the Battle belongs to the Lord:

And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle is the LORD's, and he will give you into our hands. Samuel 17:47

I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. Revelation 19:11-15 NIV

The East Gate - Also call the Beautiful or Golden Gate, Gate that is said to be where Messiah will enter the city when he Returns. It is the gate that He enters when we make Him King and Lord of our life. It is also symbolic of the gate into our heavenly home.

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. Revelation 3:19-21

The Miphkad Gate - This is the gate of Inspection and is said to be symbolic of the judgment of all men, saints and sinners alike.

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. Hebrews 9:27

So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. 2 Corinthians 5:9, 10

The Ephraim Gate - A Northern Gate looking out over the land of Ephraim [which means doubly fruitful - Jew & Gentile / Earthly & Heavenly]

That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the seashore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies; and in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice. Genesis 22:17, 18

So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith. Romans 1:15-17

The Prison Gate - This is where they held prisoners [the jail]. Peter is seen in Acts 12 being led out of this gate by an angel. Each of us, before we came to Jesus, were in prison to our various sins and vices and he came to set the captives free. He also sets actual prisoners free from their jail cells. I know this personally. I was in a California jail facing a year in prison and a large fine, but Jesus gave me a second chance [or possibly my 100th]. He saw my heart and showed it to the judge who in the Mercy of the Lord set me free after serving only seven days.

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn; to appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. Isaiah 61:1-3

And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up for to read. And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord. And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears. Luke 4:14-21

And the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. The streets were all of pure gold, transparent and clear as glass - the way through the city was clothed with the righteousness of the Holy Spirit. The Holy of Holies is now with in the heart of every believer, no longer hidden behind the veil of the temple, or the dark recesses of our finite minds. But living and breathing and in full view of all who would behold it.

And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. As His Bride, we are the true abode of Jesus. He is our Lord God Almighty. With Him living inside of us, we live and move and have our being truly in Him and Him alone. He is our Life, our very reason for existence.

And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. This abode of God has no need of any light but that which comes directly from Him. The lesser lights of sun, moon, and stars would pale in comparison to that true illumination which comes for Jesus alone and shines through the lives of each of His true followers. For they have found True Light and no longer doew darkness dwell in them of around them in any way. They have truely been given to the Light in every aspect of their being. They have learned the truth of 'dio a luz' . . . 'given to light!' Birthed into everlasting Life and Light.

And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there. This new life in His light CAN'T be shut up behind any gate or wall, it shines forth and will make itself known wherever it may be - it can't be hidden under a bushel, or any other barrier. It knows no boundaries.

And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honor into it. In this verse He fulfilled His promise to Abraham that all the nations of the earth shall be blessed through his descendant, his seed.

Galatians 3:13-16; Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith. Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto. Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.

And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life. One who is a true part of Christ's Bride will have no room within them to allow anything in that is not of Him. He is Truth, no lie can enter in. He is Light, no darkness can exist in His presence. He is Holy and Righteous; hatred, deceit, wickedness and/or evil cannot come near to Him or His. Only those found written in the Lamb's book of Life - the True Believers / Followers - will be a part of His everlasting Kingdom, His Holy and Perfect Bride

… And as the bridegroom rejoiceth over the bride, so shall thy God rejoice over thee. Isaiah 62:5b

And I John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2

And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. Revelation 22:17

Yes we, His Bride, are the heavenly New Jerusalem, the Great and Coming City of Peace, Ruled by the Prince of Peace; Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and our Heavenly Husband; Amen. Even so, Lord Jesus, Come!

February 2, 2010 5:20 AM In Response to 'God's First Chosen' ...

2010-02-28T08:42:00.000-08:00

afinkle221 said...

For more information about Shofar and other Holy Temple instruments we have three websites:

1) Shofar Sounders WebPage
http://shofar221.com

2) Joint Effort with Michael Chusid, an expert Shofar sounder and commentator
http://www.hearingshofar.com

3) Shofar WebPage
http://shofar-sounders.com

When was Jesus born?

2010-02-01T12:01:00.000-08:00

Each year we as believers in Jesus Celebrate Christmas in honor of the birth of our Lord and Savior; in fact I started a family tradition when my children were very little of baking and decorating a cake for His birthday each year.
But I have been doing a lot of thinking about Jesus’ real birthday. I know there is no hard evidence to prove what day he was born. There is no birth certificate and no hospital records for us to pull up on a computer or even on old fashion microfiche files hanging out in some dank basement or dark stuffy attic. But I do believe that we can learn from Scripture and Jewish tradition a time period that is more likely than the date that we celebrate in December.

When Moses was sent to lead the Children of Israel out of Egypt God taught him His law and religious ordinances to teach His chosen people. Part of those ordinances was the institution of seven major feasts that each Jewish person was required to keep each year. They are Pesach [Passover], the Feast of Unleavened Bread [Hag Ha Matzah], the Feast of Weeks [Shavuoth or Pentecost], First Fruits [Yom HaBikkurim], Rosh Hashanah [Feast of Trumpets], Yom Kippur [the Day of Atonement] and Succoth [the Feast of Tabernacles].

Each of these feasts is a picture of an aspect of Jesus and what He has done for us:

Passover is his provision of a covering saving His followers from death. He is our perfect Passover lamb, slain for the sins of the world – if only they would believe and accept His sacrifice. Leviticus 23:4-8; Exodus 12:1-17; 1 Corinthians 5:7b; Exodus 12: 24,26-27; Exodus 2:23-24; 6:5-8; 13:3,14. Fulfilled in 1 Corinthians 5:6-7; John 8:34; John 1:29; 1 Peter 2:5; Galatians 4:3-5,9; 5:1; 2 Peter 2:19; Ephesians 1:7; Colossians 1:14; 1 Peter 1:18-19; 1 John 1:7; Revelation 1:5; Hebrews 10:1-10; John 1:36; John 13:1-16 & Luke 22:13-20

The Feast of Unleavened Bread was to remind the Israelites of the way God took them out of Israel in haste. Leaven was also an example of sin and how a tiny bit of it could totally corrupt the whole person and the community, if they allowed it to breed and grow. Exodus 12:15-20; 1 Corinthians 5:7-8 & Leviticus 23:4,6-14. Jesus fulfilled it as recorded in 1 Cor 5:6-8; Acts 12:3-4 & Acts 20:6

First Fruits is the offering of the first and best of the harvest to God instituted in Leviticus 23:7-14. Jesus is the first fruits of the resurrection from the dead. He fulfilled this as recorded in Matthew 28:1-3, Mark 16:1-3, 8-10, Luke 24:1-3, John 20:1-3, 18-20, Acts 20:6-8, 1 Corinthians 15:20-21.

Pentecost is the celebration of the giving of God’s law to Moses on Mt. Sinai; Leviticus 23:9-22 & Deuteronomy 16:9-12. This found it’s fulfillment in the gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:1-41.

Yom Kippur – The Day Atonement was the day the Jews brought their sacrifices to the temple to cover their sins and postpone them for one more year until their true atonement came. Leviticus 16:1-34 23:26-32 & Isaiah 34:5-6. Jesus came to be our atonement once and for all time. He poured out his blood of our redemption on the cross of Calvary. We can read this in Matthew 27:31-51, Mark 15:14-38, Luke 23:20-49, John 19:15-37.

Rosh Hashanah – the Feast of Trumpets was the day they celebrated the Jewish Civil New Year. The day started with the blowing of the Shofar, to call everyone to a ‘Holy Convocation’ a nationwide worship service to the Lord God. It is both a time of rejoicing as well as a holy occasion. Leviticus 23:23-25. The Shofar was sounded for other reasons, too. To call the men to war was one reason. But another was during the procession of a bridegroom coming to take away his bride the Shofar would be sounded to announce his coming, so that the bride would be prepared for him when he arrived. This feast has yet to be fulfilled in Jesus. I believe that it will be fulfilled when Christ comes again to carry His bride away to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18.

But we were talking about the birthday of Jesus, weren’t we. The one feast we haven’t touched is Succoth, or the Feast of tabernacles. This feast was set up for the children of Israel to remember the time of their wandering in the wilderness after they were freed from their captivity in Egypt. Leviticus 23:43 states; ‘That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.’ They would build a tabernacle of foliage, palm fronds and branches and decorate it with fresh flowers and other things of beauty. They would set an extra place for any stranger that might wander by and need a place to eat and stay for the evening. But I feel this feast of tabernacles has a much broader meaning than this. It should also remind them, and us, of when God dwelt in the garden with Adam and Eve and draw them to seek their Messiah – Jesus – who came to earth to dwell, to tabernacle with us. Even the name of Jesus given by the angel to Joseph was Emmanuel, God with us, in Luke 1:26-38. Jesus birth came in fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles. This feast is celebrated in the fall of the year, the Jewish month of Tishri, our months of September or October. So in my mind, if He came in fulfillment of Tabernacles, he most probably was born during this feast time. Looking at the records of the census/tax that caused our couple to travel to Bethlehem is said to have taken five years to complete. But I found no actual dates that pinpoint the specific time they traveled from Nazareth to Bethlehem to be taxed and recorded.

Whether we Celebrate Jesus birthday at Christmas time or during the Feast of Tabernacles, or even every day of the year – as we rightly should – doesn’t change the fact that He is indeed God with us. He lives is our hearts and has brought to us life and that truly in abundance! God again dwells with men just as he did in the Garden with Adam and Eve, and yet in a much closer way even than that. He doesn’t just dwell in our homes, but in our lives, our hearts – the very innermost part of our being. We have become and are becoming ‘one’ with Him more and more each day! 1 Corinthians 6:19; ‘What? Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?’

‘Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us. Then Joseph being raised from sleep did as the angel of the Lord had bidden him, and took unto him his wife:’ Matthew 1:22-24

Jewish Bride - Step Twelve

2010-01-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

The Final Step — The Marriage Supper

Following the seven days in the huppah or bridal chamber the bride and bridegroom joined their guests for a joyous marriage feast with singing, dancing, music and much merriment. Jewish weddings in ancient times were not considered complete until they were consummated. This was the very reason for the couple’s seclusion.

Revelation 19:6-9: "And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, 'Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.' Then he said to me, Write: ‘Blessed are those who are called to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb!' And he said to me 'These are the true sayings of God.'"

Just like the ancient Jewish wedding, there will be shouts of joy and dancing (yes, dancing) and how exciting it will be. The Bride will dance for joy with her Bridegroom, King Jesus.

We will rule and reign with Him forever. For those of us who look forward to the marriage supper of the Lamb, we must go out to the highways and byways and extend an invitation to others to come.

Revelation 2:17: "And the spirit and the bride say Come! And let him who hears say, Come! And let him who thirsts, Come; and whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely."

Revelation 22:20: "Surely I am coming quickly.' Even so, Come Lord Jesus, Come!"

BEHOLD, HE COMES!

Jewish Bride - Step Eleven

2010-01-01T13:23:00.000-08:00

The Huppah

The second half of the ancient Jewish wedding ceremony, or huppah, is also called the “hometaking.” The original meaning of the huppah was “room” or “covering.” Legend has it that the very first Huppah was the wings of the angels as God presented Adam’s wife to him.

The huppah of ancient times was a special room built in the bridegroom’s father’s home. This special room was eventually replaced by the bridal canopy. The huppah [canopy] symbolizes the new home to which the bridegroom would take his bride. The bride and bridegroom were escorted to the bridal chamber where they would be alone for seven days.

Isaiah 26:20-21 tells us of this time: "Come my people, enter our chambers and shut the door behind you, hide yourself as it were, for a little moment until the indignation is past. For behold the Lord comes out of His place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity."

The spiritual parallel to the huppah for the bride of Christ begins as we are lifted up off the earth to be taken to our heavenly wedding chamber where we will spend our bridal week with our Bridegroom/King.

'For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ I Thessalonians 4:16-17

Jewish Bride - Step Ten

2010-01-01T13:17:00.000-08:00

Return of the Bridegroom

When all was prepared for his bride and the groom’s father had given his approval he would gather his friends they would all go in procession – much like a parade through the village – to the home of the Bride. When they were getting closer someone would sound the Shofar, a horn made from the horn of a ram, and shout that the bridegroom was approaching to announce his coming to his bride. This had a dual effect, people of that village who heard the announcement would also join the throng, whether or not they were invited, to enter into the festivities. Can we say ancient wedding crashers? Just kidding. The Father of the groom would be glad to have all who would enter. In fact families looked forward to the weddings of their villages. These were celebrated in Royal fashion, or as close to that as a family could afford. This announcement by horn and shout would bring the Bride dressed in her finest dress and her new veil covering her face along with her attendants to a place of final preparation to wait for the Bridegroom.

We, as Christ’s Bride will also hear the sound of the Shofar – trumpet - and hear the announcement of His attendants - archangels. ‘For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ 1Thesessalonians 4:15-17. And again in I Corinthians 15:51-53; ‘Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.’

As a thief in the night, our Bridegroom will call us to arise and meet Him in the air. We will hear a shout and the sound of the shofar. It will happen quickly. We must be ready.

Matthew 24:27 says, "For as the lightning comes from the East and flashes to the West, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be."

Jewish Bride - Step Two

2010-01-01T13:04:00.000-08:00

Step Two: Price of the Bride

In Bible times Brides were purchased. The price was paid to the father of the bride, both to compensate him for the loss of a worker and to show him how much the bridegroom loved and valued the bride. The groom would have to raise this money during his preparing of their future home. This bride price was usually equal to at least one year of the groom’s wages. It was a high price, for brides were to be highly valued and not easily obtained.

We, as the bride of Christ, have also been purchased with a price. A very high price — the blood of Jesus. His very own blood shed upon a cross on Calvary’s hill was the price He paid for His bride. We are a highly treasured bride, worth far more than rubies. Proverbs 31:10-12, ‘Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies. The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil. She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.’ For we have been given the righteousness of Christ at our new birth. We stand full of His grace and glory – in fact, when God looks down on us He sees the image of Jesus in our hearts, not the filthy rags that we had owned before.

1 Peter 1:18,19: "Knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from our aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

Ephesians 1:13, 14: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

1 Corinthians 7:23 says, "We were bought at a price, so do not become slaves of men."

We belong to Christ. He is our Bridegroom. We are His Bride. We are in this world but we are not of this world.

1 Corinthians 6: 19,20: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore, glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s."

Jewish Bride - Step One

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Selection of the Bride

In ancient Israel, brides were usually chosen by the father of the bridegroom. He would send His most trusted servant to search for a bride for his son. We see this example in Genesis when Abraham sent his trusted servant to find a wife for Isaac. ‘And Abraham was old, and well stricken in age: and the LORD had blessed Abraham in all things. And Abraham said unto his eldest servant of his house, that ruled over all that he had, Put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh: And I will make thee swear by the LORD, the God of heaven, and the God of the earth, that thou shalt not take a wife unto my son of the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell: But thou shalt go unto my country, and to my kindred, and take a wife unto my son Isaac.’ Genesis 24:1-4

We as Christ’s Bride were also chosen. In John 15:16, 19 Jesus said, ‘You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should remain … If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.’

‘And except that the Lord had shortened those days, no flesh should be saved: but for the elect's sake, whom he hath chosen, he hath shortened the days.’ Mark 13:20

‘The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:’ Acts 1:1-3

Jewish Bride - Step Three

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Betrothal/Ketubah

The ancient Jewish marriage ceremony consisted of two main parts, beginning with the betrothal. The betrothal is much like our engagement today, but with a much greater sense of commitment. During the betrothal the couple is actually entering into a covenant [ or contract. Covenant in Bible times was serious, final, sealed in blood and legally binding. Once a couple entered into the covenant of betrothal, they were legally married in all aspects except for the physical consummation of the marriage. At the betrothal ceremony, a marriage contract, or Ketubah, was presented to the father of the bride. The Ketubah consists of all the bridegroom’s promises to his bride. The bride cherishes her Ketubah. We, too, have a Ketubah from our Bridegroom. Our marriage contract is God’s Word! Our Ketubah (God’s Word) shows us all we are entitled to as the Bride of Christ. All, not some, but all the promises in God’s Word, are for us. As the Bride of Christ, we are entitled to them — they are part of our Marriage Contract.

Jeremiah 31:31-34; 'Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel, and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day that I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt; which my covenant they brake, although I was an husband unto them, saith the LORD: But this shall be the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel; After those days, saith the LORD, I will put my law in their inward parts, and write it in their hearts; and will be their God, and they shall be my people. And they shall teach no more every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the LORD: for they shall all know me, from the least of them unto the greatest of them, saith the LORD: for I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.'

And Jesus presented it in Matthew 26:28, ‘For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.’

Hebrews 8:7-9; ‘For if that first covenant had been faultless, then should no place have been sought for the second. For finding fault with them, he saith, Behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah: Not according to the covenant that I made with their fathers in the day when I took them by the hand to lead them out of the land of Egypt; because they continued not in my covenant, and I regarded them not, saith the Lord.’

Hebrews 8:12, 13; ‘For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more. In that he saith, A new covenant, he hath made the first old. Now that which decayeth and waxeth old is ready to vanish away.’

Hebrews 12:23-25; ‘To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel. See that ye refuse not him that speaketh. For if they escaped not who refused him that spake on earth, much more shall not we escape, if we turn away from him that speaketh from heaven:'

Jewish Bride - Step Four

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The Bride's Consent

Although a bride was selected for the bridegroom, she still had a choice. In Genesis 24:57 and 58, Rebekah was asked, concerning Isaac: “Will you go with this man?” She said, “I will go.” She gave her consent — her “I do.”

God is a gentlemen and He never forces anyone to say “I do” to His Son. He would never take anyone against their will. He calls all to Salvation, inviting each one to be of His Bride. In fact the Bible says that ‘… Many are called, but few are chosen.’ Matt 22:14. I did a little research into this verse and I found that it would be better translated ‘…few HAVE chosen’ Few of us have chosen to be wed to our Heavenly Bridegroom. John 3:18-20 says, ‘He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.’ This is why so many have not chosen to join His Bride, His church.

When we say “I do” to Jesus, we must believe with our heart and confess with our lips; Romans 10:9-10. 'That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.'

Have you said your “I do’s” to Jesus?

Yes — I do confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Yes — I do believe that Jesus died for my sins.

Yes — I do believe in my heart and confess with my mouth that you,
God, raised Him from the dead and seated Him at Your right hand.

Yes — I do repent of my sins.

Yes — I give You my heart!

Yes — I do receive Your great love and the gift of eternal life.

Yes — I will be your bride forevermore!
I do! I do! Yes, I say Yes to Jesus. Amen.

Jewish Bride - Step Six

2010-01-01T13:02:00.000-08:00

Gifts for the Bride

Every bride enjoys gifts! And our God is a giver of every good and perfect gift. The Betrothal included the giving of gifts by the bridegroom to his bride. Many times a bridegroom gave a coin or other object of value to his betrothed bride. It would always be something special that would help her remember him while they were apart. This was because the real focus of the gift giving was to be on the giver and not on the gift. Today we have the engagement ring. This is a symbol of love and commitment. When the bride-to-be looks at her ring, she is reminded of the one who gave her the gift.

God’s Holy Spirit is our spiritual engagement ring. He doesn't call attention to Himself but to the one who purchased us —Jesus.

Through Jesus, we, the bride, receive many gifts: Forgiveness, eternal life, fruit of the spirit, gifts of the spirit, and many more. What bride would say to her bridegroom who comes bearing gifts, “No, I can’t accept them.” Yet many of us do that to our Bridegroom, Jesus. Don’t miss out — decide today to accept all that your Bridegroom has for you.

‘Do not err, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning. Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.’ James 1:16-18

1 Corinthians 12:3-5; ‘Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord.’

1 Corinthians 12:8-10; ‘For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:’

Galatians 5:22-23; ‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.’

Ephesians 5:8-10; ‘For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;’

Jewish Bride - Step Seven

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Mikvah

Brides in ancient Israel, as well as brides in Israel today, experience a mikvah prior to her wedding. The word ‘mikvah’ means a pool of living water that was used for ritual purification. This immersion and ceremonial washing in water is part of their physical and spiritual preparation for the wedding ceremony. The mikvah represents a separation from the old life to a new life. Figuratively speaking this was a re-birth into her new life as a wife and mother.

The Bride of Christ also goes to the living waters of the mikvah. When we, as believers in Jesus, are immersed in water baptism, it is a separation from an old life to a new life. Baptism is an outward expression of our new birth in Jesus and the washing, or regeneration, of our spiritual man – our inner most being.

“Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” II Cor. 5:17

Mark 16:16 reads, “He who believes and is baptized (goes to the mikvah) will be saved; but he who does not believe, will be condemned.”

Acts 2:37-39; ‘Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do? Then Peter said unto them, repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the LORD our God shall call.’

Jewish Bride - Step Eight

2010-01-01T13:01:00.000-08:00

Departure of the Groom

Once the marriage covenant was sealed, the bridegroom left his bride to go to his
father’s house to prepare a wedding chamber. He would be gone for up to twelve months.

In John 14:2-3, Jesus said “In My Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”

Perhaps a better translation of the word ‘mansion’ in this verse is ‘room’. For in the time Jesus walked among us it was the custom for the bridegroom to build a home for his new bride as an addition to his father’s house. The son would not know when this addition was ready; his father would make that decision. The Bridegroom was not allowed to skimp on workmanship or materials used, all was to be done to ‘code’ as it were. Typically it was at least a year in the making, but was not considered ready until his father gave him his blessing and released him to fetch his bride. That is why Jesus said in Mark 13:32-33, ‘But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father’

Our Bridegroom has gone to prepare a wedding chamber for His bride. It is the ‘chamber’ of our heart. When the Father has pronounced it prepared He will return to us. John 14:3; ‘and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

In Matthew 9:15, ‘Jesus said, “Can the friends of the Bridegroom mourn as long as the Bridegroom is with them? But the days will come when the Bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast.’

While we wait for the return of our Bridegroom/King, we need to stay faithful, watchful and spiritually alert. This is the hour to pray and fast!

1 Peter 4:7 says, "But the end of all things is at hand; therefore, be serious and watchful in your prayers."

Jewish Bride - Step Five

2010-01-01T13:00:00.001-08:00

The Cup of the Covenant

After the term of the Ketubah were accepted, a cup of wine was shared to seal the marriage covenant. The second cup of wine would be shared many months later during the marriage ceremony. The cup that Jesus took at His last Passover on earth was the cup of the new marriage covenant with His bride.

In Luke 22:20, Jesus said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood, which is shed for you.”

In Matthew 26:29, Jesus said, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s Kingdom.”

In the Matthew passage Jesus is speaking of the second cup that the Bride of Christ will share with Him one glorious day at the second part of our marriage ceremony.

Jesus announced our betrothal and the Bride’s acceptance – through the disciples – when He ate the last Passover with them: Matt 26:27-29 ‘And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.’

According to Jewish betrothals of this time when a man was interested in a woman he announced his intentions by presenting his intended a cup of wine. If she drank the cup dry, including the bitter dregs, she had accepted his proposal and the couple were then betrothed. The disciples of Jesus shared the cup of our betrothal and as directed by Jesus, they drained it dry. In doing so they announced they were willing to follow Him as His bride no matter what the circumstances were – like our modern wedding vows: ‘for better or for worse, in sickness and in health, till death do us part.’ Only as the Bride of Christ, we don’t have to worry about death separating us from Him, as stated in Romans 8:38-39: ‘For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’

Jewish Bride - Step Nine

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The Consecrated Bride

The Jewish bride was set apart, consecrated, separated unto her bridegroom — the one who purchased her. In this consecration she wore a veil over her face and only removed it in the wedding chamber when at last she was alone with her husband.

As Christ’s Bride, we also wear a veil. When Christ comes back to claim His bride He will remove our veil, just like the Jewish Bride’s was removed on her wedding day. Paul tells us this in 1 Cor. 13:12; For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

We as Christ’s bride are also set apart. In the body of believers this is called being sanctified; 1 Corinthians 6:9-12; 'Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.'

Acts 20:32; ‘And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.’

Romans 15:15, 16; ‘Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.’

1 Corinthians 1:2, 3; ‘Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both their's and our's: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.’
While waiting for his return, the bride has to stay faithful. It was probably easy at first. But when his return was delayed, the temptation would be great. After a while, the bride may even start to question his return.

2 Peter 3:3, 4 reads: ‘Scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, and saying, 'Where is the promise of His coming?’

The Heart of a Child

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In the heart of a child lie qualities rare

An eagerness to learn yet without despair
Wonderment at the ways of life quite unique
And a willingness to explore all the ground ‘neath their feet
A trusting heart and a ready smile
These too lay within the heart of a child

But once in a while a child’s heart is torn
He is hurt in his soul and his spirit is forlorn
He turns into a skeptic, his heart in pieces, broken
All this is because of the lies Satan has spoken
“God is dead,” he’s been told, “he doesn’t exist
“You’re all alone now,” and there goes his bliss

This in very tale I speak of a child, ‘tis true
But this could very easily be me or you
For each of us is the child of the King
He made us and bought us His praises to sing
But our enemy lies and brings us such doubt
He puts cracks in our armor and drains our faith out

We’ve neglected the upkeep our spirit deserves
Forgotten our prayer time and shelved God’s word
When we came to Jesus, we trusted with such joy
But along the way our ‘childlikeness’ became void
We hastened to ‘grow-up’ and be more mature
But, we did it ‘our way’ not His, that’s for sure

When we act ‘all grown up’ we forget who’s the Boss
We allow Satan to run rampant within all our thoughts
He whispers such innocent sounding things in our ears
But that we actually believe him is the thing that I fear
For Satan is a liar and the father of all lies
By listening to him he steals all of our joy by and by.

But Jesus will forgive our mistakes and our sins
We have to repent and allow His presence back in
He will clean up our heart and restore all our faith
When we’ve repented He floods us again with His grace
He restores our childlike nature and all those qualities rare
He renews our wonderment and removes all despair

Again we come unto Him again with the heart of a child
Our spirits will be trusting and our face filled with smiles
He will open our eyes if we ask Him to see
All the disguises of Satan and the attacks that may be
Jesus will also teach us to stand firm and strong
So that when time is over we’ll be a part of His throng

So hold your childlike nature deep in your heart
And stay close to Jesus, let Him never depart
Let Him sing songs of Heaven by a whisper in your ear
So the attacks of Satan you won’t easily hear
And when you see others of Jesus in despair
Direct them into His arms for a dose of His loving care

Intro to Reflections

2009-12-01T00:01:00.000-08:00

God's First Chosen

The Bible depicts the sons of Israel as Gods chosen people. He made a blood covenant with them using the circumcision [Genesis 17:1-23] as a physical depiction of the blood covenant that Jesus would later consummate on Calvary. He gave them a marriage contract, which was sealed with the blood of their sacrifices, when He handed down the Law on Mount Sinai after releasing them from their bondage in Egypt.

‘And Moses wrote all the words of the LORD, and rose up early in the morning, and builded an altar under the hill, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the children of Israel, which offered burnt offerings, and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen unto the LORD. And Moses took half of the blood, and put it in basins; and half of the blood he sprinkled on the altar. And he took the book of the covenant, and read in the audience of the people: and they said, all that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient. And Moses took the blood, and sprinkled it on the people, and said, behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD hath made with you concerning all these words.’ Exodus 24:4-8

Israel accepted this marriage contract, Exodus 24:3; ‘And Moses came and told the people all the words of the LORD, and all the judgments: and all the people answered with one voice, and said, All the words which the LORD hath said will we do.’

But it was a very rocky relationship from the very beginning. This is shown by example in the life of Hosea. God told him to marry ‘…a wife of whoredoms and children of whoredoms: for the land hath committed great whoredom, departing from the LORD.’ Hosea 1:2.

Hosea’s marriage was a physical example of Israel’s relationship with God from the very beginning, only in the ‘Reader’s Digest Condensed Version’ so to speak. So God divorced Israel; Jeremiah tells us this in chapter 2:

‘Go and cry in the ears of Jerusalem, saying, Thus saith the LORD; I remember thee, the kindness of thy youth, the love of thine espousals, when thou wentest after me in the wilderness, in a land that was not sown … Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire? Yet my people have forgotten me days without number. Why trimmest thou thy way to seek love? Therefore hast thou also taught the wicked ones thy ways. Also in thy skirts is found the blood of the souls of the poor innocents: I have not found it by secret search, but upon all these. Yet thou sayest, because I am innocent, surely his anger shall turn from me. Behold, I will plead with thee, because thou sayest, I have not sinned. Why gaddest thou about so much to change thy way? Thou also shalt be ashamed of Egypt, as thou wast ashamed of Assyria. Yea, thou shalt go forth from him, and thine hands upon thine head: for the LORD hath rejected thy confidences, and thou shalt not prosper in them. They say, if a man put away his wife, and she go from him, and become another man's, shall he return unto her again? Shall not that land be greatly polluted? But thou hast played the harlot with many lovers; yet return again to me, saith the LORD. Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness … Jer. 2:32-3:2. ‘And I said after she had done all these things, Turn thou unto me. But she returned not. And her treacherous sister Judah saw it. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby backsliding Israel committed adultery I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce …’ Jer. 3: 7-8a.’

After this bill of divorce was given to the Nation of Israel, God did accept the repentance of individuals and added those souls to His ‘church’ which is His kingdom family and Christ’s bride. But the Nation of Israel was no longer His ‘chosen people.’ Now those who are a part of His church are ‘the Israel of God.’ ‘For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.’ Galatians 6:15-16.

But God knew this was going to happen from the very beginning. He had a plan of redemption and Salvation for men as individuals. His name is Jesus. And men can choose to accept Him and become His bride.

In I Peter 2:9 he says of the church; ‘But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.’ He took these titles right out of the Old Testament, in fact in Deuteronomy 14:2 it says, ‘For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.’ In Exodus 19:6 God says, ‘And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.’

These titles now fall to all believers and followers of Jesus Christ, for we have been betrothed to Christ when we became believers.

Walk with me as I show you the reflections of His Church as a Proper Jewish Bride. Together we will go through the twelve steps of becoming a Jewish Bride and see how we, His church, ARE a Proper Jewish Bride – The Bride of Christ:

Lessons From The Ten Virgins

2009-11-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Matthew 25:1-13.

Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish. They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept. And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him. Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves. And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut. Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not. Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.

So the Bride of this era in history would call together all of her unmarried [virgin] friends to attend her and the Bridegroom while preparing for the wedding and while they were on the way; and to enjoy the marriage supper when the marriage had been consummated. They and the Bride would bring their lamps and ‘vessels’ [usually clay jars] with spare oil for their lamps. The Bride would also have her veil near by and those things she might need during her bridal week of seclusion.

As we know, the church is the Bride of Christ. The John the Baptist tells us as much in John 3:28-29, ‘Ye yourselves bear me witness, that I said, I am not the Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, which standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth greatly because of the bridegroom's voice: this my joy therefore is fulfilled.’ Jesus, too, alludes to this in Matthew 9:19, ‘And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.’

Jesus likened the kingdom of God at the time of His return to 10 virgins in the passage above. The following is what He has taught me about the meaning He had for the parable given here. I will break this down into a verse by verse [more or less] layout to show the things I have learned.

Verse 1-2; Then shall the kingdom of heaven be likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps, and went forth to meet the bridegroom. And five of them were wise, and five were foolish.

Jesus named the number of virgins as 10, as in ancient times 10 was the number of witnesses required in Israel to make a valid quorum. [Quorum is the number of members of a group or organization required to be present to transact business legally, usually a majority.] An example of this practice is found in Ruth 4:2, ‘And he took ten men of the elders of the city, and said, Sit ye down here. And they sat down.’ These virgins may not be saved people, but are those who hang out in Christian circles, such as church members and other religious people who are companions of the Bride, the Church. They are meant to be there to attend to the Bride and Groom, to light their way to the Marriage Feast.

Verse 3; They that were foolish took their lamps, and took no oil with them: But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.

Jesus said that five of these virgins were wise and five were foolish. The foolish brought their lamps only, they brought no additional oil. They made no provision for the future, only brought enough oil for the present. They had not heeded the warning of Solomon in Proverbs 6:6-8, ‘Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: Which having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest.’

This oil is representative of several things in scripture, all of which work here; it is representative of the Holy Spirit in our lives, the truth of Christ, the Gospel message and of our salvation. This oil when it is burning and active in our lives causes the Light of His countenance to shine forth through us. We glow from within. So these foolish virgins had made a profession of faith, but they had not filled their hearts with the truth of this message nor the fullness of its salvation. Their oil would not last long; their light would soon go out. Much like the seed sown on stone ground in Mark 4:16-19. Verses 16-17 say; ‘And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; And have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction or persecution ariseth for the word's sake, immediately they are offended.’ They had no depth of root so there was no room for growth. They withered up and died.

Verse 4; ‘But the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps.’

These wise virgins had their lamps filled with oil and extra oil in their jars, too. Now in Matthew Henry’s commentary these vessels represented their hearts. Not only had they professed their salvation, it was glowing from deep in their inner most beings. They had oil for today and tomorrow. Their hearts were full and overflowing with His joy.

They had provided for the future and still Jesus found fault with them and with their foolish friends.

Verse 5, ‘While the bridegroom tarried, they all slumbered and slept.’

The Bridegroom had been long in coming, so the virgins all ‘slumbered’ and ‘slept.’ They were not being watchful for their Bridegroom. They had forgotten their duties as attendants.

In John 14:2-3 Jesus said; ‘In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.’ But in Matthew 24:36 he also said, ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.’ So Jesus did intend, and still does plan to return for his bride, but only The Father knows when that return will be. He wants to be sure all is in PERFECT readiness for his Bride before He takes us home to reign with him forever.

I looked up the meaning of these two words to see what the difference was. In the Greek they are two totally different words. The meaning of Slumbered is; ‘to nod in sleep, to be oppressed with sleep, to be negligent and / or careless. The definition of Slept is; ‘to fall asleep normally, to yield to sin and/or sloth, to be indifferent to one’s salvation, to be dead.

Again I went to my Matthew Henry’s. He said that the Foolish virgins slept, while the Wise virgins only slumbered.

So looking back to the definition of these words I felt like Jesus was saying that the Wise virgins had gotten negligent in their watchfulness. They were careless about the ways of the Lord and let slip their focus on their relationship with Jesus. While the Foolish virgins were yielded to sloth and sin instead of to Jesus, they were indifferent to they salvation, they had died or were close to death when the cry came.

Verse 6; ‘And at midnight there was a cry made, Behold, the bridegroom cometh; go ye out to meet him.’

It seems to men – both ancient and in this age – that Jesus has taken much too long in His return – yet God set the perfect time and date for His return. Jesus will never be too early, nor too late.

Jesus gave a parable of God’s perfect timeline in Luke 12:16-23 where He spoke of a certain rich man who had more produce than he knew what to do with. He decided to build new barns and store his wares for years to come and the Bible says, ‘And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?’ He had much earthly wealth, but had nothing left with which to honor God. He lost his life because it was God’s appointed time for him.

The second coming of Jesus, unlike His first one, will be announced to us. In 1 Corinthians 15:51-52, ‘Behold, I shew you a mystery; we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.’ Also in 1 Thessalonians 4:15-17 it tells us. ‘For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.’ Jesus will clearly announce His return with the shout of the archangel and the sounding of the last trumpet or shofar.

Verse 7; ‘Then all those virgins arose, and trimmed their lamps.’

This verse reminds me of growing up in the country. It seems that just about every year we had heavy storms that would knock out our electricity for days at a time. When we lost power we would have to get all of the kerosene lamps out of the cupboard and prepare them to be used. We would wash the globes, trim the burnt part of the wick back so the unused portion is able to be lit, or replace them if they were too short for use. Then we would fill the lamps with oil, light the wick, replace the globes and adjust the height of the wick for maximum light with little smoking. With this illustration in mind I can see our virgins waking up at the announcement of the Bridegrooms coming, blowing out their lamps, trimming their wicks, filling them with oil and relighting them to light the way.

This symbolizes their preparing to meet the Bridegroom when he comes to fetch His bride. These virgins were actually cutting away the useless things in their lives that had polluted their relationship with Christ our Bridegroom, cleansing their lives from the sins and such that had caused them to become careless of their Salvation. Refilling their hearts and lives with the oil of the Holy Spirit. The wise virgins in our parable have taken extra oil in their vessels – their hearts. They have recommitted their lives to their Bridegroom. But the foolish do not have any oil left in their lamps, and they have not brought oil in their vessels – they have nothing with which to renew their lives. Too late they find they are lacking. Their lamps have gone out. They are dead, dead in their spirit. Dead unto the Lord God.

Verses 8 & 9, ‘And the foolish said unto the wise, give us of your oil; for our lamps are gone out. But the wise answered, saying, not so; lest there be not enough for us and you: but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’

These foolish virgins lacked truth in their hearts. They lacked Gods grace and Salvation. So, they asked of the wise ones to share what they have in their vessels with them.

Remember the Strong’s definitions sited for the word ‘slept’ in this parable? Two of these strike me here as I look at the actions of our foolish virgins. First, they were indifferent to their Salvation. They gave it little or no thought whatsoever. And second, they were dead, dead in their spirits due to this indifference.

I am reminded of a lesson learned many years ago, that being that the opposite of LOVE is not hate as so many of us believe. It is actually APATHY. Hate is actually another emotion reserved for those who have wronged us in some way. When you love someone you are constantly ‘doing’ nice things for that person, acts of kindness, gifts for no reason, etc. But when you do not love a person you feel nothing, therefore you do NOTHING for them. This is the state of our foolish virgins; they felt nothing in their hearts’ for the Bridegroom. Their vessels were empty.

In their state of apathy, these virgins became selfish and asked the wise virgins to give up some of their oil. They thought to make further show of their faith while their lights fizzled out and died completely. They sought the comfort of being in the truth without actually having the truth within them. They were fearful of death and darkness. They didn’t want to live the life of the faithful, but sought to die the death thereof. So they requested the wise to share their oil with them. In their selfishness they sought to have the grace, the Salvation, of the wise, without getting it for themselves. They wanted to put the wise in the same position they found themselves in.

But the wise replied, ‘Lest there not be enough for us and you.’ In the original text the two words ‘not so’ are not there. Translators have added them for clarity to the readers. The wise didn’t out rightly tell the foolish they wouldn’t share their oil; instead they gave a reason why they could not share. Their natural instinct would always be to help those in need, but they were wise enough to know that this would be detrimental to their eternal security, so they declined. They also knew that each person needs their own oil of Salvation. This reminds me of two sayings I have frequently heard within Christian circles, the first being; ‘Jesus has no grandchildren.’ The second is, ‘You can’t get to heaven on your parents coattails.’ Each person has to have his or her own personal relationship with Jesus – our very own Salvation. And this is actually borrowed from Christ, is doesn’t originate within us at all.

The wise virgins gave the foolish the very best advice they could have if it had not already been too late; ‘but go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.’ But time had run out for getting their hearts prepared for the Bridegroom, He was already in route to the Bride’s home to catch her away and take her to His home forevermore. They didn’t have time to seek out the truth and be at the ready when he appeared. Having a vessel full of oil is not quickly done. Being full of His Grace, Righteousness and Salvation is a life long process.

In Esther 2:12-13 is given an example of virgins being prepared for their presentation before the King, ‘Now when every maid's turn was come to go in to king Ahasuerus, after that she had been twelve months, according to the manner of the women, (for so were the days of their purifications accomplished, to wit, six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with sweet odors, and with other things for the purifying of the women;) Then thus came every maiden unto the king; whatsoever she desired was given her to go with her out of the house of the women unto the king's house.

It took much time to be prepared for their presentation before the king. In Like manner it takes us much time to be prepared to be presented to our Bridegroom when He appears. We also must be purified before we can enter into His presence as only the redeemed can enter in and be with Him forever more. For the door will be SHUT when all who are prepared have entered in.

Verse 10; ‘And while they went to buy, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready went in with him to the marriage: and the door was shut.’

Hebrews 3:12-16 says, ‘Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. But exhort one another daily, while it is called Today; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ, if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast unto the end; While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation. For some, when they had heard, did provoke: howbeit not all that came out of Egypt by Moses.’

The time for getting right with God is NOW, while it is yet day. For the night time is coming and there will be no time left to prepare to enter in as the door will be closed and you will be left standing on the outside in the dark. II Corinthians 6:2 reads, ‘(For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)’

Verses 11 & 12, ‘Afterward came also the other virgins, saying, Lord, Lord, open to us. But he answered and said, Verily I say unto you, I know you not.’

The Bridegroom did not know those foolish virgins, even though they dressed and spoke like their wise counterparts, they were phonies. Truth, Grace, and the Holy Spirit that comes in with Salvation did not fill their vessels – their hearts. They were empty of these important ingredients necessary for entrance with the Bridegroom.

Their hearts were not totally empty; they were full of course things. They were full of self assurance, instead of God’s assurance. They were full of self righteousness, instead of His righteousness. They were also full of backbiting and complaining instead of Love, Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost. They sought to fill their hearts with His truth much too late and were not allowed to enter into the wedding feast. Jesus saw right through their façade as he could look straight into their hearts. HE saw their emptiness deep within. The appeared to Him much like Esau of old who came seeking the blessing of his father much too late, who asked of Israel his father while in a fit of crocodile tears; ‘Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?’ Jesus answered this correctly when He said, ‘Verily I say unto you, I know you not.’

Jesus repeated this denial in Luke 13:24-28, ‘Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.’

However He did give us a warning at the end of this parable …

Verse 13, ‘Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh.’

Jesus warned his listeners, as well as all those of us to follow after, to be ever watchful for His return. He has told us in Matthew 24:36 that only His Father knows the perfect time for His appearing. ‘But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.’

Mark 13:32 also says, ‘But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father.’

This warning is for ALL who would hear His voice and listen to His call. Proverbs 6:9-11 also gives us warning of our sleepy nature, ‘How long wilt thou sleep, O sluggard? When wilt thou arise out of thy sleep? Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep: So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth, and thy want as an armed man.’

There is still time to awaken and prepare for His return. And He is anxious for each of us to do so.

Song of Solomon 5:2, ‘I sleep, but my heart waketh: it is the voice of my beloved that knocketh, saying, Open to me, my sister, my love, my dove, my undefiled: for my head is filled with dew, and my locks with the drops of the night.’

And Ephesians 5:14-16 also encourages us to awake from our sleep and prepare to meet Him, ‘Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.’

There is also still time for foolish virgins to become wise. Heb 3:15 says, ‘While it is said, today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts, as in the provocation …’

Also in Matthew 6:33 it reads, ‘But seek ye first the Kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.’

Seek to find His truth, Seek to have your vessels filled to overflowing with His Salvation. With His Grace. With His righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. When you seek Him with your whole heart, He is glad to reward you accordingly. As it says in Ephesians 3:16-19 says, ‘That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.’

Matthew 5:14-16 says, Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We as, wise virgins, are to hold high our lamps to shine forth to the world and lead them all into the body of Christ. So, let your vessels be full to over flowing with all that He has to offer you and shine forth your light in the darkness to draw the foolish virgins and all non believers to Him. He says in II Peter 3:8-10, ‘But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.’

The End Of An Era

2009-10-01T00:00:00.000-07:00

Do you ever get the feeling when you are at the end of a project that it is the end, I mean totally finished. This is how I am feeling today after working for many hours on compiling and editing the articles that will now become my book designed and written for Single Christian Women; the title of which is “Serving In Singleness.” Now I am not saying that this is the end of my ‘season’ of living a single life, just that this book is now complete and will soon be ready for publishing and release.

Getting to this point is something akin to the pregnancy to birth cycle that we woman experience when we have children, only without that cuddly and cute bundle of joy that you are given by God to raise and help along their path to maturity. This writing process was conceived and the ideas impregnated my mind while I went down my road toward searching for my husband. It ripened in my mind as I learned many valuable lessons about my own singleness, my position in Jesus and my role as His CHOSEN Bride. You see I wrote the chapters for this blog/book as I learned each of the lessons herein contained. Now the book is born; but not quite yet making her first public appearance. I do need to make sure she is properly ‘clothed’ which does tend to cost a bit. Hopefully she will be sitting on shelves in your local bookstore [and at a couple of websites, too] in the near future.

So now what? I have given birth to this new creation, but what am I to do now that this project is completed? What is my next great adventure? Well, at the moment I will be taking my rest in the Lord, finishing up a couple other projects and praying for God’s direction in my writing career.

Please be patient as I am in this time of transition. I will begin again here when God has given me my new topic. Otherwise you can read my other blog ‘Kid’s Korner.’ Add web addr here.

Looking forward to sharing more of my Life Lessons with you soon!

In His Service and Yours!
Sister Leigh

Final Thoughts

2009-09-01T00:01:00.000-07:00

~ Kissed By The Beloved ~

Have you been held by the Beloved
Caressed lovingly by His hands
Wrapped up in the love He offers
Held close and listening for His commands
Jesus longs to closely hold you
Gently to caress you with His love
To share with you His deepest secrets
All the things for you He’s planned

Have you been betrothed to the Beloved
Waiting for your joining to be complete
Are you ever listening for His closeness
Sitting daily at His feet
Jesus longs for you to join Him
Wants you as His loving Bride
Seeks to seat you at His table
In the place of Honor, by His side

Have you been kissed by the Beloved
Joined in oneness, wed to Him
Have you left behind all darkness
And your former life of sin
Jesus longs to kiss you deeply
Waits to see you long the same
See Him standing in the pathway
He longs to take all guilt and pain

Were are you, oh bride of Jesus
Are you longing to know more of Him
Have you shunned all the world’s dainties
For the Best of Heaven to win
Shed your former lifestyle
Leave the past all behind
Seek the kisses of the Beloved
Seek His very heart to find

I’ve been kissed by the Beloved
I’ve been held close and felt His breath
But I’ve wandered far from His side
And felt again the strains of death
Now I am running to find my Beloved
Longing His caresses again to feel
To know again His Holy kisses
To be in the very center of His will

Never again alone will I wander
For my place is to be at His side
For I’ve learned that the greatest honor
Is to be His heavenly Bride
Beloved I am drawing closer
Coming again to seek Your face
Longing to be held by Your caresses
Waiting to be kissed and in Your embrace

Leigh
August 12, 2009
May you find in the words I have written the message that God has been whispering in your ears all along. That He alone is Lord of both the married in the flesh and the married in the spirit – married to Him. Grow closer to Jesus day by day and look forward to the multitude of kisses He longs to share with you – His Bride!

The Heart Of A Princess

2009-08-02T09:01:00.001-07:00

In the heart of every girl lies the heart of a true princess. We all grow up wishing that we were Cinderella or Jasmine or one of the many other Disney princesses we watched. My daughter’s favorite, I think, was Ariel from the Disney movie The Little Mermaid. We all dream of the handsome prince finding us and rescuing us from the black knight or the wicked dragon who has stolen us away from our family and home to hide us in a dark cave or deep dungeon.

I, myself, had a desire to be Cinderella. To be heard by the “fairy godmother,” dressed in the most beautiful gown at the ball, and to be the most beautiful girl in the eyes of Prince Charming. Then he would sweep me off my feet and carry me away in our coach to live happily ever after in a castle in the sky. I know I’m a romantic, but a hopeful one, not hopeless!

Even little boys long to be the hero, and rescue the Princess from the fierce dark dragon, the black knight, or save her from the “Dread Pirate, Roberts.” Or they are the cowboys, saving the village from the frightful Indians or the attack of wild animals. They all have the desire to be a savior/protector, of sorts, to the princess of their choosing. And yet there those who always want to play the evil villain, dark knight or pirate who steals away the beautiful princess.

Where is all this romanticizing going? Let me explain. I feel the reason we girls all have the desire to be rescued by Prince Charming is more because of our desire to be reunited to the King of Kings, than our being caught up in the fairytales that we grew up with. We have all heard before that each of us has a God shaped hole in our hearts that only HE can fill, and yet we are always trying to fill it with everything and every body else.

It isn’t until we find Jesus that we can find this truth for ourselves. But instead of searching for Him, we run after the latest fad, be it the hippest rock star, movie idol or whatever the “flavor of the month” may be. Yet none of these things are truly meeting the needs of our hearts, we aren’t being fulfilled. So we turn to romance novels or the “Soaps” to live in a more “adult” fantasy than that of the fairytale princesses of our youth.

But God created us to be true princesses, to live in His kingdom forever. He put that heart of a princess into each and every one of us even before we were born. He also put the heart of a protector into each little boy. He built them to be the protectors of their families. To provide for the needs of their households; to give their lives for them, just as Jesus gave His life for His Bride – the church. Because He wanted us each – men and women, boys and girls – to meet His Son, Jesus. To become a part of the “Bride of Christ.”

You see Jesus is THE Prince of Peace, King of Kings and Lord of Lords. And we, as children of Adam are separated from Him because of original sin and because of our own sins, as well. And that longing to become a princess should lead us straight into His arms. To bring us to a place of repentance, seeking to be forgiven for all the sins of our past, so that we can live with Him forever in His Heavenly Kingdom. That kingdom began 2000+ years ago, when He walked the earth among men and bought Salvation by giving His life for each and every one of us by shedding His blood on the cross.

I like the way John 3: 16-21 in the KJV says it; ‘For God so loved the world, that He sent His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent NOT His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.’

What a beautiful love story this truly is! The Prince came from the Eternal Kingdom to reconcile the outcast to the King and Kingdom life by giving up His life for them. He then came back to life and wed Himself to those He died to save. How utterly romantic.

So now, we princesses can truly belong to Prince Charming, Jesus! And so can all those princes – heroes or otherwise – we knew as children. Though some days we couldn’t tell the dark knights from the good ones. Or which young ladies were princesses or evil witches. He always knew which of us would give our lives over to His keeping and be a part of His Bride forever.

Even if you have not lived a life worthy of His Bride, He still wants you to come, repent, and start anew in His Kingdom. In fact a wise person once told me, as long as a person draws breath, there is a chance for them to be a part of the Kingdom of God.

Not sure if you belong????

Are you still breathing????

Want to assure your place in the Kingdom, walking beside THE Prince????

Just ask Him right now to forgive you of your sin. Repent and determine to live your life to please Him, alone. Ask Him to come live in your heart forever!

We all have to start in the same place…. at the foot of His cross…. before we can walk the streets of gold in The Kingdom of God.