It was a little interesting to see this scene in my yard: the baby Jesus Christmas light had figure fallen face forward between Mary and Joseph from the big winter storm. But it’s a reminder to think… Think about Jesus STILL SHINING, no matter what… and since Jesus NEVER changes. NEVER WOULD HIS LIGHT GO OUT. NEVER.
We could say Jesus especially GLOWS when IN us He GROWS.
He is the Sight of Light Upright.
…
It was a big windstorm with rain and I must have put the decoration on non-solid ground, simply collapse of the hinge, they are sturdy enough to survive. Would Jesus really do a Faceplant or even make an audible “ugh” from a misstep? Probably surely not. There is not something Jesus would be caught in by surprise. NEVER. Jesus KNOWS His Steps (and ours). Jesus IS the solid rock ground we stand on. Jesus is the One who holds us. He loves before we leap.
The interesting thing about this scene is that when the baby Jesus is glowing (upright or on the ground), He looks the SAME from the front or the back. You might say Jesus can SEE OUT THE BACK OF HIS HEAD. Yet we must realize Jesus KNOWS over seeing, like when the woman touched his robe hem secretly, He knows not only our coming and going, He knew us before we were born.
A FaceSmack hand to head in disbelief is something I envision Jesus doing in response to my often missteps – giving Him a grimace or a surprised face. But a FaceSmack from Jesus is highly unlikely since Jesus KNOWS our weaknesses already AND He uses BOTH hands to hold us in COMPASSION. Nope, Nothing surprises Jesus. Not ever. NEVER.
—-
Consider the plight of Job, Satan getting a chance to test Him, the chapters of conversations of “WHY?” between Job and his friends, in similarities to God letting and making the placement of His Son into the World (*a path of the Light determined from the beginning*). In the world, Jesus had to illuminate the darkness. Job says of God: “He reveals the deep things of darkness and brings utter darkness into the light.” In His crucifixion suffering, Jesus never turned away from God even though He stated His questions: ‘My God, My God, Why have You forsaken me?’ AND “Father, if Thou be willing, remove this cup from Me; nevertheless not My will, but Thine be done.” God’s Will was fulfilled and Jesus carried all the weight of our sins upon Himself. God shunned the sin but loved the Son. God made the Light burn bright enough to know how to send Jesus on this mission to remove our sin, and bring Jesus back with us, never to leave again. The Light NEVER goes out.
Jesus is the Word made flesh, a Light, a hope…
Will Jesus change? Never. Not a chance. Nope.
Look for the Light.
Be the Light.
Upright.
Amen
—-
Job’s friend Zophar said of God: “if you devote your heart to him and stretch out your hands to him, if you put away the sin that is in your hand and allow no evil to dwell in your tent, then, free of fault, you will lift up your face; you will stand firm and without fear. You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by. Life will be brighter than noonday, and darkness will become like morning. You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.” Job 11:13-18
It was a special extra Christmas eve night and church message, a LOVELY real message of Christmas, of God’s Love in Jesus, a Son Given, that I and others absorbed from being at Christmas Eve services. There was also a funny site as we saw the teenage drummer decked out in fine Santa attire with Grinch pants and yes a Grinch mask too… (it’s a great “come as you are church – pajamas even allowed! Love it!)… don’t worry the Grinch mask did come off, must have been too hot… lots of enthusiastic great music!
Our Pastor spoke about the LOVE of God wrapped around us like cloth, like a surfers wet suit for protection and warmth, like the warm sheets at night, like a blanket which she received made by the Sunday school kids… And here I was dressed not so warmly but more “fancy” in a colorful christmas skirt with stockings on a bitter COLD night. I could have used a few more layers riding up and down our external elevator lift to unlock and lock it, brrrrr. I wished then I was wearing those Grinch fuzzy pants!
Well, I WAS (for years) a Grinch at Christmas, not because I stole anything but because I DIDN’T UNDERSTAND what Christmas really TRULY meant. Everyday a blinded Grinch not FULLY understanding past the glitz of the world to see humble Jesus. I WAS clueless that Jesus was INSIDE of me. INSIDE!!! Yes, I could see others expressing the love of Jesus, but I did not interpret the growth came from inside of them. I knew the stories of Jesus, but never watered those seeds, frozen in place. Then one Christmas season, few years back, over the course of weeks, God started filling in the data that my brain lacked – warmed my soil – made me like that expression on the Grinch’s face when he hears Whoville singing in the REAL spirit of Christmas, even though they had no “material” possessions of Christmas… BELIEF and understanding grew and my heart started to EXPAND with Jesus being born IN ME, OHHHHH….. Jesus as our (my!) Lord and Savior INSIDE US and like the Grinch: “GREW THREE SIZES THAT DAY”…
Christmas comes to us, we can open It, and we then can become “THE GRINCH WHO EXPLAINS CHRISTMAS”. That’s why God EQUIPS the CALLED, to demonstrate, to teach, to REACH!!!
Within my cute “little church with a BIG impact” the people ask for and tap into the HOLY SPIRIT. The Christmas present celebrated by each at Christmas is that Jesus, God incarnate, was big enough to humble Himself enough to come to Earth as a baby. God with us. Jesus came to connect and grow LOVE’S flow.
The cutest of sights and sounds that I felt “in the Spirit” this Christmas eve night was from the energy of those authentic Sunday School kids and I remembered our littlest Sunday schooler helping by handing out the candles for us to light during singing Silent Night. I handed the candles to her and she shared. She gave one to an elderly woman who was having trouble walking but was supported by her daughter. The littlest one shared with the oldest one there, and I saw both their Spirits smiling BIG at that moment, a transfer Gift of Light from the Holy Spirit into the Christmas scene, yes, Spirit to share.
So, now I pray us each who werea former “Grinch” who didn’t fully understand Christmas, to be one who loves to EXPLAIN Christmas, to look for OPPORTUNITIES… Opportunities abound (Like at work opportunities last week while wearing my Santa suit),let us take a few minutes to EXPLAIN the HOPE gift in Jesus to someone – SHINE and SHARE the LIGHT.
God, with these gifts of His Spirit, at somepoint WILL (Lord-willing) make it Christmas morning for those folks to open and KNOW and BELIEVE in the GIFT of JESUS.
Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 1 Corinthians 15:58
Reflect for Christmas and New Years on our blessings over our burdens. Then walk that lighted path remembering God’s provisions. Remember we DO have God WITH us, Emmanuel.
Let us remember to count our blessings and live more in tune through applying the Word of God in our lives now and next year. Bless because we are blessed. Forgive because we are forgiven. Let us also turn to God for our troubles and reap His rewards for He is faithful to us.
If you are struggling this Christmas, I suggest this advice from those counseling Job, in the Book of Job chapters 4 and 5. Job was afflicted by the Devil like a demonstration sport during a time God was demonstrating His strength INSIDE Job. The disaster devil could do external damage, but God strengthed Job’s ability to look big picture. God gives strengthening to each of us from the inside too. Jesus, God with us, also brought God to bring us the Holy Spirit. We need insight of the inside Holy Spirit.
Job’s counselor friend, Eliphaz, reminded him of God’s strengthening even though Job was suffering such pain. He reminded that the innocent survive, that God wants to hear us, wants to bless us.
“But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.”… “Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.”
I pray us all this season and everyday to remember to align with God’s Way. Number our days and make the most of them.
I have learned these things too… God provides. Reflect on that…
Reflect on…
Amen
——
Job 4:4-9, 5:1-27
Eliphaz told Job (who was sitting troubled):“Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees. But now trouble comes to you, and you are discouraged; it strikes you, and you are dismayed. Should not your piety be your confidence and yourblameless ways your hope?
“Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they perish; at the blast of his anger they are no more.
….
“Call if you will, but who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn? Resentment kills a fool, and envy slays the simple. I myself have seen a fool taking root, but suddenly his house was cursed. His children are far from safety, crushed in court without a defender.
The hungry consume his harvest, taking it even from among thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth. For hardship does not spring from the soil, nor does trouble sprout from the ground. Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward.
“But if I were you, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him. He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted. He provides rain for the earth; he sends water on the countryside. The lowly he sets on high, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.
“He thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success. He catches the wise in their craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are swept away. Darkness comes upon them in the daytime; at noon they grope as in the night.
He saves the needy from the sword in their mouth; he saves them from the clutches of the powerful. So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts its mouth.
“Blessed is the one whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal.
“From six calamities he will rescue you; in seven no harm will touch you.
In famine he will deliver you from death, and in battle from the stroke of the sword. You will be protected from the lash of the tongue, and need not fear when destruction comes. You will laugh at destruction and famine, and need not fear the wild animals. For you will have a covenant with the stones of the field, and the wild animals will be at peace with you. You will know that your tent is secure; you will take stock of your property and find nothing missing. You will know that your children will be many, and your descendants like the grass of the earth. You will come to the grave in full vigor, like sheaves gathered in season.
“We have examined this, and it is true. So hear it and apply it to yourself.”
Isaiah 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call His name Immanuel.
Isaiah 9:6-7 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over His kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.
Luke 2:8-14 And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear. And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a Baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom He is pleased!”
Matthew 2:10-12 When they [the wise men] saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. And going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered Him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
Galatians 4:4-5 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
John 1:14 (NKJV) And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Romans 10:9-13 (NIV) If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in Him will never be put to shame.” For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile — the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on Him, for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Psalm 107:1 Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good, for His steadfast love endures forever!
Romans 15:13 (NIV) May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
I appreciate this special gift of this 3D printed night light with switch from a work friend, appreciate this gift for many reasons. It illuminates nicely and then you can see the details. It’s a cool use of 3D technology, decorative, even if not a glamorous world-changing use to print machine parts etc. The gift of work holiday parties was also awesome this week for getting me in the mood of being APPRECIATIVE this season. Other than that, I’ve got miles to go for Christmas. But I’ll get there. Lord willing. (At least the village is set.)There’s Christmas gifts, Christmas readiness, Christmas overload and never enough time. A working mom has to make the money, find time to spend the money (whew that hour on my phone Saturday shopping Amazingzon paid off), get sleep enough to wrap everything, and to create the desired ambiance and result Christmas morning – all with the stress of: will they like it? Will they have years from now complaining first world problems of not getting the best legos, the latest trends, and that classic girl complaint of “why did he get games and I got lotions shampoos frilly girl things (oh that’s MY 1st world complaint)…sorry… I’m just as human in my expectations at Christmas and always…. human in the need of DIVINE intervention… something needs to change in me…
Anyway….
The Christmas Gift we should personally ask for is a FRESH FILLING of the Holy Spirit. Accept this Gift, over and over. It’s like this 3D printed night light, someONE needs to turn on the Light switch in us so that we can be internally back-illuminated by Jesus’s Light. Be filled with His Purposes and Shine Him through!
And forever freshly we need Jesus again and again to illuminate our actions to detail the fruits of the Spirit brought to the surface… Fruit to help others in LIFE and Fruit of feeling blessed. The Fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness and Self-control.
Ah… SELF-CONTROL…
Now because SO many ask me “are you ready for Christmas?” I can mentally answer “that’s COMPLICATED”. But my best self-controlled non-whining response would be “I will be… Lord Willing…”.
I love Jesus lighting the Way from WITHIN. That’s the Light we need.
We NEED the Holy Spirit to follow a star to where we MENTALLY need to be. We NEED to come to see and celebrate Jesus as the Gift.
SHINE the Spirit within you. Lord, turn on Your Light! Jesus come quickly.
You see a lot of signs these days that say “Keep Christ in Christmas”…
I think I would prefer a sign that instead said: “Give Christ for Christmas“. Yeah, that’s the sentiment I like!
It is a Christmas GIVEAWAY!
When we GIVE Christ, it means we are giving to others the BEST of us…
When we share Christmas, and share Christ, this means we are not keeping Christ for ourselves for our own salvation but we want to share HIM to help God’s action plan…
When we GIVE CHRIST at Christmas, we are saying that we are believing God wants to be with ALL of us.
He does…
.
SO spend less time griping about what is taken away
5 years ago I was adopted as the caregiver to Christmas the Crab… I don’t do much – but change water and food, occasionally a carrot and a new stick… Hermit crabs who live in the woods adapt to eating sticks… who knew?!
Here is the original story of finding Christmas…. We are lost and found – and we are ALWAYS CHERISHED!
Christmas is Waiting
How long was Christmas waiting, we don’t know… Maybe he wasn’t waiting at all, he just existed doing the best he could in a strange region and climate – cold October – and it was up to us to find him. Maybe our instinctual guidance directed us that way on our walk. We didn’t know it, but apparently God knew we needed to find Christmas. Maybe we just never figure out all the little nuances of life, maybe it’s just fun to listen and watch for God.
A friend and I really enjoyed the walking parts of the retreat – both in the spiritual walking and also in the chance to hit the trails of Camp. A few of us walkers took quiet time to enjoy this exercise which keeps us young physically and young in marvelous appreciation of being spiritually out in God’s great creation.
Camp is an old friend, a compact oasis of retreat facilities and woods in a sheltered setting. Up the hilly trails, a friend and I took off, a chance to talk. We climbed past the frisbee golf trail, up to where I’ve only traversed on a hay wagon ride during an open house… A fork in the road? Which way to go? She and I discussed and we listened to our instincts and we took a right… Grassy trail towards the road… of course we didn’t want to be late for dinner!
Christmas… What was a Christmas ornament doing out here? I looked and then it MOVED!!! WHAT? The Christmas ornament was no ornament, it was a hermit crab!. How in the world did this floral-painted shiny but muddy hermit crab get out here? In these woods? We could speculate all we want about the camp setting, and who might have thought this crab would be okay in the woods and apparently he was okay for the unknown amount of time…. We even put him back on the trail and let him be. We marveled that we saw this hermit crab but for some reason we didn’t take him with us. We kept walking…
We told the others, who were excited!!! But then we started to think maybe we should have taken him. It was starting to dip in temperatures at night to a seasonal cool, although it had been unusually warm this autumn. We thought he’s not going to survive the winter. We need to go back the next day. Could we find Christmas?
Beautiful Saturday – another spiritual gift of morning and we knew we had just a certain little amount of time before lunch, so we teamed up immediately and up the hill we went. Took a left into that grassy trail covered in gorgeous woods… could we find him? Did he run off? My companion immediately spotted him, like a good grandmother would. Christmas! We found Christmas! Oh YES still alive, still near the same chilly spot… Didn’t want to move? Hunkered down for the cold? Still there, yup, seemingly dropped from the sky.
The people back at camp we’re shocked – half cringed and half clamored to hold the crab – but we all agreed how unusual that the crab was there… how unusual we found the crab (twice)!!! We cherished him, fed him, loved him. Camp crab!
How NOT unusual was the JOY that this little crab brought in an already cherished retreat situation… How NOT unusual was that we, who had been focusing on God’s direction for our lives all weekend, knew it was more than just luck that we had been led to find Christmas the crab. There are no accidents… Why us? Why then? Why not??? It’s just normal for God to tweak the system… God provided us for this crab, and God provides all of creation, including crabs, for us to LOVE and nurture… Scripture tells us to nurture nature, watch over and protect.
In hindsight, it connects to the scripture “If we did not praise, the rocks would cry out”, and this little painted rock moved!
Scripture tells us to walk… And reminds us to always be aware of those around us, we are walking with Jesus even if we don’t know it. God could have walked us right over Christmas the crab too and we could have been distracted and wrapped up in our own problems but it was up to us to notice him. And he moved! Not exactly the same, but similar is how God has placed Jesus in the world for us!!! Jesus came and He is still here for us to notice him. Listening to the Holy Spirit guidance is another gift from God – for us to keep walking as we work for our Father – and are called by the Great Commission to spread the Good News. Jesus came for us – we must pick up on the clues that God puts right in front of us – it is up to each person to accept the gift of Jesus – the kingdom of God is the kingdom of the heart. We can do our gifted job to point Jesus out to others. We can share His LOVE. We pick up the tools that God has given us and we use them with our spiritual gifts for reaching His Children to know Him better in this world.
A Christmas ornament fell from the hook and I didn’t hear a crash but instead the branches of the tree caught it, just in time… I found it resting and nestled, safe but precarious and ready to fall. I grabbed it gently, and hooked it securely on the tree.
That’s Christianity right there.
How more plainly can I explain that God has a plan for each of us, but to fully embrace His plan, you have to be hooked in by Jesus. Jesus secures our safety salvation security sensibilities and souls. God wants us forever with Him.
The tree branches are like a net, the sturdy and weak branches must be studied before heavy or light ornaments are tested against their strength. Even the heaviest weight can be anchored by the strong enough hook – that’s Jesus for us – our heaviest burdens can still be lifted, our deepest sorrows embraced. Jesus rescues!
An ornament without a hook, resting in the tree, might be protected for a while, but it is not truly safe if the tree is shaken, if a storm of life brews, or simply if a brush of an innocent unknowing hand shakes it up… If the tree dries up and the needles fall then the ornament will fall crash and smash, no longer hidden or protected. The ornament could be fragile – itself delicately made and beautiful… Blessedly we pray the decorator’s hand to guide the hook to secure it. We and our loved ones are delicately made, beautiful in His eye. Can we reflect His light in our lives like the ornaments’ beautiful shine. We are called to recognize the beauty in all people, to pray for all people, pray for them to Be Still and let God’s Hand guide them.
Jesus – ask Him to hook you safely in God’s plans.
What is it going to happen to the ornaments when the needles fall off the tree? – it may look dry and sad – because the trunk got clogged, the transport of life-giving water no longer flows to the branches… will the ornament be OK? Yes if it they are hooked. At the end of our earthly lives, our souls hooked by Jesus will be removed and embraced by His love to be stored in Heaven. How many beautiful saints are resting in Heaven? Oh, can you imagine that glow!
We are not just ornaments for the Lord, we are even more intrinsic to Him – we are branches in His tree of life.
In God’s tree of life, some dead branches will be pruned, some cast off into the fire, but those branches asking Jesus to clean out the clogs, to clean our hearts, to help shed darkness and fill lives with light will bring us to be branches bearing fruit and make us alive with faith – we will be able to support even more life in support of His plan – we will look forward to living forever in HIS LOVE. But today we can be fruitful for Him!
If you are an ornament, be grateful for your hook – HOLD ON.
If you are a child of God, be grateful for the hand of Jesus – HOLD ON.
If you want to fully live as a branch of the Lord – filled with life – you must go to the vine of Jesus and drink in His Living Water – LIVE ON.
If you want to bear fruit for Him, share it and He will give you more.
.
Merry Christmas – God is with us.
Rejoice.
Amen
.
Jesus is the Word made flesh – we have Security in a Savior, therefore know your strength comes from Him. Be fruitful.
.
Jesus answered, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6
.
Jesus said to his disciples: I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. John 15:1
Protective Purification Parenting while Satan is on the Prowl. In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
The best parenting skill is PRAISING GOD.
The Book of Job has many deep stories to tell – especially about PARENTING. Job made provisions for his children, not just raising them but also in worshiping God by doing what he could as a servant for God and his fellow family by providing purification prayers and sacrifices for his family. He took the opportunity to praise God’s faithfulness and the prescribed way to forgiveness. Job took on the job. So can we.
‘Job would make arrangements for them [his children after celebration times] to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.’
My dear friend would and does always “Pray the Blood of Jesus” over each person we were praying for. She essentially was carrying out Job’s prayer of purification with acknowledging the now true process of Jesus’s Blood covering our sins. We don’t make purification rituals anymore as Jesus took on the ultimate substitute for atonement. But we must go to Him in asking forgiveness. There has to be a realization that we are human and He is Divine. His blood shed covers our sin-caused dread. We also do have this opportunity to pray this purification for anyone good or bad, everyone human, each child or family member we have. ASK for FORGIVENESS for them…
Why? Satan is on the prowl, not just to trip you up from acting right but from believing that God loves you and has forgiven you. (A preacher I know says it’s not big satan whose attacking you but his little “helpers” who you COULD pray against by calling upon God.) Yes. It’s like the little temptations which eat away slowly at the foundations of faith… Don’t crumble and stumble. Worship and thank God, even for trials. Seek God and Satan will flee (see James 4).
And let us provide this guidance and act for our children. God certainly did by providing His Action Plan of sending Jesus. We act by asking His forgiveness of others and doing this forgiveness ourselves. We must act by praising. We ourselves cannot be forgiven without us forgiving.
Much befell Job, yet specifically in the first chapter, losing his children, Job did not fail to praise God. Job did not BLAME God, as that would be a sin. Job praised God, as should also be the first words out of our mouths. We should not become so bitter as not to praise.
Job said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
Jesus taught his brothers and sisters, making them Word-filled and Worthy… Jesus’s brother James reminds us to: Submit Yourselves to God. Job did not curse God, nor shall should we.
Our Way is to be the Way of praise, petition, peace.
GOD “gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you.
ThisIS the greatest job of parenting, praising God who gave us all LIFE.
Amen AMEN
—-
James 4
What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
—-
Job 1. Prologe
In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job. This man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters, and he owned seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen and five hundred donkeys, and had a large number of servants. He was the greatest man among all the people of the East.
His sons used to hold feasts in their homes on their birthdays, and they would invite their three sisters to eat and drink with them. When a period of feasting had run its course, Job would make arrangements for them to be purified. Early in the morning he would sacrifice a burnt offering for each of them, thinking, “Perhaps my children have sinned and cursed God in their hearts.” This was Job’s regular custom.
One day the angels [sons of God in the Hebrew] came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came with them. The Lord said to Satan, “Where have you come from?”
Satan answered the Lord, “From roaming throughout the earth, going back and forth on it.”
Then the Lord said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.”
“Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But now stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.”
The Lord said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your power, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.”
Then Satan went out from the presence of the Lord.
One day when Job’s sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, a messenger came to Job and said, “The oxen were plowing and the donkeys were grazing nearby, and the Sabeans attacked and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
1While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The fire of God fell from the heavens and burned up the sheep and the servants, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, another messenger came and said, “The Chaldeans formed three raiding parties and swept down on your camels and made off with them. They put the servants to the sword, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
While he was still speaking, yet another messenger came and said, “Your sons and daughters were feasting and drinking wine at the oldest brother’s house, when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on them and they are dead, and I am the only one who has escaped to tell you!”
At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said:
“Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart.
The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”
In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.
Not a surprise but HOW GOOD this past week that my neighbor LOVED her visit to the nice assisted living facility where she “interviewed” for suitability for placement. So so GLAD that she is relieved that it is a good place! Her kids essentially said: Mom, we wouldn’t have picked anything less than a good place for you.!!!! THAT’S REASSURANCE!
Now it’s just less than a month until she moves in. My neighbor is excited because she now knows where she is going! NO SURPRISES!
The director was so nice and told her “All we do is eat!”, LOL … And said the staff is so nice and they wait on you, bring your medicine, take you on senior field trips, and have many pre-scheduled activities! BINGO! SOUNDS HEAVENLY!!!
My neighbor told her daughter: “make sure I get cash for the trips!” LOL.
My first favorite sight on the example menu was sweet potato fries! [Yummy spiritual-level food for me, VERY MUCH SO!] Then I also saw: “DIRT PUDDING WITH WORMS” – now that made me LAUGH OUT LOUD!!! It’s candy gummy worms in whipped cream and cream cheese pudding mix and crumbled Oreo cookies, layered and looks like dirt! All sugar but when I’ve made a version of it, people were laughingly confused! The worms are supposed to be a SURPRISE! How interesting that this menu gives away the Surprises… NO SURPRISES.
Is that part of what Heaven will be? A surprise or no surprise? Knowing our path to Heaven is through Jesus, we should not be surprised on HOW to get there (don’t need cash for that forever field trip). He Knows the Way (because He IS the Way). A surprise might come to some who haven’t heard, not knowing Jesus, yet for us who HAVE READ THE STORY, the BIBLE STORIES, it should not be a surprise.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8
BINGO! I am sure that Heaven will be filled with justified surprises, like when you get to meet your great great great grand-generations who went before… I mean what’s it like when you meet Moses? Mary and Joseph? And your own kin again.
Now, as for my neighbor, I pray her a great experience with moving. What’s maybe surprising to some is the willingness of someone whose lived 55 years in her house to go so easily, (isn’t better all around to live each day without whining) – but if you KNOW where you are going, and you TRUST the Way there, and you adjust your expectations and even plan your steps, won’t that make life MUCH easier all around? Pray and God will give you the strength to move forward. NO SURPRISES THERE!
Amen
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. Philippians 4:13
PS
I found today’s “Jesus Calling” entry so fitting to the no whining clause in scripture – based on a few passages including Isaiah 30:18-21. We do have good teachers who show us the Way and the Walk without the whine.. including especially JESUS… No Surprises there!
Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!
People of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.”
—
2nd Corinthians 4: 3-18
And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.
It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God.
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
It was not lost on me that waiting to enter and park for the Wreath laying at National Cemetery, that the radio “randomly” played the Snoopy and Red Baron Christmas song while I was next to a house’s Peanuts Display… That song is about a Christmas truce and PEACE, even between enemies.
.
This beautiful wreath display, the solemn scene of gravestones and the hubbub of very active families all reminded me that the true meaning of Christmas is the REALIZATION of the Peace Prayer, the time for us to no longer treat enemies like enemies, and KNOW how ultimate PEACE comes from our Prince of Peace, Jesus.
.
I was so happy to see so many families visiting their family stones… Soldiers and scouts were here too. We are all better for remembering these are the Christmas days when we count our blessings for freedom by other’s service. The valiant missions, the struggles in war, all are now at rest here…
.
Sleep in Heavenly PEACE…
Amen
Snoopy’s Christmas lyrics
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum Do kannst mir sehr gefallen!
The news had come out in the First World War The bloody Red Baron was flying once more The Allied command ignored all of its men And called on Snoopy to do it again
Was the night before Christmas, 40 below When Snoopy went up in search of his foe He spied the Red Baron, fiercely they fought With ice on his wings Snoopy knew he was caught
Christmas bells those Christmas bells Ring out from the land Asking peace of all the world And good will to man
The Baron had Snoopy dead in his sights He reached for the trigger to pull it up tight Why he didn’t shoot, well, we’ll never know Or was it the bells from the village below?
Christmas bells those Christmas bells Ringing through the land Bringing peace to all the world And good will to man
The Baron made Snoopy fly to the Rhine And forced him to land behind the enemy lines Snoopy was certain that this was the end When the Baron cried out, “Merry Christmas, mein friend!”
The Baron then offered a holiday toast And Snoopy, our hero, saluted his host And then with a roar they were both on their way Each knowing they’d meet on some other day
Christmas bells those Christmas bells Ringing through the land Bringing peace to all the world And good will to man
Christmas bells those Christmas bells Ringing through the land Bringing peace to all the world And good will to man
Christmas bells those Christmas bells Ringing through the land
Songwriters: George David Weiss / Hugo Peretti / Luigi Creatore
I’ve been talking to a neighbor who will be moving to an assisted living facility, I’ve really had those conversations of “you can’t take it with you!”… and sometimes people get to an age where their children take over, so you both can’t take it with you and you can’t give it all away either without some hurt feelings. It’s tough to be in a situation where hurt feelings cloud relationships. I was cautious when my neighbor said: “take whatever you want”. I didn’t, I don’t even know her kids, but I know it’s not good to hurt feelings of others who have more claim than I, if they don’t take it, I’ll see it in the trash anyway… I only took a lawn chair that I had actually lent her. I only asked for one bowl because she had lots and this one matched another bowl I had. And she gave me 2 knickknack statues because she thought I would like them. The knickknacks reminded her of her grandparents. I like that she gave me her memory …And I’m MOST thankful that she has given me her friendship all these years and her trust. I can sit at the kitchen table and we talk about life without fear or anything hindering frank conversations… it’s better to air our life issues privately with a friend and let them go than put them in heavy baggage that we DON’T want to take with us. Don’t make your misery into a museum.
I also don’t need anything from her because not only do I have a house filled with “treasures”, oh my how my own family’s houses are museum-level collections, from statues to butter churns, Elvis bubblegum cards to too many beanie babies. My mom’s friend gives stickynotes to people and says label what you want when I go… I am sure I best preserve my “collection” as memories over the many moths in our attics… I found perfectly preserved 1976 bicentennial napkins in one hidden closet. My one aunt (i have 9 aunts) collected those coupons off the peanut butter cups to mail in for more peanut butter cups… Oh hundreds of points she cataloged still in a box… I remember them, that was the 1970s her cutting them and us eating that free candy… fun… yet now surely both coupons and the candy company are expired. The memory remains.
And then there’s DISHES… oh so many dishes… My Aunt (other side of the family) gave me some treasures of hers because she said “my kids will just roll up a dumpster”… That’s tough that day when the treasures (with the boxes they came in) will not be saved… But isn’t it MORE valuable to have the ability to sit with someone for a cup of tea rather than dust fancy tea cups that never get used? My Aunt also gave me my grandmother’s dishes since I was “closer” physically and in timeframe visiting her. I love them but I appreciate my memories more. I would give away all the dishes just to have one more cup of tea with my aunt, one more conversation with my Grandmothers and Grandfathers, my aunts uncles, all my family and my friends who are gone.
In Queen Esther’s time, she was able to see the Jews survive and thrive and be granted VICTORY over their enemies, after exposing a plot to kill them, and as the king granted her everything she wanted. But an interesting part of this story is that THREE TIMES the scriptures state: “But they did not lay their hands on the plunder.” I don’t know if this was a custom, an edict, or just a frame of mind, be thankful for your lives and livelihood but don’t overdue your victory dance… perhaps leave these earthly treasures because others will need them and you as exiled people will be leaving this land anyway someday, not taking plunder with them… happy to escape and celebrate life…
That sounds like good advice for us. We WILL be leaving this land of our temporary stay. We WILL be granted the real Kings Kingdom some day. Don’t plan to take anything with us but our lives. Don’t plan on leaving too much behind except great memories. Best to smooth the way for our children to cherish us over having anguish in us. Teach them what really to value.
Since we do live in our own splendor, raised as Americans who started collecting stuff in post-war shortage surpluses, let us enjoy our lots in life but be ready to let them go… As one of my elderly friends used to say: “You don’t know what day Jesus puches our train ticket”… I am certain on that day, Jesus will pickup and LEAVE your baggage at the station, ALL of it… His Fare pays for ONLY what God’s Image is in us. He leaves our sin baggage behind… we will live free in Him.
In Heaven (and Heaven on earth):
Our PRAISE is required.
Our PRAYERS are desired.
Baggage becomes expired.
Let us look for Jesus and His “plunder” in Heaven. Jesus’s “plunder” is collecting all of us for God.
God’s Memories are of making us. Our souls He seeks. Let’s keep our treasures in Heaven.
Amen!!!
.
Jesus said: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
Do Not Worry
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? Matthew 6:19-27
If you need a moment to realize that God IS in charge (lest we forget) and need a humbling shock that we DON’T know or see everything in this world let alone the Heavens – then take a Milky Way Moment – go out and see the stars. Not just any stars but ALL of them, if you can…
I took a moment driving up home to park my car (safely) on a very very dark road, open the moonroof, shut off my car headlights and then take a moment to adjust my eyes. I was in the “boonies” meaning the far far backwoods where NO light pollution can obscure the starlight that God put into our sights. I’ve been here before. God NEVER disappoints.
Of course you absolutely HAVE to ADJUST YOUR EYES to see better deeper and brighter.
Feeling the REAL cold is a wake-up gift from God too because you feel more alive. It was 19 degrees, snow on the ground, I stepped outside and my breath was taken away – but that was by the STARS not just due to the cold… That level of intricate light, placed just right, is SO AMAZING… And we miss it everyday, don’t we?… We miss it in the sunshine as well as in the light pollution. We miss A LOT of what God wants to show us.
It is an overwhelming AWE in seeing so many stars because there are MORE light spaces than dark spaces. And the depths are deep… I am also in awe that this view is much closer to the skies that Abraham saw, Jacob, Moses, John the Baptist saw… yes to what Jesus saw… A view to what God placed there to guide the Way of Wonder…
If you can appreciate your ability to have appreciation of everything and anything as a gift from God, you might appreciate the stars even more. But first you must adjust your attitude. That is MORE important than adjusting your eyes.
There’s a famous quote by Charles Stanley which says “The shortest distance between our problems and their answers is the distance between our knees and the floor.”
Yes, God delivers and is Deliverer. We must listen, act, trust. And He knows the solutions more that we know even what the problems really are.
Perhaps God wants to hear us praise Him before we even bring up problems.
It’s all in the ask. It’s “what” we ask, “when” we ask, it’s in “how” we ask, and it’s in “why” we ask… and in our follow up, it’s then in how we DO what is asked of us… Will we trust? Can we have faith? I HOPE SO!
Prayer… Petition… Putting ourselves out there…
Many warrior kings won the battles by fierce fighting. But Queen Esther won the lives of a whole generation of people by prayer, fasting, asking, and sticking her neck out to ask the King a question without the normal chain of events, to identify that she was Jewish, that her people were in death’s danger by decree, and to be in that dinner WITH the person who wanted her dead before even knowing who she was. Hmmm…. (that last part is so Jesus-like, having dinner with Haman then accusing him like Jesus accuses Judas. Haman and Judas wanting the death of someone before knowing their true identity. Esther and Jesus going up against governing rulers to set their people free, Esther to life and Jesus to death)…
Esther did an unusual thing, she asked the king Xerxes and Haman to come to dinner twice, she put a pause in the middle. Meanwhile king Xerxes couldn’t sleep and while reading his history found out or refreshed his memory that Mordecai previously had saved him. Meanwhile Haman, all puffed up and pompous saw Mordecai and wanted to kill him. But the tables were turned and Haman’s downfall started. And the Queen waiting until that 3rd opportunity to ask (original approach plus 2 dinner banquets) got to both save her people and see that Haman was incriminated. The TRUTH set them free with the king’s NEW decree.
Esther’s TIMING was key, the time was given for the king to process all that was going on. God knew how to bring down a bad man and save a people. God’s continued motivation to save the Jews was to keep David’s line, the root of Jesse, as a Light in the Darkness, from where Jesus earthly family paved the way to the Way.
Esther’s ask and save becomes celebrated in the Jewish feast of Purim, which usually lands in February or March. We all should celebrate joyfully the triumph of courage and how we all know God is a God who saves. A strong woman and brave, Esther reminds us to ask God and give God time to work on the situation. We must be willing to do what God needs. If He asks us? You know He has a plan! King Xerxes would have given Esther half the Persian kingdom. God’s son Jesus held onto the WHOLE of the HEAVENLY KINGDOM and DELIVERED.
Mordecai reminds Esther that if she doesn’t act, God would still get His Plan accomplished in another manner, but how awesome it is for her (and for us) to be a member, a doer, an instrument of God’s Peace.
God’s BIG ASK for us is to resist the devil and to be a part of His Peace.
As for me and my peace, I will ASK the Lord.
Amen!
Esther 5-6-7
Esther’s Request to the King
On the third day Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the palace, in front of the king’s hall. The king was sitting on his royal throne in the hall, facing the entrance. When he saw Queen Esther standing in the court, he was pleased with her and held out to her the gold scepter that was in his hand. So Esther approached and touched the tip of the scepter.
Then the king asked, “What is it, Queen Esther? What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be given you.”
“If it pleases the king,” replied Esther, “let the king, together with Haman, come today to a banquet I have prepared for him.”
“Bring Haman at once,” the king said, “so that we may do what Esther asks.”
So the king and Haman went to the banquet Esther had prepared. As they were drinking wine, the king again asked Esther, “Now what is your petition? It will be given you. And what is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
Esther replied, “My petition and my request is this: If the king regards me with favor and if it pleases the king to grant my petition and fulfill my request, let the king and Haman come tomorrow to the banquet I will prepare for them. Then I will answer the king’s question.”
Haman’s Rage Against Mordecai
Haman went out that day happy and in high spirits. But when he saw Mordecai at the king’s gate and observed that he neither rose nor showed fear in his presence, he was filled with rage against Mordecai. Nevertheless, Haman restrained himself and went home.
Calling together his friends and Zeresh, his wife, Haman boasted to them about his vast wealth, his many sons, and all the ways the king had honored him and how he had elevated him above the other nobles and officials. “And that’s not all,” Haman added. “I’m the only person Queen Esther invited to accompany the king to the banquet she gave. And she has invited me along with the king tomorrow. But all this gives me no satisfaction as long as I see that Jew Mordecai sitting at the king’s gate.”
His wife Zeresh and all his friends said to him, “Have a pole set up, reaching to a height of fifty cubits, and ask the king in the morning to have Mordecai impaled on it. Then go with the king to the banquet and enjoy yourself.” This suggestion delighted Haman, and he had the pole set up.
Mordecai Honored
That night the king could not sleep; so he ordered the book of the chronicles, the record of his reign, to be brought in and read to him. It was found recorded there that Mordecai had exposed Bigthana and Teresh, two of the king’s officers who guarded the doorway, who had conspired to assassinate King Xerxes.
“What honor and recognition has Mordecai received for this?” the king asked.
“Nothing has been done for him,” his attendants answered.
The king said, “Who is in the court?” Now Haman had just entered the outer court of the palace to speak to the king about impaling Mordecai on the pole he had set up for him.
His attendants answered, “Haman is standing in the court.”
“Bring him in,” the king ordered.
When Haman entered, the king asked him, “What should be done for the man the king delights to honor?”
Now Haman thought to himself, “Who is there that the king would rather honor than me?” So he answered the king, “For the man the king delights to honor, have them bring a royal robe the king has worn and a horse the king has ridden, one with a royal crest placed on its head. Then let the robe and horse be entrusted to one of the king’s most noble princes. Let them robe the man the king delights to honor, and lead him on the horse through the city streets, proclaiming before him, ‘This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!’”
“Go at once,” the king commanded Haman. “Get the robe and the horse and do just as you have suggested for Mordecai the Jew, who sits at the king’s gate. Do not neglect anything you have recommended.”
So Haman got the robe and the horse. He robed Mordecai, and led him on horseback through the city streets, proclaiming before him, “This is what is done for the man the king delights to honor!”
Afterward Mordecai returned to the king’s gate. But Haman rushed home, with his head covered in grief, and told Zeresh his wife and all his friends everything that had happened to him.
His advisers and his wife Zeresh said to him, “Since Mordecai, before whom your downfall has started, is of Jewish origin, you cannot stand against him—you will surely come to ruin!” While they were still talking with him, the king’s eunuchs arrived and hurried Haman away to the banquet Esther had prepared.
Haman Impaled
So the king and Haman went to Queen Esther’s banquet, and as they were drinking wine on the second day, the king again asked, “Queen Esther, what is your petition? It will be given you. What is your request? Even up to half the kingdom, it will be granted.”
Then Queen Esther answered, “If I have found favor with you, Your Majesty, and if it pleases you, grant me my life—this is my petition. And spare my people—this is my request. For I and my people have been sold to be destroyed, killed and annihilated. If we had merely been sold as male and female slaves, I would have kept quiet, because no such distress would justify disturbing the king.”
King Xerxes asked Queen Esther, “Who is he? Where is he—the man who has dared to do such a thing?”
Esther said, “An adversary and enemy! This vile Haman!”
Then Haman was terrified before the king and queen. The king got up in a rage, left his wine and went out into the palace garden. But Haman, realizing that the king had already decided his fate, stayed behind to beg Queen Esther for his life.
Just as the king returned from the palace garden to the banquet hall, Haman was falling on the couch where Esther was reclining.
The king exclaimed, “Will he even molest the queen while she is with me in the house?”
As soon as the word left the king’s mouth, they covered Haman’s face. Then Harbona, one of the eunuchs attending the king, said, “A pole reaching to a height of fifty cubits stands by Haman’s house. He had it set up for Mordecai, who spoke up to help the king.”
The king said, “Impale him on it!” So they impaled Haman on the pole he had set up for Mordecai. Then the king’s fury subsided.
The king who decreed punishment to the Jewish people (king Xerxes) during “the Persian Period” did so by giving up his signet ring to another (Haman). Took it OFF and let another take some control. King Xerxes was letting someone else seal a deal without full knowledge of the people’s plight or character, including his own wife, Queen Esther. Esther was able to stop this plot of extermination, as it became her TIME to reveal her identity as a Jew, a daughter of God, one who hoped in a mighty King promised in David’s lineage to save generations and restore God’s Kingdom. Esther’s intervention unsealed the earthly kings seal. A new edict (after the plot was revealed) sealed the king’s order to save the Jews. God’s plan prevailed.
No one can unsealed God’s Holy Spirit Seal on your soul. “When you believed, you were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of His glory.” This is what was revealed to us by the Spirit Himself in the Word.
God who created us in His Image does mark us as His, and He makes this mark Himself. God brings us to Jesus. And remember this means Jesus is coming back to redeem us. Redemption is not like a small coupon to save money, but an unfair unforgettable exchange of Jesus’s Life for ours. He ransomed Himself to redeem the price for our freedom. He gave us the Holy Spirit to show that we are His. He moves us thru the Holy Spirit now to spread this Good News.
Haman would have paid in silver for killing a generation of Jewish people because one (Mordecai) failed to respect him. King Jesus paid in full for saving all, not just Jews, but ALL. And ALL will respect Jesus when He returns.
Esther approached king Xerxes and he said he would have given her upto half his kingdom if she asked. King Jesus redeems ALL of the Kingdom. Jesus asks us to remember that and share that news.
Esther revealed that plot by Haman. Mordecai was saved and so were all the Jewish people. King Xerxes took back his ring from Haman (who was impaled by the torture he had intended for Mordecai). King Xerxes gave the ring instead to Mordecai, whom had previously saved his life. We too will live, and have the marks of the Heavenly King Jesus’s seal. We too are saved…. Sealed by the Spirit.
We know the end of this story BECAUSE it IS the Holy Spirit who reveals it as TRUTH to us, to those who believe in Jesus. Let us pray for those who have yet to find their way and learn their identity too. We ask God to open their eyes to both the plots of the devil and to seeing the saving Grace of His mercy. We know that we are scattered in the Kingdom, but You know when to call us.
Let us step out in faith. Lord, we are blessed to know You in us.
Amen
—-
Esther 3:8-11
Then Haman said to King Xerxes, “There is a certain people dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom who keep themselves separate. Their customs are different from those of all other people, and they do not obey the king’s laws; it is not in the king’s best interest to tolerate them. If it pleases the king, let a decree be issued to destroy them, and I will give ten thousand talents of silver to the king’s administrators for the royal treasury.”
So the king took his signet ring from his finger and gave it to Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, the enemy of the Jews. “Keep the money,” the king said to Haman, “and do with the people as you please.”
—-
Ephesians 1:13-14
And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
—
Esther 8:1-11
The King’s Edict in Behalf of the Jews
That same day King Xerxes gave Queen Esther the estate of Haman, the enemy of the Jews. And Mordecai came into the presence of the king, for Esther had told how he was related to her. The king took off his signet ring, which he had reclaimed from Haman, and presented it to Mordecai. And Esther appointed him over Haman’s estate.
Esther again pleaded with the king, falling at his feet and weeping. She begged him to put an end to the evil plan of Haman the Agagite, which he had devised against the Jews. Then the king extended the gold scepter to Esther and she arose and stood before him.
“If it pleases the king,” she said, “and if he regards me with favor and thinks it the right thing to do, and if he is pleased with me, let an order be written overruling the dispatches that Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, devised and wrote to destroy the Jews in all the king’s provinces. For how can I bear to see disaster fall on my people? How can I bear to see the destruction of my family?”
King Xerxes replied to Queen Esther and to Mordecai the Jew, “Because Haman attacked the Jews, I have given his estate to Esther, and they have impaled him on the pole he set up. Now write another decree in the king’s name in behalf of the Jews as seems best to you, and seal it with the king’s signet ring—for no document written in the king’s name and sealed with his ring can be revoked.”
At once the royal secretaries were summoned—on the twenty-third day of the third month, the month of Sivan. They wrote out all Mordecai’s orders to the Jews, and to the satraps, governors and nobles of the 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. These orders were written in the script of each province and the language of each people and also to the Jews in their own script and language. Mordecai wrote in the name of King Xerxes, sealed the dispatches with the king’s signet ring, and sent them by mounted couriers, who rode fast horses especially bred for the king. The king’s edict granted the Jews in every city the right to assemble and protect themselves;…
You might think it’s unusual that a flat tire reminds me of how life is FILLED WITH GOD’S CALLING ON OUR LIVES, and especially to remember His timing and Ways are bigger than our ways, but every bump in the road is a moment to SHINE OUR FAITH. And if life is smooth sailing, we best credit God for that! Moments in time are all a gift, make the most of them. In all, we must reveal our identity: One who TRUSTS in God.
Queen Esther had to acknowledge her MOMENT IN TIME TO TRUST GOD. Yes, TRUST GOD, step out in faith and approach the king, Xerxes, and expose and stop a plot to kill all the Jews. She had to take a risk revealing her identity too. That king did not know Esther also was a Jew, because her cousin/counselor Mordecai requested that she keep it a secret the whole time due to the many dangers they faced as foreigners. The exiles from Jerusalem were taken by a plundering conquest and the prophesies said their people would return to Jerusalem and a mighty KING would rise from their ranks (the House of David) – of course we all know the prophesies were of Jesus.
Certainly nowadays our bumps in the road are nothing in comparison and how we handle them are not as dramatic as this, but we are ALSO called for MANY actions in our faith FOR THE BENEFIT OF OTHERS. “You were called for just a TIME as this.”… and sometimes (often) ALWAYS we are to embrace GOD’S TIMING in how it all plays out. If we rant and rave in anger over small things – how do we demonstrate that we trust God? Well, it wasn’t just my flat tire’s “timing” but it was also when I knocked down the squash and salsa and cheese glass lunch container that next morning that I REMEMBERED a connection to patience and petition to God. I thought about Esther and TIMING. A sticky situation needing attention immediately. These delays in my life surely are when I KNOW I am being paced by God, slowing me down from multi-tasking, resetting “my agenda schedule” – maybe even preventing me from a car crash or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. God moves us to bless us AND to be with others in His timing for them too. You must realize that we ARE God’s Hands and Feet… See, this is why I consider the flat tire A BLESSING IN DISGUISE, that dealing with small things as well as big, are in God’s plans. We must TRUST HIM. We must change our attitude FASTER than it takes to change a tire.
I knew I had a slow leak, discovered just that day, so when I saw the actual flat I was forced to pause, well sort of, because God lined up the day in HIS Way…. There actually was a yellow truck actually idling right next to me, WHAT TIMING! Even if he “randomly” was there at my workplace for a broken down big rig, I chatted with the driver about my own tire, talked about getting to a holiday event with friends. He DID have an air pump and he DID fill me up with air without complaining or asking for anything AND also he filled me with cautiousness while we discussed how perhaps I should call roadside service AAA anyway. He cared. He was a counselor placed in God’s timing to me. I already pay for roadside service so I called them anyway just because I had a long trip, better to not get stuck on the turnpike itself then I would NEVER make it to my friends’ event on time. It was then I saw the nail, perfectly placed inside the treads making it plug-fixable in the future. Yup, not God’s nail but a reminder to NOT be mad, just be GLAD I had options AND had roadside service on the way and especially God to rely on.
My spare donut was on within record speed by a AAA driver grateful for my call (and for my tip since this was only his 4th call all day). Meanwhile I watched the yellow big rig tow driver on the ground hooking up that stranded truck, such hard work! I went back over to thank him for his help and advice, tell him I had a safe tire on now, and wish him Merry Christmas. He was grateful I said Christmas not holidays and I was grateful to give God praise in that moment WITH someone.
Yes, I made the get together with my friends, and we donned our festive lighted headbands and were grateful to SHINE. I ran into dozens of girl scout and church friends. Their love SHINED God’s Love to me and to all… I saw “God’s Miracles in Motion” (my friends who are medical miracles). And I met a new person whom helped put on that holiday event, we have mutual church friend connections, so AT THAT MOMENT I knew God must have wanted me to meet her, chat with her, make her feel more welcome to our community. All these interactions brought to me – connected by God’s TIMING. Whom am I not to LET HIS LIGHT SHINE. One flat tire becomes 10 opportunities for GRATITUDE. So imagine what we could PRAISE for every time we DON’T have a flat. Praise for every time we see friends.
It always helps our attitude by giving God gratitude. Got out on a limb like Esther for God’s mission. Go out with a LIGHT to share God’s Love.
I thank my friends for their friendship, for putting the shine into my smile – and I thank the Lord for putting HIS batteries in our LIGHT. He IS this SHINE of mine. I’m going to let HIMSHINE.
Amen
PS, I did not fix my tire yet, I am riding on my “spare”… going to see how that nail in the tire gives God’s opportunity to praise Him today! God Bless TODAY!
…
Esther 4:13-17
“Do not think that because you are in the king’s house you alone of all the Jews will escape. For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to your royal position FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS?”
Then Esther sent this reply to Mordecai: “Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.” So Mordecai went away and carried out all of Esther’s instructions.
Happy Early Merry Christmas – a good time for reflection and hope.
I decided to revisit some of my original writings… This one was #8 Dec 24th 2014…
I speak of 4 miracles in this piece – and you probably know people like them – amazing miracle survivors – all around us every day. Which means that our prayers are often answered – so let us keep praying them for today’s people who need miracles.
Reflect on the past miracles, reflect on the hugs, reflect on the real meanings of Christmas including that HOPE that God gives. Then be ready to see some more good things – because God is good ALL YEAR…
Amen
Got Santa to pause to sit down for a cup of tea after the gifts were placed under the tree – I appreciate this year – I appreciate the time now to sit and have a cup of tea and bask in the glow from the lighted tree – an undecorated tree – but lighted – and so fragrant and soothing. It’s almost midnight now – all is still and quiet – I am going to work hard this next year to keep this Christmas spirit alive in me all year round.
I did the most important things at Christmas – but not all the things you normally want to do… the tree is up but barely ten ornaments? I did hang one this year – one of my kids together as babes in arms – really that is the only ornament I need to hang on my tree – they ARE my life – my tree is rooted in loving family and I never want my kids to forget how much their family loves them and how much I love them.
My God sightings for today are a selection of miracles – earthy miracles that I have witnessed with my own eyes:
1) I delivered a poinsettia to a woman who has been battling an incurable disease – on her second liver and no one is more of a fighter than her. Today when I brought the plant to her and her family, she was cleaning her oven… last time a similar situation, I visited her one week out of the hospital with doctors baffled at her recovery off her deathbed – after a moving prayer service for her – well, I visited her and when I recounted her condition later to friends, they gravely asked “how is she?” – I said: “she’s doing laundry!!!”… up and kicking… laundry, cleaning the oven – preparing Christmas dinner for a family who needs her so much…she is my hero…
2) I sat right behind another medical miracle in church today – a survivor of a rare heart surgery – only very few have had it done – his whole family was together for Christmas – pure, pure joy to see them all together!
3) I sat near another miracle near me in the church service – a young man who survived a life-threatening infection just months earlier – such a scary time for his family. Today, the joy of seeing him – a miracle.
4) Another miracle at the living nativity – I met a young man recovered from a terrible accident… a man on “Bonus time” as he puts it.
There were likely so many other miracles right around me that didn’t occur to me to notice today – miracles so commonplace that we forget they are miracles, but they are…
I so appreciate the miracle of laughter and love – the bonding in families and in our church families. we are truly blessed in how we feel so much a part of THE family – especially this time of year when we see so many friends. I even had real sit down conversations with some great friends over the last few days – that feels like a miracle – to pause and talk. I so appreciated the hugs – I must have had at least 25 tonight alone – plus the hugs from the whole week – I had hugs at work – hugs at church – hugs with friends – hugs at home. If a picture can speak a thousand words, then a hug – placed at the right time can speak a thousand pictures – that’s a million words. Hugs of hello – hugs of love – hugs of understanding – hugs of sorrow – hugs of good bye…
Thanks for allowing me to share my God sightings and I am sending a virtual hug to you all!
FAITH – and processing an awakening – This writing mirrors me starting to believe in Jesus – I didn’t think it was silly – but my heart was not yet believing until I was seeing… AND THANK GOD – He Himself opened my eyes to be seeing HIM. It is none other than Jesus Himself thru the Word thru the Holy Spirit who is trying to get you to see Him for REAL. God brings us to Jesus – drives us right to Him – open your eyes and be ready to see!
I was on the list of the lost in my faith – truly now I can see why Jesus is trying so hard to wake us. We are dead in our fatih so often – at least I was… Jesus knows when we are sleeping – He awakes us – God brings us right to Him – and when we are in Jesus’s Hand, He will NEVER let us go.
Why is this important? To be awake in your faith? because Jesus is the ONLY WAY to be covered in Grace, Mercy, Forgiveness. The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them. John 3:35-36
For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. John 5:20
Below is my devotion with the unbelieving becoming believing – just have to keep looking!
Miracle on 34th Street – “I Believe, I Believe, it’s Silly but I Believe”
My favorite movie – not just Christmas movie – but all time movie – is Miracle on 34th Street. Not the ’70’s version, not the colorized version but the original 1947 version – Edwin Gwynn as Kris Kringle – Maureen O’Hara, Natalie Wood as mom and daughter… and Fred Gailey the lawyer (John Payne) who was an early believer in Santa, in Christmas and all that Christmas stands for. Yes, my favorite movie of all time – ever since I was young…
Little Susie says “I believe, I believe, it’s silly but I believe”. She was talking about Santa Claus – but the movie goes much deeper than that – see Santa (Kris Kringle) was looking for belief in people – in everyone who didn’t believe – looking for hope to continue in his line of work – to continue hoping for the world. Fred was asking Doris (Maureen O’Hara) to believe – to believe in him – to believe in anything – she swore off fairy tales, swore off any belief in what she wasn’t in control of. she suffered from too much reality check – “should be realistic and completely truthful with our children and not have them growing up believing in a lot of legends and myths” … “And by filling them full of fairy tales they grow up considering life a fantasy instead of a reality.” Fred will work on Doris – Kris Kringle work on Susie too – together they can make this happen – it is a movie after all – together we will see how it all unfolds…
At the pinnacle of the movie – Doris is upset that Fred throws away his career by taking on the seemingly win-less case of proving that Kris Kringle is indeed Santa Claus – the one and only Santa Claus… Fred urges her “Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to. It’s not just Kris that’s on trial. It’s everything he stands for. It’s kindness, joy, love, and all other intangibles.” “Someday, you’re going to find out that your way of facing this realistic world just doesn’t work. And when you do, don’t overlook those lovely intangibles. You’ll discover they’re the only things that are worthwhile.”
Fast forward to Doris trying to reassure Susie that Mr Kringle will be ok – Doris is not sure she yet believes what she is telling her daughter – but Doris tells little Susie that she has to have faith – Doris even adds to Susie’s letter that “I believe in you too” – win – Kris Kringle gets the letter and all the other dead letters at the post office and Fred wins the case – Kris is recognized by the federal government to be the “One and Only Santa Claus” – WIN!
Susie has asked Mr Kringle for something big – bigger than a normal present – she asks for a house – one of those Long Island cape cod’s – similar to the suburb house that I live in today quaint, quiet and family friendly… Susie expects Mr Kringle to deliver – big time – expects a miracle – expects that snap and she will have this house – puts it as a test to him… No – she doesn’t get it at the Christmas morning party – Doris has to say – “You must believe in Mr. Kringle and keep right on doing it. You must have faith in him.” … “you’ve still got to believe in people. I found that out.”
“I believe. I believe. It’s silly but I believe” – Kris has orchestrated a car ride home with Fred – down a quaint quiet street – in a family neighborhood. “I believe. I believe. It’s silly but I believe” – Susie repeats and repeats – and then – oh snap! there it is – the house – on a quaint and quiet street – the perfect house – it’s for sale – it’s unlocked – with a swing in the back – WIN.
Fred learns from Susie that Doris told her “Mommy said if things don’t turn out right at first, you’ve still got to believe. You were right Mommy!” – WIN – Doris to Fred “I never really doubted you. It was just my silly common sense.” WIN – BIG WIN. Kiss – realization that believing is seeing – believing came first – then seeing Kris Kringle’s cane in the house – hmmm….
Believe – it was and is that belief has to be there first – the rest follows – you have to believe – to have faith when common sense tells you not to… BELIEVE
Be open this Christmas to knowing and teaching the true deep down meaning of Christmas…
God opened my ears and eyes but most importantly opened my heart in a Christmas season… Allow the Lord to be born in You – and Lion and a Lamb – this Christmas and always. My prayer is for all to be open, be opened, be opening…
A Poinsettia Prayer
A beautiful showy poinsettia is often misunderstood… botanically-speaking. Its big flowers a beautiful splash of red. Christmas red with the evergreen brings cheer.
But, those big red flowers or white pink speckled – they are not flowers at all.
No, they are leaves (botanically speaking they are bracts). The flowers are barely noticed – if they are present at all – they are divided into yellow stamens and a nearly invisible pistil deep down below lip-shaped stigma – which is in the shape of a smile.
At the base of the invisible overlooked flower, nestled in the center of showy colorful bracts, is the place where the flower will bear even tinier seeds. The seeds will be enveloped, embraced and provided food to nurture the next generation of baby plants.
Christmas time is full of showy colorful splashes – but its real meaning is often misunderstood – it is really about a tiny baby – a hope for peace not brought on by a giant clashing war to end all wars – but instead by a non-showy tiny sweet baby – who will grow into our hearts and bring peace when enveloped, embraced and provided nourishment.
So look closely this Christmas – not at the showy leaf bracts, but at the tiny flowers – look for the tiny baby – and look for the true meaning of Christmas deep down in the middle of your heart.
We could read LOTS into the backdrop to the story of Esther and the King Xerxes. We could marvel at the opulence of his “royal treatment” for the nobles and officials, allowing them liberal activities in a 7 day party after a whole 180 days of showing off his treasures… The GARDEN party locale had hangings of white and blue linen, couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones, plus had wine served in goblets of GOLD… wow… WOW!
The Queen Vashti also gave a party but we know nothing about that. And it doesn’t say WHY the Queen didn’t attend her husband’s party when CALLED to bring her to Him, but the text DOES say he was inebriated and in a drunken state when demanding her to come with the crown to show off her beauty, such a surface living worldly want… WELL! (and she didn’t go – so eventually they banished her to set an example – and we never hear her side of the story).
Well, it’s TOO EASY to put our opinions into the Word, finish the story, to suppose… SO we NEED TO BE CAREFUL anytime we guess (and I am NO scholar). We should ask “WHY” God’s Word is mentioning certain details and it IS good to know the backdrop to the story. The king sending one queen away made room for another – becoming the open opportunity for Esther to step into the palace. And it IS good to know the personality of this king, and how their society exists (outside in an area where Jewish people were exiled), and how impressed he and everyone was that Esther wasn’t demanding, was smart in addition to having beauty, and the fact that she exposed a plot to kill the king… But let me give yet another couple big picture thoughts:
1) Queen Vashti didn’t choose to join the garden party of a drunken man with opulence and a show, even if he was a king… Wouldn’t this party be a big contrast to the REAL garden gathering with our REAL King, God in all HIS glory? People of faith are looking for the Real Deal . When God in his Good State CALLS, He is doing so to bless us. We will be willing to OBEY our King, we will know His voice as His sheep.
2) The earthly king and earthly followers thought that when the king’s edict was “proclaimed throughout all his vast realm” that all the women will “respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.” – because they would be motivated by punishment… Well, hmmmm…. Even if that was “customary” in a different era, it seems if the queen and king were in a BETTER position to BLESS each other, to RESPECT each other, and not fight by proxy, that the relationship may have MUCH BETTER chance… This is a good way to remember that Jesus as our GOOD King motivates us by His MERCY, His sacrifice and His elevation of us to the Kingdom, not using punishment. He is both our Lord AND our God as well as a Servant to Save.
3) The earthly king had to consult the law and counselors and then banished Queen Vashti. In contrast our real King Jesus came to FULFILL the law and save us. We need to consult Him. God did tell prophet and counselor Samuel (serving Saul and David) that the people were MUCH better off to serve God and NOT ask for an earthly king… well, they still asked to be controlled and that sent whole communities down wrong paths from then on. Let us Serve God.
4) Esther gained favor to this earthly king Xerxes, by being honest and also using sometimes clever ways that God gave her, for her mission was for her people, the Jews, and she was called by God to use her position for good, not for entertainment in a drunken state of worldly wants. She had to think about what God was CALLING her to do and work within her system, given thru advice by her cousin father-figure Mordecai. She willing OBEYED. She was prepared for THIS Heavenly King’s command.
Jesus came and is here now, and now through our Holy Spirit we are being made new, given the tools for work, we are to be a “bride prepared for her groom” as the church, not a surface clean but a deep desire in us must grow. To know our King is to love Him and know His Ways… To be prepared is to allow the fruits of the Spirit to develop in us.
Aren’t we ALL looking for God’s BETTER Garden? Let us appreciate Our King.
Amen
—-
Esther 1
Queen Vashti Deposed
This is what happened during the time of Xerxes, the Xerxes who ruled over 127 provinces stretching from India to Cush. At that time King Xerxes reigned from his royal throne in the citadel of Susa, and in the third year of his reign he gave a banquet for all his nobles and officials. The military leaders of Persia and Media, the princes, and the nobles of the provinces were present.
For a full 180 days he displayed the vast wealth of his kingdom and the splendor and glory of his majesty. When these days were over, the king gave a banquet, lasting seven days, in the enclosed garden of the king’s palace, for all the people from the least to the greatest who were in the citadel of Susa. The garden had hangings of white and blue linen, fastened with cords of white linen and purple material to silver rings on marble pillars. There were couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl and other costly stones. Wine was served in goblets of gold, each one different from the other, and the royal wine was abundant, in keeping with the king’s liberality. By the king’s command each guest was allowed to drink with no restrictions, for the king instructed all the wine stewards to serve each man what he wished.
Queen Vashti also gave a banquet for the women in the royal palace of King Xerxes.
On the seventh day, when King Xerxes was in high spirits from wine, he commanded the seven eunuchs who served him—Mehuman, Biztha, Harbona, Bigtha, Abagtha, Zethar and Karkas— to bring before him Queen Vashti, wearing her royal crown, in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at. But when the attendants delivered the king’s command, Queen Vashti refused to come. Then the king became furious and burned with anger.
Since it was customary for the king to consult experts in matters of law and justice, he spoke with the wise men who understood the times and were closest to the king—Karshena, Shethar, Admatha, Tarshish, Meres, Marsena and Memukan, the seven nobles of Persia and Media who had special access to the king and were highest in the kingdom.
“According to law, what must be done to Queen Vashti?” he asked. “She has not obeyed the command of King Xerxes that the eunuchs have taken to her.”
Then Memukan replied in the presence of the king and the nobles, “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord.
“Therefore, if it pleases the king, let him issue a royal decree and let it be written in the laws of Persia and Media, which cannot be repealed, that Vashti is never again to enter the presence of King Xerxes. Also let the king give her royal position to someone else who is better than she. Then when the king’s edict is proclaimed throughout all his vast realm, all the women will respect their husbands, from the least to the greatest.”
The king and his nobles were pleased with this advice, so the king did as Memukan proposed. He sent dispatches to all parts of the kingdom, to each province in its own script and to each people in their own language, proclaiming that every man should be ruler over his own household, using his native tongue.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes long SILENCES scream in processing and people’s SPIRITUAL thoughts… Who knew how silence is the stronghold of the Spirit. God does.
I was at a BEAUTIFUL precious memorial service, a celebration of life, a huddle of hungry spirits holding onto hope even more strongly than what we could and can hold onto on earth… a support sea of people… a place I HAD the privilege of being present even if none of us wanted it under those circumstances. The stories shared were tremendous, and so was the silence… yes the silence…
When the young man stood up to speak about his dad, he looked both broken and determined… He sighed… He stood silent… He cried… We sat watching and trust me the people absorbed the silence… We surely needed to see what we knew, the sudden death of a dad, of a loved one, is a horrible shock to the system – there is NO sugar coating. The REALNESS is in the RAWNESS and God KNOWS THAT. If the widow could give her last mites to the service of the Lord, surely we could sit for a moment in silence to let this young man let God work him thru his grief.
We waited in prayers and I watched the pastor pray across the room, physically pray without ceasing while still in his chair, his hands directed towards the young man and even though he was silent to us, his lips were moving mightly, he sent the Spirit SuperSpeed soaring across that room – in soul moving style. I saw it. The young man sighed again, he needed that. We prayed for him. We didn’t need to fret, and he DID make it thru, speaking softly and mostly saying he was grateful, thankful for the time with his Dad… Even later I saw the young man smiling at the luncheon later – he made it thru. But during that tearful tense time, I felt the awkward silence that I should have felt as a human, AND I felt the tearfulness of brokenness of the Spirit… I felt the tearful moment was a time when Jesus cries with us.
So for the silent time I felt to be transported to be standing on the hill across from Jesus’s crucifixion, WAITING. Then another wait – like with the women with anointing spices but unable to perform their duty because it was the Sabbath, they WAITED (Luke 23:49, 55-56). We were being made to WAIT upon the situation. God’s timing, not ours, not mine. WAIT in obedience for the processing. We did.
I was also transported to be in the post-crucifixion room, listening to the processing of the disciples, oh how that long-night and day-long Sabbath must have been! The set aside time to be with the Lord. The brother of Jesus DID later write “Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.” – I wonder how many people he told that to, over and over again, in his own immediate processing after his big brother passed… If James was in that secreted away room, scared and shaken about his brother’s death, surely we could let him process.
But all those who knew him, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.…The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.
We were watching and being witness. And later the sister DID get up and help coordinate the situation with ease, as any of the women coming with the spices would have found that courage to serve. That Spirit which processes while we are still walking…
Why did Jesus spend SO MUCH time in the absence of the earthly view of Him? Not for Himself but for His people to process, that’s what I’ve heard from a former pastor of mine, that the awkward silence of Jesus gone gives EXTRA appreciation for Jesus being present.
Jesus never goes anywhere in our times of silence, it just takes a moment of stillness to find where to look.
Silence is STILL STILLNESS in the Spirit.
Amen
Like those Jesus tears poured out at the tomb of Lazarus for his friends who felt so broken and not knowing death is a window to forever life. Jesus also needs us to know death is NOT final…
God bless that son, that daughter, that family… God bless that Pastor who KNEW to put God’s Power over the situation FIRST… and God bless my friend who lost her husband, when she saw me she gripped my hands so tight I KNEW that God needed me there to be witness to Him holding His people. We hold what He holds dear, each other, often in silent tears. I bet we will fall silent in the moment we meet our Maker in Heaven, in processing. And then not be able to stop Spiriting our JOY of HIM in our PRAISE.
I love love love this Bible teaching about Martha *the former complainer to Jesus about her sister Mary*…
I love the mention that Martha is serving again but NOT complaining (fast forward to the 27 minute mark of the link) – Pastor Joe mentions that if your brother was raised from the dead and was now sitting at the table, you would serve the group (including your brother) quite differently!!! If you think about your gratitude, you would live and work in a whole new attitude! AND Pastor Joe reminds us that we ALL have a brother who is raised from the dead, Jesus, and shouldn’t we be charged and serve in a new attitude?!
I love it when I learn a new angle of Martha, when she teaches us about us… and I appreciate the teaching about the color and smell of the oil that Mary pours on Jesus (red) must have stained and permeated his scent for days, likely even carrying with Him through that week… to the garden… to the cross… Mary knew and paid attention and understood unlike most others that Jesus WAS headed to death. That’s why she anointed Him “until His burial “…
It’s ok to be Mary and ok to be Martha, BOTH were LOVED by Jesus and were also His friends… Jesus was blessed by them too because they were really real with Him. Let’s also be real too.
Amen!
Here is the link: whole devotion is great, and starting at 27 minute mark starts discussion about Martha..
Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him.Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.”He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”
Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
TRUST – HAHA you actually have to LET God work things out in HIS WAY when you TRUST Him…. it’s NOT that in trusting Him that He will do YOUR things in YOUR way in YOUR plan. NOPE!
Let Him lead, and follow, ESPECIALLY if He is keeping you in the dark ON PURPOSE.
I have been KEPT in the DARK purposefully by Him a few times, well LOTS of times, especially now on ISSUES which are HEAVEN’S battle AND minor issues too, which are buffering my steps in each day… That’s why God is keeping my life cards especially close as secrets in HIS HANDS, especially because I am an OVERTHINKER.
Overthinker-er… You too? I am ever reminded that God thinks MUCH longerterm than I. God is all about His OWN business for us, day and night, not just when we remember to consult the Lord. He who wrote the Book knows what page He wants us to be on.
Two problem things I am see resolving these days, slowly, after me working on them while being led, are instances where Jesus says “Take My Yoke” – it is lighter and yet I need you still work plowing ahead… Jesus knows where we are going. I am reminded that this IS the better Way, because God works in HIS timing and in the right season… Yup, after me wondering the “HOW?”, being prayerfully vocal in the “WHY?”, I STILL have to let HIM choose the WHEN for then I can find my WAY aligns in His Way… I just have to TRUST God, and past experience tells me that He did, He does, He will.
I have seen new problems pop up for new challenges – and I am hoping I see how two negatives make a positive? Or maybe I won’t see this yet. Maybe I will see two negatives make lined edges of a path to follow again under His pull of “we are walking this way”… I once again have to TRUST. Either way, God told me these issues late in the day yesterday, so that I would shelve them for tomorrow (today) and just get rest. (I can tell you all my mishmash details, some SERIOUS some SILLY some $LIPPERY SLOPE$, but you’ve got enough of your own life mishmashes and hiccups and harrowing instances I’m sure (I pray you the best), SO better for me to mention that GETTING REST was the most important step I could take before the REST (of the steps). TAKE the REST (sleep), and let God handle ALL the rest (everything). He will involve you, DON’T YOU WORRY, so plow ahead WITH Him. ONE DAY AT A TIME.
In the time of John the Baptist, Jesus said John was THE Prophet, and Jesus was/IS the Prophecy fulfilled. The people should have known that He was here for fighting the battles in the realms of the Kingdom on earth, yet they didn’t. Do we? If we believe in Jesus, shouldn’t we also believe in His Way? I pray for doing that today. It’s not just the destination, it’s the journey.
KEEP MOVING.
For ALL of us, He says: Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:28-30
Debbie Upper 