The Stones and the Heavens Cry Out!!

Ever wonder why Jesus said, if these precious ones didn't praise me the rocks would cry out.  In our Western mindset we don't realize the importance of the temple that was central to Jewish worship.  The tablets of stone that contained the Ten Commandments, the Torah, all of that was embodied in Jesus.  The Sanctuary first in a tent, and then in stone was central to life.  It was life.  Today on our side of the cross, Jesus only is our temple of worship.  But still we don't worship Him the very things He created will come alive to bespeak of His majesty.  The heavens declare it every day and join in our worship.  Inviting us in the womb of the morning ... come, praise Him!  He is worthy of it.  All of it.  Bow at His feet.  It's a new day.  A day of praise where the stones are silent and I am not. 

Here today! The Life! The Journey! Arise!

 

 Watching the newest episode of The Chosen wrecked me.  Absolutely pitted me down to the floor.  It isn't just the acting and the writing, it's the anointing that's on this series that just magnetizes your spirit until you can hardly breathe sometimes.  I felt that way Sunday night.  I know as the stories get more intense, the episodes will draw sooo many people to Jesus.  Sunday night's episode as of this writing has half a million viewers.  These are not just Christians watching yet another namby-pamby ho-hum, weak so-called Jesus production.    This Jesus has substance.  He's someone you can relate to.  He came to earth to do it.  What we could not do.  What we could not even venture to attempt.  And yet, he walked where we walk.  Ate what we eat.  Interacted with others.  He grew in relationships, just as he did with his Father.  So much to learn from that.

In this episode I was particularly struck with Jesus raising Jairius's daughter from death to life.  And of course the verse that immediately came to mind was "I am the Resurrection and the Life."  Jesus takes her by the hand, and whispers to her to arise.  

Wow.  Whisper in my ear, Lord.  Help me to arise to ... life.

After the devastating loss of my husband, the love of my life, finding footing and grounding to keep going forward without feeling that life died with him has always been a monumental hurdle.  It has gotten better, but still a journey.  

So when I heard those words one more time speaking to me in my spirit by the Holy Spirit Himself, "I Am the Resurrection and the Life" while I was watching this I knew.  

The conjunction isn't there for editorial effect or a filler.  It's for truly ... life.  He is not only the One that will one day raise my husband back to life, but He IS life.  Totally.  The Life.

 So for your edification, here's what Strong's says that word means:

 1) life
1a) the state of one who is possessed of vitality or is animate
1b) every living soul
2) life
2a) of the absolute fulless of life, both essential and ethical, which belongs to God, and through him both to the hypostatic "logos" and to Christ in whom the "logos" put on human nature
2b) life real and genuine, a life active and vigorous, devoted to God, blessed, in the portion even in this world of those who put their trust in Christ, but after the resurrection to be consummated by new accessions (among them a more perfect body), and to last for ever.  

A newness of life has begun this year.  A huge shift is taking place not only in the world, the corporate church, but individually.  

In me.  Today, Lord.  Today.  Be my life.  Like the old song says:

Take my life and let it be consecrated to Thee
Take my moments and my days, let them flow in ceaseless praise
Take my hands and let them move at the impulse of Thy love
Take my feet and let them be swift and beautiful for Thee

Take my voice and let me sing always, only for my King
Take my lips and let them be filled with messages from Thee
Take my silver and my gold, not a might would I withhold
Take my intellect and use every power as You choose

Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee

Take my will and make it Thine, it shall be no longer mine
Take my heart, it is Thine own, it shall be Thy royal throne
Take my love, my Lord I pour at Your feet, it's treasure store
Take myself and I will be ever, only, all for Thee

Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee
Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee
Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee
(Take my life, Lord, take my life, take all of me)
Here am I, all of me, take my life, it's all for Thee

Resting in the Peace

 The night wore on with turtle speed.  Restlessness danced with the soul, laughing in the dark.  Peace eluded until the speaking.

The speaking is where the power lies.  A speaking spirit, speaks.  Isn't silent. Doesn't argue in the presence of Almighty Wisdom and Knowing. He gives the words.

One listens.  One learns.  One knows and then ... when the pushback comes from life, the force is engaged.

To speak.  Speak His Words that are loaded and drenched in power.  Affirmative, every-time victory power stripping the enemy from every tool in his arsenal.  Annihilating, obliterating.

After all, peace doesn't dance in the dark.  It waltzes in the light reveling in the love of God.  Hear the music, start the sway keeping in tempo with the Spirit's lead.  Taking His hand, glide onto the floor and there ...

Find peace in His embrace.

A Good Read

 

What a way to start the day.  With your nose in a good book.  And what a book it is.  Reading royal words on an ordinary life. What a astounding gift.

My soul does, most definitely, magnify the Lord.

The Gift

 Malls are filled with harried shoppers, trees are laden with skirtings weighed down by the stack of packages rimming its tall fragrant spire, living rooms are festooned with lights, candles, baubles of all colors and shapes -- all awaiting the one day, the day of gifts.  A joyful demonstrated exchange of love all wrapped up with a bow.

The day is unlike any other.  It portrays a mythical fat man who flies in the sky and gives gifts if we're very good.  But the true meaning of Christmas, the reason for it, and why it is still the premier holiday of them all is embodied in the One that IS the gift.  His name is Jesus.  He's the gift because none of us are good.  He took away all the ledger of all the evil deeds done in a life by the gift of Himself.  No one can out-gift that one.  No one can repay.  That's what makes the gift treasured more than any other.  It's a true no-strings-attached gift.  He presents  Himself to your heart.  It's given to you freely with unrestrained love.  The rest is up to you to unwrap.  And when all is said and done and the earth releases itself in complete surrender to the Creator who made it, the end of all things, those who have unwrapped the gift in the nativity of their hears will fly away with Him...forever.  Makes that Santa sleigh thing seem pretty doggone puny.  It's the exchange.  Love given by the One who IS love to one who doesn't deserve it but is profoundly and exceptionally grateful.  Open present.  It's yours.  Love is a gift.  He has a Name.  He IS the gift.  Pretty profound, don't you think!

Merry Christmas, sweet one.

Growing in the Lord Where You're Planted

 

 GROWING IN THE LORD WHERE YOU'RE PLANTED...

 

Sometimes plant live.  Sometimes they die.  I haven't had much success with plants in the past, so our doing the two-step together now has been an iffy journey.  But these three plants survived and flourished despite my feeble attempts to water adequately but end up drowning my poor leafy subjects or forgetting to feed them or worse yet, just forget to acknowledge their presence in the midst of life's busy cycles.  

But it's consistency of attention to detail, patience, sometimes a little pruning, soft whispers of encouragement.  Much like the Lord does with us.  Always patience, His attentive care that shines in the delicate details, along with a little pruning along the way lined with whispers of love, support and encouragement just when we need it ... those are the elements of true growth in the Lord as we obey, wait, listen and act on what He imparts to us daily.  He seals in the night that instruction.  Sometimes He even re-pots us into a different environment, different soil to grow in, even changing lighting in the area  to make sure we will grow and mature.  

While we are not plants, we are people, He uses these plant metaphors often in the Word.  One of the most famous is, "This is what the kingdom of God is like. A man scatters seed on the ground. ²⁷ Night and day, whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. ²⁸ All by itself the soil produces grain—first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. ²⁹ As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it, because the harvest has come."  (Mark 4)  There are many others.  The seed is the Word of God.  

PRAYER OF THE DAY:

Lord, plant me deep in your rich soil.  Cause me to drink daily Your water of life from the Spirit of God  that nourishes and strengthens, invigorating our walk with You.  This is a new day, a new thirst that is yearning within.  You are the husbandman.  I am merely your tender shoot reaching for the sky.  You are loved, Lord.  With all within.  Kisses! 

BUGLE CALLS!  TIME TO RISE AND SHINE!

She wasn't having it.   It was warm, inviting, and this furry feline wanted no part of rising to greet the new day.  Wanting to feel warm and "next to Mom," she chose my recent exit and nestled in.  To say we're joined at the hip isn't too far from the truth.  She is a blessing from God to me.  I pray to God every day He would keep her healthy and in His care for all the days she has on this earth.  

Fat, furry, and fuzzy ... that's Miss Rina!