Day 120 O LORD, You Alone Are God

4/30/2025

"O LORD, You are my God. I will exalt You,

I will praise Your name, for You have done wonderful things;

Your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth."

 Isaiah 25:1

 

God instructs us to number our days in Psalm 90:12: "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." This passage speaks to the importance of each day and the brevity of life, urging believers to count the cost of each day living in wisdom and understanding. Psalm 139 speaks to God's great workmanship in creation of man, within whom God has instilled a purpose or plan for their lives, unique to each one of us. However many years, how much time we have been created to live, we each have a God-appointed time, a series of days, He has ordained that we should do good works. Each day I marvel at how quickly time changes, in a wisp of days.

Yesterday I woke up with a deep sense of warning filled with sadness. As an intercessor we are charged to pay attention and be flexible  in the service of God. We can be standing on one issue, then deeply embroiled into another. We are living in perilous times as the prophetic clock ticks, we must have discernment and God's wisdom in knowing how to pray. In order to speak the living word of God over a situation, we have to know what the Bible says. Life and death are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21), so we must rightly divide the word of Truth and regard each word carefully. In every part of the day, regardless of where we find ourselves, we must walk mindful of the Word of the LORD.

In the blog yesterday I was exhorting parents to take a role in their children's lives, as they need protection from harmful, and often deadly, influences. I described some instances where guidance is needed, and the raising of the children need to be in the hands of the parents who teach them moral character and warn and protect them from wrong choices, as with every choice, there is a consequence. While each person has a choice whether they will serve God or not, still we are to offer support and instruction as teachers and parents in moral living, respecting oneself, not feeling as if they have to conform to a circle of friends and participate in activities that they consider fun. Truth always prevails, and the condition of that person many times leads to guilt and shame for unwise decisions, often with far reaching results. Still, God sees every heart, and He forgives the one who earnestly  comes to Him in humility. He loves us regardless of how we may feel about Him.

I was excited to learn of a teacher who started the Little Red Schoolhouse, "with a mission to restore the education of children founded upon the fundamental principles of faith, family, and freedom." Dennita Miskimen taught school for 23 years serving in various roles and responsibilities. A friend writes "Suppose you were walking down the hall of your public school where you have taught for 23 years, teaching almost every single grade level, and functioning in almost every role that one can do in a public school, and then...then one day, you look down the hallway of your school and you see drag queens, students who claim they are cats or even bats (I am not making this up!), and girls scantily clad. So you go to the principal. There you are informed that you are the one who is wrong. You are informed that the kids who think they are "cats" are allowed to purr, meow, and to use litter boxes, and you have to call boys by girls' names if they want it." From this point, after sobbing, much prayer and waiting upon the Lord, Dennita birthed the Little Red Schoolhouse, and many mothers and children came running. This school is on the family farm, The Little Red Farm, and it is lodged in Dinwiddie County, Virginia, where I live. After voicing my concern in yesterday's post about the welfare and education of children, this email was waiting for me this morning with relevant and disturbing information. The best part is that these schools are being established across America. I praise God for the sheer joy of knowing my prayers were answered in His time. I will  learn  more about Dennita and this school tonight in a global prayer call. I posted the information on my Facebook page for anyone interested.

In speaking of the brevity of time, after reading good news, I checked to what's happening in Israel today. I had already checked my sources earlier in the morning, but I did not receive information about the fires in the hills circling Jerusalem until our embassy call this morning. Engulfing fires with high winds are burning for miles with the major highway blocked off and many having to evacuate their homes. The flames on the highway caused many to flee on foot to escape the flames. Israel is in such a state of emergency that the IDF soldiers have been asked to help fight the fires. There is suspected arson, one source saying it has been verified as so, and some arrested, caught in the act. 

Israel has been observing their Memorial Day, Yom HaZikaron, today in remembrance of those who have given their lives for service to Israel and other countries as well as those murdered. Because of the fires, many events have now been canceled. Tomorrow Israel would be celebrating their Independence Day, Yom HaAtzma'ut, but everything has been canceled, and many are fighting fires. When I see the flames and black smoke, it reminds me of the devastating fires of Los Alamos, New Mexico that destroyed homes, forest, and killed wildlife. To date, the forests have not been restored. It is the same for the ones in the canyons leading to Las Vegas, New Mexico, where I used to live and where my daughter still resides.

Israel needs our prayers more than ever now, as the war continues, and the hostages remain hidden in Gaza. Hamas fails to hold fast to their word regarding cease fires and hostage release. Iran who is the head of the snake, does not want to budge. The families mourn as they wait, and many are still mourning from the massacre of their own families, many children in their beds. But from scriptures we know that God will rescue, restore and rebuild Israel, His chosen people. The scriptures remind us that all the promises of God are yea and amen! So we stand on the solid Rock, knowing He will bring it all to pass.

God hears Israel's and our cries, and He says in Isaish 43:1-7: But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; You are Mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; And through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, Nor shall the flame scorch you. For I am the Lord your God,The Holy One of Israel, your Savior; I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba in your place. Since you were precious in My sight, You have been honored, And I have loved you; Therefore I will give men for you, And people for your life. Fear not, for I am with you; I will bring your descendants from the east, And gather you from the west; I will say to the north, ‘Give them up!’ And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back!’ Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth—Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

The storms may come, and the wind may blow fiercely, but God will never leave us or forsake us, and He upholds us with His righteous right hand. We can count on it!

New Wine 

by Hillsong

In the crushing
In the pressing
You are making
New wine
In the soil, I
Now surrender
You are breaking
New ground

 

So I yield to You and to Your careful hand
When I trust You I don't need to understand

 

Make me Your vessel
Make me an offering
Make me whatever You want me to be
I came here with nothing
But all You have given me
Jesus, bring new wine out of me

 

Day 119 Near to the Heart of God

4/29/2025

Why are you cast down, O my soul?
And why are you disquieted within me?
Hope in God;
For I shall yet praise Him,
The help of my countenance and my God.

Psalm 42:11

 

I woke up this morning with a deep sense of sadness, perhaps foreboding, as I have remained under unrelenting spiritual attack for months, and it seems that each day brings more disheartening news and a greater sense of loss. I'm not speaking of the continuous despicable bombardment by the media towards anything God honoring, although that is concerning. No, my heart is breaking for families, one in particular that has been spiraling downward, departing the faith, although they think they are soaring with the eagles.

In my youth there were men and women of integrity reporting honest journalism. An investigative reporter actually delved into the specifics of an issue without siding with a side or position. They reported truth and the moral side of an issue was relevant and regarded. The church was honored, and God's word respected. Certainly there was moral decay, evil brewing, but the enemy was more subtle in those days, and our hearts were more discerning, and children were protected. We could go to our pastors and find comfort through reading the scriptures and applying it to our lives. Parents listened to their children and taught them godly, moral principles, even if they themselves were not church goers. A hand shake was binding in a deal.

Schools were more engaged in educating children in basic subject matters that dealt with life, not questionable garbage that threatened a child's innocence and tenderness towards others or led them to squalor and decay. Children played outside in the fresh air, held a book in their hands, participated in spelling bees and field trips. They ate real food, a balanced meal, rather than fast food and junk foods. Parents were provided with the daily menus, so that if the child preferred, he could bring lunch from home. They ate their meals with friends, seated at a table in the lunchroom. After the school day ended, older kids might have after school jobs or home chores, but they ate supper with their families, and they had homework that challenged minds and made them think. 

Classrooms held teachers and students who participated in open discussions on current events, and although they had questions, they were not permitted to spark controversy or create contention. If someone was confused or differed in an opinion, a class project to study and research the matter meant time in the library, writing a report about the findings, then having clear, logical, healthy class discussion. Truth mattered, and slander of leaders was not allowed, and parents were treated with respect. Parents participated in school activities and supported their children and the teachers, even if both parents were working. Teachers were flexible in their time for meeting with students and parents. 

Back in my day mothers took care of their homes, and the father was the head of the home, who worked at a meaningful trade, providing for their families. If something happened, friends and the church family would rally to their sides. There was prayer in schools, and we saluted the flag. When my brother was seriously injured in an automobile accident his first year in college, our principal announced it over the loud speaker, and he asked for silent prayer. My teachers asked about him routinely, and my school friends rallied to my side. I didn't have to wait it out alone while my parents were away from home seeing to his needs in the hospital. May grandparents were available and cared for me and my sister. Although these were disquieting days, we had each other, and we rested in the arms of our Father while we waited. Life had to go on, but it was never easy, and it will never be easy until our Savior returns, and He will return.

Until His return I will stand on the wall, positioned against the foe, standing in faithful prayer in spite of days that begin as this one for me and regardless of the evil spoken directly to me in hatred and contention. I will look to the One in whom I have believed, the One who saved my soul, the One to whom I belong, the One I love and who loves me back, abiding in His love and faithfulness.

God I Look to You

Song by Bethel Music

God, I look to You
I won't be overwhelmed
Give me vision
To see things like You do
God, I look to You
You're where my help comes from
Give me wisdom
You know just what to do

 

God, I look to You
I won't be overwhelmed
Give me vision
To see things like You do
God, I look to You
You're where my help comes from
Give me wisdom
You know just what to do

 

And I will love You, Lord, my strength, sing that out
I will love You, Lord, my shield
I will love You, Lord, my rock
Forever, all my days, I will love You, God

 

God, I look to You
I won't be overwhelmed
Give me vision
To see things like You do
God, I look to You
You're where my help comes from
Give me wisdom
'Cause You know just what to do

 

I will love You, Lord, my strength
Yes, I will love You, Lord, my shield
And I will love You, Lord, my rock
Forever, all my days, I will love You, God

 

I will love You, Lord, my strength
I will love You, Lord, my shield
Yes, I will love You, Lord, my rock
Forever, all my days, I will love You, God

 

Hallelujah, our God reigns
Hallelujah, our God reigns
Hallelujah, our God reigns
Forever, all my days, hallelujah 

 

Hallelujah, our God reigns, over every circumstance
Hallelujah, our God reigns
Oh, hallelujah, our God, You reign
Forever, all my days, hallelujah (yes)

  

 

Day 118 He Seeks Us

4/28/2025

"...for the Son of Man has come to seek

and save that which was lost."

Luke 19:10

Yesterday I began my writing with this verse explaining how Jesus welcomes everyone to come to Him. Instinctively people were drawn to Him by personal contact, words from others who encountered him, and those who were desperate for peace in their lives. Back then the Romans were in control, and they were hard taskmasters making people uneasy or afraid. But Jesus never made anyone feel afraid or intimidated, just loved and accepted. Many came by divine appointment, as I believe many do so today. Many are seeking love and acceptance in wrong ways, even to the point of defiance to authority, to parents, even to each other. People need the Lord.

I've always loved the message Jesus gave, known as, The Sermon on the Mount from Matthew 5:1-11:

1 And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him. ² Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
For they shall be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
For they shall inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
For they shall be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
For they shall obtain mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
For they shall see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
For they shall be called sons of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

¹¹ Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. ¹² Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I love the explanation Jonathan Roumie, who plays Jesus in The Chosen, gives in explanation to Matthew, a known and hated tax collector who was transformed by the love of Jesus, as he questions Jesus about the message. Jesus told him these were the people He would be around. This made me think about this passage in a different way, although relatable. You will have to watch the series to discover for yourself how the writer interpreted this sermon. But, the Lord has brought me back to these scriptures so many times, and I have read commentaries, but this is what the verses mean to me:

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." A person who is poor in spirit is one who has nothing to lose. Perhaps he is at the point of desperation in his soul, where he feels he has nowhere else to go, no one who understands the depth of his loneliness, the deep ache within his soul. He encounters the Savior, and intuitively he knows. The very moment he hears the Master's voice and sees the kindness in His eyes, His gentleness, His strength, he surrenders his heart, yielded to the Savior's love. Fragile like a child, he trusts and finds the peace that transcends understanding.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." While this scripture is used at funerals, or as a comfort to others who are hurting, it goes much further. I believe this person is one who has looked at the face of Jesus, hanging on the cross, suffering, bleeding, and dying for his sins. Jesus who knew no sin has became sin for us, for all. He immediately feels His empathy, His compassion, and he is comforted and consoled. He knows he is no longer adrift in a sea of loss or betrayal. He has found the One who knows, who understands. The only One who brings peace.  

"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth." It is hard for some to differentiate between one who is meek and one who is humble, as the two are thought to be the same. Humility is an attitude of heart whereas, I feel, meekness is a character trait. A humble person is one who understands their dependence in a situation, recognizes their limitations, and yields to those in authority. I believe meekness has to do more with character than action - goodness, kindness, calm even in chaos. Humility is often acquired, whereas meekness is a quality. So similar and Jesus is both humble and meek. Neither reflect weakness or superiority. 

"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled." The sons of thunder, the apostles and brothers, James and John, sons of Zebedee, fishermen, could easily identify with an urge or leaning toward anger, because they had seen enough, experienced enough. They wanted to call down thunder and lightning from heaven on the people who treated Jesus with disrespect, but Jesus scolded them saying He came to seek and save those who were lost (Luke 9:54-55). Jesus displayed anger in several situations, especially towards the religious leaders who wanted to trap Him in His words, but His anger was righteous. Men react in anger when pushed, but Jesus in exhortation and correction. His purpose was to bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.This was the message He shared, God's Kingdom,  one of love and peace. In the context of the verse above, however, it is not an anger or disgust, rather it has much to do with longing, perhaps understanding from the heart of one who has witnessed or experienced injustice. I believe, because I walk in this feeling today, that to hunger and thirst is a starvation mode and ache from the emptiness seen in the eyes of those who suffer injustice, unrighteousness, and betrayal at the hands of others. When I pray, many times I weep, and words cannot express the depth of the pain I feel for those who are so lost in sin or confusion or anger at others. My son, with whom I share this home, had a dream where he saw me sitting at the table with him, his brother, his sister, and their dad, and I was weeping. Certainly my heart does weep for them, but it extends to this hurting world, so lost, being led to the slaughter by the enemy who delights in seeing their lawlessness, rebellion played out in anger, confusion, even delusion, and he loves to trample the soul of those who care, especially intercessors. It literally breaks my heart, because it breaks my Father's heart, recalling to my mind what Jesus said when He walked into Jerusalem a final time before His death, "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" (Matthew 23:37).

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy." There are those who are laughed at or belittled, because they seem to wear their feelings on their sleeves. They become distraught when they listen to the news and believe what they are being told by the dishonest journalists who somehow have lost the integrity of the true calling of journalism. They have twisted the truth, embellished the lies, and these are causing more harm to well-meaning hearts who lean to kindness towards others, and who may eventually be those who commit atrocities in the name of justice. Everyone has a choice in life, given to them by a loving Father, the God who created each one of us fearfully and wonderfully made in His image. Sadly, they reject His character and His love. But there are those who genuinely care for others, who would give their the shirt off their backs if it would help, or the last can of beans off their shelf. Then that person watches someone reject the kindness, belittle the giver, or watch someone steal the gift. Regardless of how it plays out in the act of kindness, the person will do it again, and again, however many times, in many different ways, even at the expense of their need, even in their pain and hurting. This person sees with their hearts, and they cannot look away. The Parable of the Good Samaritan found in Luke 10:29-37 is an illustration of a man who has mercy on others, regardless of the way that one may have treated him had the situation been reversed.

"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God." One who is pure in heart, I believe, is one who looks past what is on the surface, or one who doesn't listen to what one may say or do in harshness. The pure in heart can see past the anger, the hurt, the lascivious life style, or mischievous child, or obnoxious behavior and look within the soul of a person and feel love. It doesn't matter how many times they may knock you down, insult you, spit on you, or belittle you to others, even in front of a classroom, the pure in heart can feel love, because they see the true need. One source defines it as such: "To be pure in heart means to have a sincere, honest, and selfless desire to love God and others. It implies a heart free from deceit, malice, and ulterior motives, with a genuine commitment to integrity and righteousness." This defines the character of Jesus, and why so many are drawn to Him. It's the heart of the one, like Mary, who poured out the expensive perfume to anoint the feet of Jesus before His death. She sat at His feet and listened intently to every word He said. She wanted to be with Him. And so it is with those who love Him, there's no other place we'd rather be. We have nothing to give, except ourselves and the love He instills in us, so we can share with others.

"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God." When we think of peacemakers, maybe the first inclination will be to think of a policeman or a judge, someone who is in a position to bring order to a situation. Or perhaps, one may think of a person who mediates between people or groups to bring resolution, as a counselor, a pastor, an advocate, or union leader. Again, I feel that this is a person's nature to see people get along, to play nicely together, even if they disagree. Perhaps it is seen as a gift of reconciliation and peace, again love is very much a part of it. Amos 3:3: "How can two walk together, except they be in agreement." I recently attended a funeral of a man who had many brothers and sisters, he the second to the youngest. The pastor who was giving the eulogy said that the family may have quarrels and disagreements while under their roof, but in public they stood together, especially when one of them was in peril or need. I often wonder what it would be like if our government would adopt that same resolve of not airing the ugliness before others, especially our enemies, as it is a sure sign of weakness and moral decay. Whenever someone comes to me for marital advice, one who has been divorced three times, I point them to scripture - 1 Peter 3 and Ephesians 5. In fact, all of scriptures points us to peace, harmony, and love for our fellow man.

"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." How well I can understand this message, because forgiveness is the key to victory in this situation. I have been and now am on the end of this stick. I even have someone who enters my home and whispers evil to my son. I am watching persecution around the world, within the streets of our beloved country, and against God's chosen people in heightened degree. Jesus said His followers would be persecuted, because they hated Him, they would hate us more. I could launch into a history lesson about persecution in our nation and world, in our homes, and even in the church, but if one opens their eyes, they can witness for themselves. After teaching the disciples how pray, Jesus taught them about forgiveness and the part it plays in His Kingdom. We must forgive others, or God will not forgive us. Jesus died on the cross for our sins, past, present, future, and He died once and for all. So we should walk in His likeness and as He taught. The two commandments - love God and love one another and so fulfill the law of Christ.  

"Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Day 117 He Welcomes Us

4/27/2025

"...for the Son of Man has come to seek

and save that which was lost."

Luke 19:10

Jesus was passing through Jericho one day, and I imagine that the crowds were gathering, so the streets were bustling. Zacchaeus, a chief tax collector, hated by all because of his vocation, heard the noise and scurried out to get a glimpse of the one called Jesus. Because he was short in stature, he decided to climb up into a tree for a better look. When Jesus passed by, He looked up into the tree, and there He saw Zacchaeus! Jesus called him down from his perch in the tree, and they go to Zacchaeus' house for supper. Most everyone knows the children's song "Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he...." I grew up with the song and motions, as did my children. It's a classic!

Jesus sought out the people who needed someone to believe in them, or who were ready to believe. He came to seek and save the lost. The Pharisees of His day couldn't understand why He would hang out with those considered to have less than reputable standards, compared to the Pharisees, and eat with them. Not much has changed today in some circles. I know in the circles I travel that I often find that those I choose to share my time with are often ignored by the ones who should be welcoming them in - the church. Much is said or preached about loving others as we love ourselves, but I have not actually seen this played out. Someone close to me has been victim of this sort of "welcome," because he has long hair in a pony tail, a shaggy beard, discoloration in his teeth from excessive smoking and other factors, and clean, but less than fashionable clothing. But he's clean, groomed, his motives are pure, although he felt reticent at times, and he wanted to go to church, but he didn't feel welcomed, even in family settings. I keep saying this, but we have to do better! 

 

Day 116 Forgive and Revive

 

4/26/225

"Little children, it is the last hour; and as you have heard that 

the Antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have come,

by which we know that it is the last hour."

1 John 2:18

 

When I woke up this morning, the first words that I wrote in my journal were about feeling dazed and confused. I have alarms set to wake me up by 7 am, even if I don't sleep well, but this morning I wasn't tired, I just felt empty, burdened. I sat here with a cup of coffee in my hands just trying to shake this sense of "where do I go from here" moment off me, so I could focus on my quiet time. Before I knew it the second alarm went off, this time for the short, daily devotional with Pastor Jack Hibbs that begins sharply at 8 am. The scripture posted above is the one Pastor Jack shared for today. It's a wake up call to the church for the hour in which we are now living.

It didn't really come as a stark awakening to me, as I talk about this all the time, and the need for the church to wake up, repent, and pray. Sadly, many are blinded to what is going on in the world. I wonder if they see the headlines, but I know they have seen the prices continue to rise in the grocery store and at the gas pump. Now that we have a new administration who has been frantically trying to strengthen the economy and decrease costs, people continue to rant and rave, not seeing the change, however, slight in some places, but definitely changes. Because I stay alert to news for our daily prayer meetings, I don't understand why eyes are so blinded and ears so deaf.

Recently I have been made aware of statements made against my character, and I know this attack is coming from the enemy, because of the increased prayer. I've had to endure this type of thing before, and I recognize who is behind it. This has been spoken of in the scriptures by Jesus, as He warned His disciples of what was to come. So, I should not be confused when new things come up. It seems the attacks are multiplied and from each front. This has been true for America and Israel, and I must say that, although I am aware of certain things happening according to scripture, I am still amazed when anything is directed my way. I am not a leader or a pastor, or much of anything in the world's eyes, but I must be doing something right with this much persecution.

Pastor Jack mentioned a comment by Leonard Ravenhill, a well known Christian leader who didn't mince words when it came to speaking truth and calling the church to repentance. The comment was similar to what Dietrich Bonhoeffer who said "Silence in the face of evil is itself evil." Bonhoeffer's famous words were spoken in regard to the silent church during the Holocaust as the trains, carrying the Jewish people and Jewish sympathizers who had tried to hide them, were traveling down the tracks on the way to death camps. The people inside the churches could hear the screams of the people, so they sang louder to tune it out. Over the last few years people and churches have been silent, and those who did speak up were condemned. Now the repercussions of that time are being blamed on the new administration and the praying church. So why is the church at large silent, and why is it business as usual?! 

Out of curiosity I decided to look up Ravenhill's more noteworthy quotations. I confess that while I am very familiar with him, I have never read his books or sermons. I will include a few quotations below:

"Someone asked me, 'Do you pray for the dead?' I said, 'No, I preach to them!' I think every pew in every church is death row. Think about that! They're dead! They sing about God; they talk about God, but they're dead! They have no living relationship (with God)."

"God is taking His hands off of America. We've had so much light and we've rejected it."

"The early church was married to poverty, prisons and persecutions. Today, the church is married to prosperity, personality, and popularity."

"One good Baptist (once) said to Dr. Tozer, 'If God withdrew the Holy Spirit tomorrow, my church would function just the same; we wouldn't even know He was gone.'"  

All of these quotations were very disturbing to me, but I know them to be true. I have spoken of this chronic ailment within the church at large many times, and I have quoted A.W. Tozer many times. He was consumed with the Presence of the Lord, again something I write about often. 

I'm not certain why I felt the need to share this message today, and I admit that it has been difficult to post, but I promised Abba that I would write daily, and I am doing that to the best that I can. We need to repent of our failures, even when it is not our own personal shortcoming, God loves for us to stand in the gap for others. "Lord, we come humbly to the throne of grace to ask for mercy. Forgive us and revive the church today, Your body, so that we may know the hope to which we are called. Fill us with Your power and boldness to speak the truth and stand for righteousness in our nation and world. Fill us anew with the indwelling presence of Holy Spirit. In Jesus' Name. Amen."

Day 115 The Sheep of His Pasture

4/25/2025

 "Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but 

incorruptible, through the word of God which

lives and abides forever."

1 Peter 1:23 

I woke a little muggy this morning from not sleeping well the night before, but the first words to come out of my mouth were from a hymn..."I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever, I will sing, I will sing." I haven't heard that song in many a day, but it just consumed me. That happens to me sometimes, I'll have a song within me, and I sing it all morning. Sometimes it lasts for days!

Today was a busy day for me. My sister and I had planned on going out shopping, which I rarely do. We haven't visited for awhile, and it seems as if the last couple of times we were actually together, we were  attending funerals. Not a way to have fun! We determined that we needed to have a family get together with all our cousins. I think that's a good idea. Family is extremely important, and as I have said before, I don't think God moved me back to Virginia to attend funerals. At least I hope not!

On the drive to my sisters, which is about 45 minutes, I have time to think and talk to God. It's an easy drive, so I don't have to worry about being cut off in traffic or side swiped by anyone. It's a pretty calm ride is somewhat pastoral. This morning in my devotional I was reading from John 10 where Jesus calls Himself the True Shepherd. Jesus is teaching about the thief, satan, who comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus has come to give life, and life abundantly. He identifies Himself as the good shepherd, who lays down His life for the sheep, unlike a hireling who is an employee who has no stake in or caring about the lives of the sheep. When a ravenous wolf comes in to eat the sheep, he's not risking his life, so off he runs. Jesus says that He lays down His life for the sheep. Sheep are not too intuitive, but they do know the voice of their shepherd, and they realize that their shepherd cares for them. I witnessed this incredible truth played out in a short documentary about sheep herders in Africa. The different owners will herd their sheep into one corral in the evening. In the morning, when the time comes for them to gather their own sheep to pasture, they have to call them out from among all the other sheep in the pen. The sheep become so familiar with their shepherd, that all he has to do is speak to them, and out they walk right past the others, and then the next shepherd will do the same, and the next. It is amazing to see, given the nature of a sheep. 

Jesus likens his followers to sheep. In John 10:14-18 Jesus says: "I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd. Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father."

There is so much deception in the world. Jesus said it would be so, and in this passage He is warning of those false shepherds, hirelings, who only want to deceive, but they are not truly invested in the lives and development of character in the sheep. If anything, the hireling, or the thief, comes to scatter the sheep, causing them to scatter, then ensnare them in webs of deception - the jaws of ravenous wolves who lie in wait. 

Sheep, like little children, easily accept love and attention, and they are drawn to kindness, even if initially feigned. We are called to come as little children with open hearts, tender toward our loving Lord, but as we mature in faith, we are called to be discerning. We must develop in our faith, growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ and the understanding of the truth of His Word. We are called to surrender our lives completely, abiding continually, nourished by His Word, drawing nigh to the throne of grace in fellowship with God who is Holy. We cannot become idle, but we must remain alert, under the Shepherd's care.

The way of eternal life is through absolute surrender. It is death to our "self," our way of thinking. The enemy of our souls has so blinded the eyes of so well-meaning people, even if it is possible, blinding the eyes of the elect in the service of God. Jesus said the same, warning us to remain vigilant from the snares of this wolf in sheep's clothing. Stand fast, my friends, for the hour is late, and the Bridegroom approaches. Draw night to God, and he will draw nigh to you!

Day 114 Finding Rest

4/24/2025

 "Our hearts are restless until they find rest in You, O Lord."

St. Augustine 

In Israel today is a very special day, as it is the Holocaust Remembrance Day honoring survivors of those dark days. The slogan "Never Again" brought on new resolve on October 7, 2023, when Hamas carried out its terror attack on innocent civilians, many still in their beds. The war continues marking 566 days today. It is indeed "the the best of times, it is the worst of times." Many observances and events were being held to honor these precious survivors, but the the same time, acts of hatred are being staged in different countries as well as the United States. Antisemitism is a very evil word and deed. God forgive those who hold such hatred for a country who desires only to live in peace with all men.

Yesterday and today I have been experiencing more than usual pain in my back, making it difficult to walk or move at times. Still, I am pressing forward by sheer will power and the grace of God. It seems as if trials and tests of endurance, whether physical, mental, emotional, or spiritual, continue to come, and I suspect it will be difficult on many days if one considers the day and time we are living. I've been meditating on things God has been teaching me over the months, years, a lifetime. I know these times are necessary, otherwise I would not be going through it. Many people want to blame God for not "doing something" to stop an illness or crime or a zillion other possibilities. What we do not understand is that we are not incurring God's wrath or judgment, rather on the earth we incur the wrath of satan. He does not want us to prosper, be in good health, or trust God in any way. He works overtime to achieve his nefarious schemes of our eternal damnation. But when we are children of God, as believers are, we have eternal life to look forward to. While here on earth, however, we will suffer. Jesus told us as much, but I prefer to think positively about the purpose of my life while here in this world.

I've been studying the book of Ephesians with my Harvest Ministries community group, considering the mystery of Christ in us, the dispensation of God's grace, that Gentiles are fellow heirs of the promise in Christ. Paul called himself a prisoner of Jesus Christ for our sake in sharing this great mystery. He says he has been entrusted to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, so we will know "the unending, boundless, fathomless, incalculable and exhaustless riches of Christ." (Ephesians 3:8 AMP) The word "entrusted" is one I have heard before regarding my life, so whenever I see it used, I realize the depth of meaning it has for us. This is why I love word studies on words like "But God...!" or "Suddenly...." the context in which these words are used by God or about Him. It was hard enough for the apostles to understand the depth and character of God's love towards them and the calling they had, but they finally did when they were filled with Holy Spirit. 

Paul goes on to speak of the Fatherhood of God towards us as believers, and the access that we now have to approaching God in freedom, without fear, part of the family, bowing our knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is a lot to grasp. It is a mystery even to the Jews! I love the way Paul words the depth of what God intends in our inheritance as His child. Listen to this prayer as Paul pours out his heart on our behalf:

"May He (God) grant you (us) out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the Holy Spirit (Himself) - indwelling your innermost being and personality. May Christ through your faith actually dwell - settle down, abide, make His permanent home - in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, that you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints (God's devoted people, the experience of that love) what is the breadth and length and height and depth (of it); that you may really come to know - practically, through experience for yourselves - the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge (without experience); that you may be filled (through all your being) unto all the fullness of God - that is may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself!" (Ephesians 3:16-19 AMP)

The Amplified Bible expands the translation and adds intensity to it, maybe a bit overly at times, but we really need to understand fully just what Jesus has, in His obedience to go to the cross and die for our sins, provided for us when we are accepted into the Godhead through faith in Christ's substitutionary act of love for us. The scripture above speaks of God's abiding Presence within us, dwelling within us. I have spoken about having that intimate relationship with God before, so I will not belabor the message again. But just reading the words above and believing, trusting, living it out by the power of Holy Spirit. Well, you get the idea, I hope.

This is my hope for the Jewish people who have not accepted Christ as Savior and Lord. The survivors of the Holocaust, who endured so much, believe in God, but they are not born again. Jesus said to Nicodemus that we must be born again to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. And it is the same for all people who are given this wonderful gift of forgiveness and new life. My heart aches to see all come to Christ, and then to truly know the riches of the inheritance of those who believe. We need to know who we are in Christ and the power we have seated with Christ in heavenly places. The word of God is active and alive, more powerful than any two-edged sword. It is a lamp to our feet, a light to our path. He is our peace, shalom peace, nothing missing, nothing out of order. Our place of rest in the midst of the mayhem. Jesus promises in Matthew 11:28-29: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." 

Come, rest awhile with Jesus!

Day 113 A Heart Wide Open

4/23/2025

This morning I woke up around 3 am with an extremely painful spinal headache at the base of my skull and running down my spine kicking off inflammation in my lower back and sciatic nerve. It was intense!  I haven't experienced that degree of pain for quite a long time. Thankfully, God healed me of chronic migraines, spinal, cluster, and sinus headaches in 2007. It started when I was a small child, and it gradually increased until God heard my cries and delivered me. I had to learn how to function, because I had to go to school, and then I had to earn a living and take care of my three children. I know the only way I could have done it was by the grace of God.

Now that I am older, and I am not able to do things with the same zest and zeal as when I was younger, I need to pace myself. Yesterday, as you may recall, I cut the grass using a self-propel push mower in very dense grass, so it didn't propel much. Today I had to finish cutting it, plus I had to weed eat and pull weeds. I still need to ready my garden for planting very soon. I have some green chili seeds sprouting inside, so I need to be able to rest and not have another early morning like I did this morning. What really did it for me, I imagine, was the workout on the Gazelle before I went to bed. It was short, but I guess it inflamed something, so I won't try that tonight. 

In my quiet time this morning I was listening to some of my favorite worship songs, and during"Our God Reigns," when the people were quietly, softly worshiping, with arms raised, praying, the pastor stepped up on the stage and said the following: "Rightly placed worship is the ultimate repentance. I saw you worshiping God this morning, and as John was leading us in that refrain, and I saw you jumping up and down, I saw addictions falling off you. I saw sin being shed from your body, corruption from your mind. As you begin to behold Jesus everything changes in rightly placed worship. The devil has been after your affection for so long, he's been after your worship, and some of you don't need to get free from addiction, you need to be addicted to the right thing. For some of you it's been impossible to get rid of that addiction, that thing that kinda keeps sneaking in, that artificial comfort, looking for your worship. Every thing changes in your life when you start becoming the worshiper God always intended you to be. This is what happens, the world gets transformed when you actually live a transformed life. We are continually being transformed."

He's right about coming before the Lord, in humility, in worship, being transformed, because we don't want to remain the way we were before we found Jesus and made Him Lord of our lives. It's why I stress the importance of having that quiet place to sit alone with Him, listening. I love the song, "Breathing Room" by Kim Walker-Smith:

"I have found breathing room
My soul can rest in You
No longer have to fight
The burden's lifted
The weight is light

You are my steady ground
No need to worry now
The fog has cleared away
And I stand uncovered
Walk in Your grace

My heart is wide open
My heart is wide open
As I breathe in every word
That You've spoken
My heart is wide open
My heart is wide open
As I breathe in every word
That You've spoken

You speak right to my core
Don't have to hide anymore
There's nothing I can do
But stand in Your presence
Completely consumed

My heart is wide open
My heart is wide open
As I breathe in every word
That You've spoken
My heart is wide open
My heart is wide open
As I breathe in every word
That You've spoken

I'm letting go
I'm letting go
There is breathing room
For my soul
I'm letting go
I'm letting go
There is breathing room
For my soul"

We come with yielded hearts, wide open, to breathe in every precious word He speaks to our hearts. In Revelation 8:1, 3-4 it says: "There was silence in heaven for about half an hour.... Then another angel...Came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, ascended before God." This is the breathing room we have before God, waiting, focusing only on Him and what He has to say. There may be silence, but in the silence there is peace that transcends all need for words. Holy Spirit, dwelling within in, makes intercession on our behalf, and the prayers rise as incense to God. This is worship. This is relationship with a God who loves us and welcomes us in. Andrew Murray put it this way: "The secret of strength can only be found in living communion with God." 

I invite you to find your hiding place, alone with God, for just half an hour. Your life will be transformed.

Day 112 The Crushing

 

4/22/2025

 

The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak. That is a perfect description of my life at times. I tend to stay up way too late, and although I am up by 7 am, I tend to drag. I've been asking Abba to wake me up earlier, so I can have the time to finish my blog on the same day, rather than make sure I check it for accuracy the next day. At times, I have to rethink the notes that I've hastily written, plus my journal, just to make sure I've included some points. There are times when I come up blank, because I've forgotten the impact of the moment. Abba is faithful, and He has awakened me at different times. This morning I did rise a little earlier, but I didn't have enough time to do the things I had hoped to get done before I had to busy myself with the business of the day.

The second mistake I made first thing in the morning was allowing my eyes to glimpse a headline in my email. Then another one. I had to repent. The one thing that I feel hinders my early morning time alone with Abba is looking at the news, even if it is a reliable Christian source. Most days I don't even turn on my computer or open my email until just before I have to start the Zoom call. In order to cope with the day, I must meet with Abba and listen, worship, just have good quality time being in His presence. That may not sound like time well spent, but for me it is my lifeline. I must breathe in the breath of life, or my day isn't worth squash.

I recently read "to the degree Christ uses you, He will break you." Do I think this is a valid presumption?! In fact I do. John 15:2 says that "Every branch in me that bears no fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes that it may bear more fruit." Many times I've suffered under His pruning hook, but I wouldn't have it any other way. Even a gardener knows that bushes need to be trimmed back, otherwise they become unruly and out of control. We have some massive holly bushes in front of our home that have been left by themselves to grow at will, that it will take concerted effort to trim them back to a reasonable degree. I also have a tree in the front that has grown over to touch the holly bushes. It's a mess, but in due time, I will prune these errant bushmongers. Before Jesus went to the cross He spent the night in the Garden of Gethsemane (oil press), being crushed in spirit knowing what He would endure in a few short hours. If you have ever experienced death to vision, you will begin to understand a little what crushing feels like. I have been broken so many times, face on the ground, crying out to Abba for understanding and wisdom, feeling the attacks from the devil coming in every direction. I remember once the enemy was badgering me about something I thought I had done wrong, not willfully, but ignorantly in a time of great fear and testing. Finally after a long time of self-torture and a tormenting spirit that did not sleep, I said, "Enough!!" So, I picked myself up, went my way to "confess," all to discover I had done nothing wrong but everything right. But I had allowed the enemy to torment me, when I was innocent! How many times in a day do we allow the father of lies to get inside our heads?!

As followers of Jesus Christ we are called to live disciplined lives, and as an intercessor, I am called to be a watchman on the wall, so I must remain active, ready, and my eyes trained in watchfulness and alacrity. My attitude must be one of humility and gratitude, else I am of no good to anyone. Some days begin in a whirlwind of successive emails or other forms of correspondence. In today's modern Christian world, I see well-intentioned intercessors take their eyes off the Commander of the Armies of Heave, and turn to other people for advice without first consulting the Word of God. We often speak so piously, yet we fail to do what He has called us to do and to be. We let our guard down, and in a toenail of the enemy and his third of heaven consorts needling us again with the same ole harassment. What will it take for us to wake up and go to the Source of all that is holy. Why do we feel the need to consult with anyone other than God first?! I was aghast when I heard an "apostle," say he had to go to a "prophet" to ask what God was telling him to tell him what God was saying. Now I do believe that the five fold ministry gifts mentioned in Ephesians 4:11 operating in this modern age, because Jesus is the same yesterday and forever, plus you can't have three gifts without the other two callings. God does not change, and He does not dole out the gifts in part. But in these last days as the second coming of Jesus Christ for His bride, the Church, nears, we must be discerning, as the evil one will trip you up any way he elects to do so.

So, stay alive, purpose clear, with eyes on Him! Watchful. Suited in the whole armor of God daily.

"...giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us

to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the Light."

Colossians 1:12 

 

Day 111 Easter Monday

4/21/2025

The world awakened this morning to the news that Pope Francis of Roman Catholic Church, previously known as Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Archbishop of Buenos Aires, had died after suffering for several months, succumbing to heart failure. For believers and followers of Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior death comes sweetly as indeed a new life dawns, and we pass from death to life. Those who remain mourn the loss of their loved ones. Now a process begins to select the new Pope, while the world watches and waits. A detailed brief of his life and succession can be found in Epoch Times. It has been some time since I read his complete story, and although I follow some events, honestly I have not followed his life since rising to this position as pope. I do know that he was loved and revered, and he will be missed.

Following Passover, our Jewish friends begin the Feast of Weeks by counting the omer (wheat shaft)  leading up to Shavuot which commemorates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. Christians count the days by prayer and fasting until the day of Pentecost when the Spirit of God is poured out on the disciples and other followers of Christ who were waiting in the upper room, as instructed by Jesus in Acts 1:8: "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." I imagine they were a little apprehensive as they prayed and waited.

For me on this Monday after the celebration of our Resurrected King it is a time of continued rest and reflection, as I continue to meditate on the days following Christ's return to His high heavenly position seated at the right hand of the Father. As I become more acquainted with our Hebraic roots as Christians, I marvel at the precision of each of the feasts of the Lord. I love the fact that my Jewish friends desire to obey God in following His feast day schedule as listed in the Torah. It must have taken a great deal of effort to follow the law, but then we discover that in history, no one could follow the law perfectly. God knew this, and He provided a better way through the sacrifice of the perfect Lamb of God - Jesus. God knew that human beings could never reach the perfection required to have a relationship with Him, because He is holy. So Jesus provided the better blood sacrifice, once and for all, by selflessly taking our sin and shame, so we could live in personal relationship with God. I am forever grateful that Jesus loved me that much.

I have been enjoying early morning devotional time with Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel in Chino, California. He gives his listeners a daily scripture that we mediate on during the day. Praying the word is the proper way to intercede. God's word is living, active, alive! In John's gospel, Jesus is called the bread of life, and the sword of the Spirit is the Word of God. This is why it is so important to get serious about our relationship with Jesus. Reading the Word daily will strengthen our walk, and it will transform our lives into His character. I have mentioned before that each year I walk through the Bible, and each time, I see something fresh, new and alive, a word just for me. Fresh manna from on high. This is our spiritual food, and it is bread from heaven much like God sent manna for the people as they walked the desert for 40 years. God always provides nourishment. It is also healing. I challenge you to do word studies about prayer needs or questions you may have. Ask for scriptures, and once you have the scriptures make a prayer using the words. I find that Psalm 119 is full of healing prayers and how to walk as a follower of the Lord. When my children were young, I wrote prayers mostly from Psalm 119 so they would hear the word prayed over them, or for me, as I trusted God with their young lives. Devotionals and other books by good Biblical authors are great, but reading the Bible each day is so much better. You don't need to search for man's interpretation. Learn to trust the word of the Lord and meditate on the meaning, and talk directly to our Father. He loves for us to sit in His presence. You will be equipped to run your race well, and you will learn to know Him better.

Our verse for today is Job 12:13: "With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding." Isn't that a great verse, especially when you are seeking an answer regarding a need or a decision. God is all wisdom, and there is strength in seeking wise counsel, because it brings understanding. Bring your need before the throne of God based on this word, make the prayer your own. Seek other parallel scriptures such as Proverbs 3:5-6: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will direct your path." There is power in the word, and God wants us to remind Him of His promises. 

Today, get alone with the Lord, meditate on His word, and talk to Him as you would a friend. He loves the fellowship of those who love His Son, who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

Day 110 He is Risen Indeed!

 

4/20/2025

 

The sun comes up, and it's a new day dawning! These words may sound familiar, as they are from a song by Matt Redman called 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord):

"The sun comes up
It's a new day dawning
It's time to sing Your song again
Whatever may pass
And whatever lies before me
Let me be singing
When the evening comes."

Seems appropriate since this is Resurrection Sunday, and Jesus has risen, and one day He will return! He will return splitting the eastern sky and placing His feet on Mount Zion. What a day that will be!

Today's story today begins where we left off in Matthew, "Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb" (Matthew 28:1). I'm sure Mary was anxious to get to the grave after Sabbath ended, but she had to wait until the new day came, day three. I wonder if she thought about Jesus' words as she was hurrying to leave -  about rising on the third day? But it's obvious that she was in a hurry to get to the grave. In other accounts in scripture the women who were with her were named as Mary, the mother of James, and Salome. As they're on the way this happened: 

"And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it. His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow. And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men.

But the angel answered and said to the women, 'Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. And go quickly and tell His disciples that He is risen from the dead, and indeed He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him. Behold, I have told you.'

So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to bring His disciples word.

And as they went to tell His disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, 'Rejoice!' So they came and held Him by the feet and worshiped Him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, 'Do not be afraid. Go and tell My brethren to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.'"

Matthew 1:2-9

Imagine going to the tomb, expecting to anoint the body, no doubt hurrying along, and the ground begins to shake! Still, they rushed on to the garden to find the stone rolled away from the tomb. The scripture says that an angel was sitting on the stone. That had to be a very large stone, and remember, the tomb had been sealed by Pilate, because the Pharisees were afraid the disciples would steal the body in the night. The soldiers guarding the tomb were temporarily stunned by the disruption and filled with their own fear. After all, because the Roman's seal placed on the stone had been broken, it was punishable by death, if I understand the teaching correctly. To the Pharisees, naturally, were where the soldiers fled to tell what happened, so the bribes paid by the Pharisees to the soldiers to hide the truth, really wasn't surprising. I've mentioned this in previous blogs in other years, but the movie Risen takes the audience on a journey through the eyes of a Centurion hunting for the risen Christ. In this movie the religious leaders did bribe and pay the two guards, but one man, the Centurion who was second to Pilate, in particular could not unsee what he had witnessed. It's an excellent movie, and it gives another slant on what could have happened when the truth of the empty tomb was revealed.

As hard as the religious leaders tried to cover up the truth, it is a historically proven fact that Jesus lived, died, and He rose again just as the scriptures tell. When Jesus died, and the earthquake shook the temple tearing the veil in the Holy Place, Jesus finished the work His Father had sent Him from heaven to do. The Bible also speaks of graves being opened, and the dead coming to life. The Bible does not say anything about those who walked out the of cemetery, but I imagine that was quite a shock, at the very least. Mary Magdalene was the first one to see Jesus after His resurrection, then He appeared to the disciples.  He walked on the road to Emmaus with Cleopas and another man, and scripture says that he walked and taught for 40 days until He ascended to heaven (Acts 1:1-3). These are recorded facts in historical accounts. How can anyone doubt the truth?!

The "Walk to Emmaus" is a Christian spiritual retreat developed to inspire, challenge, and equip men and women for service. It is a time of deep introspection, learning to spend time as a group, but more importantly, alone with our Savior, listening, growing, refreshed by His presence. While I have never participated in this experience, I have attended other retreats for the same personal growth experience. Several times a year while living in Northern New Mexico, I would escape to my personal "hiding place," to find refuge and refreshment, alone with Jesus. Now, in Virginia, I have found the times alone in the morning are so encouraging. I am jealous for my time alone in the presence of the one who loved me so much that He lived, He died, and He rose again for me! If I had been the only one, He would have died for me. And it is the same for each person who accepts this wonderful, blessed gift of eternal life. If you have never separated yourself, alone in His presence, don't waste another day, draw nigh to the throne room of heaven, experiencing your own walk to Emmaus. Listen to His voice and breathe in the breath of new life. 

 

 

Day 109 The Beauty of Grief

4/19/2025

 "Weeping may endure for a night, 

but joy comes in the morning."

Psalm 30:5

Following the crucifixion, after the body had been taken away for burial, the women hurried home to prepare spices and oils to anoint Jesus' body, because Sabbath day was beginning soon. In the meantime, Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Jesus, along with Nicodemus, both respected members of the Sanhedrin, came secretly to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus. According to the account found in John 19:38-42, they came at night bringing along a mixture of myrrh and aloes, and they bound Jesus' body in strips of linen with the spices, as was the custom for burial. They placed him in a new garden tomb in which no one had lain. Sabbath begins in the evening at 6 pm, and on the Sabbath Day, God commands His people to rest and cease all work, so all anyone can do is rest. 

I can imagine all the thoughts going through the minds of the disciples, the women who followed and loved Him, as well as true friends who had not betrayed Him or who had not stood in agreement with the crowd who shouted "Crucify Him, Crucify Him!" We know that Judas, His betrayer, hung himself, because He couldn't take back what he had done. Peter must have been deeply troubled about his own denial of Jesus, just as Jesus had prophesied, because in Matthew 26:75, it says "And he went outside and wept bitterly." I wonder if suicide ran through his head?! As for the other disciples, they ran away to escape possible arrest themselves, just as prophesied in the scriptures in Zechariah 13:7: "Then Jesus said to them, "You will all fall away because of Me this night. For it is written, 'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.'"

At that point, when they all scattered, I wonder how all the men felt, seeing that they all had earlier vowed to Jesus that they would never desert him, even to the point of death, which He forewarned would eventually happen to His followers. Upon hearing those words and having a little time to think about the possibility after seeing Jesus arrested, what horror might they rehearse in their minds. Christians today in some countries are hunted down, imprisoned, tortured in horrific ways. Something we in the Western part of the world would have consider an impossibility. Yet, today it is being played out before our eyes, as is the hate of antisemitism here in the west. As for the disciples of Jesus, they now understood a little better that His fate may very well be their ending. Perhaps they began to question where they went from here! Who knows, perhaps we may just as easily have fallen into doubt and despair. People today certainly choose to believe bad reports, and blind their eyes to obvious evil in our world today, even the United States. I choose to believe that maybe Matthew or John were reminding themselves of what Jesus said while He was alive and questioning what He did that was so bad that the religious leaders wanted to kill Him. I'm sure they sensed their hypocrisy and the jealousy they felt. After all, if the people followed Jesus, where would they find their livelihood? In many ways, nothing has changed, even in the church today.

Today is the last day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, but today in Bill's message at Jacob's Tent, we realized that God is working on our hearts, and the old leaven may still remain. Anything that is allowed to rise up inside us and take the focus away from our service to Yeshua needs to be cleansed from our lives. The closer we come to the time of His appearing, the more He speaks into our lives, if we spend our time in His presence. Fellowship with Jesus, with Abba Father, in the presence of Holy Spirit is a beautiful feeling. It is refreshing and it is cleansing. Repentance must always be at the forefront of revival. 

Tomorrow we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. The stone will be rolled away, and the hope of many will be restored. Many will be attending services who never darken the doorway of a church except on Easter and at Christmas. They are missing out. I pray that whoever reads this blog will find their way to a local assembly tomorrow to join in the celebration of our Risen King. Let us exalt Him, for He is One found worthy of all blessing, honor, and praise. 

^{John 16:16-24}

 ¹⁶ “A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me, because I go to the Father.”

¹⁷ Then some of His disciples said among themselves, “What is this that He says to us, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’; and, ‘because I go to the Father’?” ¹⁸ They said therefore, “What is this that He says, ‘A little while’? We do not know what He is saying.”

¹⁹ Now Jesus knew that they desired to ask Him, and He said to them, “Are you inquiring among yourselves about what I said, ‘A little while, and you will not see Me; and again a little while, and you will see Me’? ²⁰ Most assuredly, I say to you that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; and you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will be turned into joy. ²¹ A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour has come; but as soon as she has given birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. ²² Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.

²³ “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. ²⁴ Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Day 108 Good Friday

4/18/2025

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."

John 15:13

Today is a double blessing - the Jewish observances of the Sabbath begins at sunset and the Feast of Unleavened Bread or Passover coming to a close tomorrow evening coincides with the Christian observance of Good Friday. In Deuteronomy 16:3, unleavened bread is called the "bread of affliction,"which is interesting considering Jesus was whipped or afflicted for our transgressions, bore stripes for our chastisement, bruises for our healing, and endured shame by being crucified. Passover, as I have been sharing, remembers the exodus from Egypt with the blood of the lamb placed over the doorposts and lintels of the home to prevent the death of those inside, while Good Friday remembers Jesus' sacrificial death on the cross as the Lamb slain for remission of our sins, without spot or blemish, the perfect, sinless Lamb of God. He who knew no sin became sin for us. Good Friday is the day Jesus died for the sins of the world. The day He gave His life as a ransom for our sins so that we could have eternal life and thus have fellowship with God our Father who is Holy. It is only through the blood of Jesus that we can be made holy before a Holy God.

On the cross, Jesus spoke seven times, the last words spoken were "It is finished," then He died, but He didn't stay in the grave. He rose on the third day to ascend to the right hand of the Father where He lives to make intercession on our behalf. Jesus promised that He would never leave or forsake the disciples, yet He said it was expedient for them that He go away (John 16:7-15). Of course they misunderstood, as they only had moments of understanding until after He rose from the dead. They remembered that previously He had said unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it will not live, and as such, not produce fruit:

John 12:23-26: "But Jesus answered them, saying, 'The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there my servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.'" 

Jesus also told the disciples that He would send them a helper, the Comforter, who would empower them and remind them of everything He ever taught them. For the believer, the promise of Holy Spirit is also promised to us. The purpose of Holy Spirit is to convict the world of sin, thus leading them to fellowship with God. But this is Friday, so I'll stop here.

As you all know I am a faith fan of The Chosen series. Wednesday night I saw the final episodes of Season 5, that ended with the betrayer's kiss. Jesus has already agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane, and He encounters some interesting visitors while crying out for Abba to take the cup away. I won't share any more, as it would definitely be a spoiler should anyone who has not seen it reads my blogs. Let me just say, it was thought provoking and wonderful.

Until Shabbat, Shalom.

Day 107 Maundy Thursday

4/17/2025

 

As you know I have been following the series The Chosen as it provides plausible evidence of the life of Christ, or in my childlike acceptance, a believable glimpse of the character of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior, based on my personal relationship with Jesus. Jonathan Roumie, the actor who plays Jesus in this series, puts great pain into his portrayal of the Son of God, God in the flesh, which is a huge undertaking requiring much close communion with Abba Father. His life has been transformed, as he has shared with so many people across the world. Reasonably I could say that the cast and their roles as the disciples give a more credible understanding of the challenges Jesus' followers experienced. They were what Jesus called those who followed Him, "the least," in the eyes of the religious leaders and world. When His ministry became public, Jesus identified Himself  as Messiah with the words from Isaiah 61:1-3:

  “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me,
Because the Lord has anointed Me
To preach good tidings to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives,
And the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
² To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord,
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
³ To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;
That they may be called trees of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.”

In Luke 4:18-19 Jesus used these words as a fulfillment of this prophecy:

 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,
Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor;
He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to the captives
And recovery of sight to the blind,
To set at liberty those who are oppressed;                                                                                                     To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

This did not bode well for Jesus with the Pharisees or with some of His friends in Nazareth. They knew He was identifying Himself as the Son of Man, the Son of David, The Messiah, God Himself, the fulfillment of the words of the prophets who foretold of His coming.

Today, on what is called Maundy Thursday, we remember the new covenant Jesus gives us by introducing The Lord's Supper, or as Christians call it, Communion. On this Passover meeting, Jesus demonstrates what it means to serve others in humility and love, as he washes the feet of the disciples, even those of the one who would betray Him. He shared the Passover Meal and explained the new covenant He was making with the people. He said that His body would be broken for others, His blood shed for remission of sins. Jesus the sinless Lamb being sacrificed for the salvation of the Jewish nation, but not just for them, for all who believed His message of eternal life in the Kingdom of Heaven. Salvation comes first to the lost sheep of Israel, then to the Gentiles.

After eating He and the disciples go to the Garden of Gethsemane, because Jesus wants to pray. Gethsemane means olive or oil press in Hebrew, and the crushing process of extracting the oil from the olive, reminded Jesus of what laid ahead. In the garden He prayed for the cup to be removed, and the disciples whom He asked to stay awake and watch and pray - James, John, and Peter - were asleep each of the three times He came back to check on them. Finally, He said the time is at hand, and His betrayer had come. All of this mentioned in the scriptures by the prophets.

This morning Pastor Jack Hibbs shared with us the scripture found in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-11: "For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

Paul is explaining to the church that Jesus suffered and died and took the wrath of God off of us. He made the way for us to approach the throne of grace. The wrath it speaks of us suffering comes from the fallen nature of those in the world, and we see this in the murders and atrocious things that are happening, especially to believers all over this world. Jesus came so that in the fullness of time, He will return and take His Bride, the body of Christ, to live forever with God. So, as I ended my blog yesterday, I remind each of us once again, to occupy until He comes...again!