Adam Take Two

  

  Last time, i told the story of The Bicycle (March 15, 2025) and promised to follow up with its return. Unlike some situations where Dad could just walk down the street and demand the bicycle back, the neighborhood bully actually had a legal right to keep that brand new, red beauty. After all, the boy willingly gave it to him without being forced to do so. He may have succumbed to trickery, but he voluntarily gave it to that wily fellow, nonetheless. Had the boy gone to his father and shared his concerns with him, or had he simply been content with his gift, the story would have played out in a vastly different way.

   In fact, the bully knew how very valuable that bike was and what hidden power it contained. That bicycle was a symbol of the boy’s sonship, a representation not only of his father’s love but also of the authority being passed on to him. It wasn’t just a bicycle the father had to retrieve for his son; it was his heritage, something the bully had secretly always envied. 

   In some ways, it was rather like giving away his birthright for a bowl of soup, as Esau once did.* In this case, the boy’s hunger wasn’t from an empty stomach, but rather from a covetousness of more than his father had provided for him. 

   More power, more knowledge, more influence, more fame…a flashier, more enviable reputation in the neighborhood. The irony of it all was that his father was actually giving his son EVERYTHING he had, far more than the boy could even imagine. However, it would take wisdom, guidance, and discernment from his dad to be able to handle the power and possibilities of this vehicle properly. The only thing his dad was withholding from him was what would could be dangerous for him to operate at this stage in his youth.

   Because of his lack of trust in his father, the boy had given up this indescribable gift in his greed for what turned out to be a glittery illusion. His father, however, loved his son so very much, despite his foolish mistake, that he set out on a long and tortuous journey to redeem his son’s inheritance for him. What it would take to wrest the keys to the bicycle back for him, would be a heartbreaking tale. 

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If you haven’t gone to the theater to see “The Chosen: Last Supper” (season 5), I highly recommend seeing its impact on the large screen, also thereby supporting this fruit-bearing ministry.

* Jacob and Esau and the bowl of soup: Genesis 25

Birthday Bicycle

     

   Imagine your dad giving you a beautiful bicycle for your birthday. Its shiny splendor thrilled you. You couldn’t wait to take it for a spin around the neighborhood. But then a boy who lived around the corner spied you riding it, and rather than appearing awestruck, he was rather condescending about it. He told you about an even more beautiful bike available to you and implied your dad was really holding out on you when he gave you this one. All you had to do, he said, was to give him yours, and he promised you a much fancier one in trade. You began to question why Dad hadn’t given you the nicer one in the first place. Yeah, why hadn’t Dad given you a nicer bike? Well, what was there to lose? Such a deal to be had, if only you were willing to relinquish your father’s birthday gift for something better. After all, your dad was probably just being a bit stingy, right?

   Does something ring a bell here? The snake’s best strategy for Adam and Eve to eat forbidden fruit was to raise doubt in their minds about the goodness of God, to question His true character. It wasn’t just the yummy-looking fruit that tempted them.

   We think to ourselves, “I would never have eaten that fruit! The Father very clearly said not to eat it! Nor would I have been like those grumbling Israelites in the desert who, after being miraculously delivered at the Red Sea, complained that God must have drawn them out in the desert to let them die there. And I most certainly wouldn’t have been one of those who cried ‘Crucify Him!’ after waving palm branches and heralding Yeshua as the Messiah a few days before. I would never have questioned God’s goodness or motivation or inherent nature like that. What were those people thinking?”

   Ahhh, but maybe…. Have we ever questioned the goodness of God when things didn’t go our way? When someone we loved wasn’t healed, a baby didn’t come to bless us, a marriage did not come to pass, finances were not forthcoming, a ‘deserved’ promotion wasn’t offered, or our ungodly neighbors were able to purchase the very home we wanted and needed, while we remained crammed into our little starter home?   

   Maybe we are not so unlike those we have mentally condemned. Every past good gift and bit of lovingkindess from God sometimes fades in the wake of disappointment and deferred hope. We begin to question if God really does want the best for us. If His directions are really to protect and provide for us or just to keep us from having some fun in our lives. Does He REALLY want life abundant for us or is He just withholding something good which He is perfectly capable of providing? Does he love others more than He does us? Does He ‘love the world,’ but we are chopped liver to Him?

   Maybe we should take things into our own hands, like Sarah, and help God along with His promises.  After all, “God helps those who help themselves,” right? [Not in the Bible, in case you are unsure.] It would take many blogposts to innumerate the many times this strategy went awry in Scripture. (Think Adam and Eve, Sarah, Saul, Judas, and a host of kings, among others.) Not to mention testimonies from our modern lives.

   Let’s always believe, think, speak, and act from the solid rock of faith in the truth that God loves us deeply individually, and profoundly, that He is by nature Absolutely Good, that He  wants the best for us, that His will is for us to experience His total shalom of body, soul, and spirit …even suffering torture and death for us to have it). From that Rock, we can explore why we don’t always receive what He wants us to have at any given time. But let us never believe ‘the boy down the street’ (who by the way just wants our bicycle for himself) over our loving Father Who sacrificed to give it to us in the first place. (Just wait til to experience all its bells and whistles!)

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Part two of this post is coming next, in which we will explore what it took for our Father to get our bicycle back for us from that lying trickster, as well as how we can learn to tap into that vehicle’s innate power. 

   Julie

If you want to keep up with my blog, be sure to click “Follow”. Or you can email me at BearfootArtsfortheShepherd@gmail.com and I will make sure new ones are forwarded to you. If you open this blog site from a device larger than a phone, or click ‘web version’ at the bottom of your screen just below the HOME button. You can then see all my posts listed on the right, beginning in 2015. They are just easier to see to access on a larger device.

Take a flying leap!

    

   When I say Good Morning each day to Abba, Yeshua, and Ruach Hakodesh (Holy Spirit), I picture myself hugging or embracing each part of the Trinity in various ways. i try to let Holy Spirit inspire the images in my mind. Most importantly, I want to express how much I love my ADONAI and how thankful I am that He not only allows me to come to Him each morning, but that He delights in it. 

   This morning a picture of me running to the Father and jumping into His arms came to me. It made me think of how my granddaughters run and jump into their father’s and grandfather’s arms, laughing with delight. I’m not sure who enjoys this ritual more, but I suspect it is the former. Pondering this caused me to remember the Lord’s words:  “Unless you turn and come to Me as little children, you shall not enter the Kingdom.” [Matthew 18: 3].

   In the past I have pictured myself reaching up to my Abba, but not running and jumping into His outstretched arms. The problem for many of us is that our earthly fathers weren’t the best representations of our Heavenly Father. We can’t conceive of ever running and jumping into our father’s arms. From distant to downright cruel, some earthly fathers were a source of emotional and even physical pain, rather than joy. Others of us were blessed with loving, if imperfect, dads. Mine was a wonderful man. However, he was raised by German parents to not express emotion, despite his internal tenderness of heart.  For example, when he fell out of a tree and broke his nose, his father told him “he had better not cry or he would give him something to cry about.” Hugging, for example was not our family way until much later in our lives. Thankfully, we knew he loved us, and he himself was much respected and even beloved to others. However, his earthly father, who died in his 50’s, did not represent our Heavenly Father well when it came to the extravagantly loving aspect of His character.  

   ADONAI Elohim is a prodigal (extravagant) Father, Who loves His children beyond their comprehension. [Luke 15: 11-32] Like my sons, son-in-law, and husband, He takes absolute delight in our taking a running leap into His arms. Give it a try, if you haven’t already done so. You will not only experience abounding joy but also deep healing. Yeshua has paid the cosmic price of Reconciliation* for us. Our sin no longer keeps us out of the Father’s Holy Presence.** Greet Him gratefully each day, knowing He is Absolutely Good. Let go of all your preconceived images of Him keeping His distance from you. But back up a few steps, as my granddaughter does, so you can get some good speed as you take the leap. You won’t be disappointed…and neither will He.

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*Romans 5:10: For if we were reconciled with God through His Son’s death when we were enemies, how much more will we be delivered by His life now that we are reconciled!

**Romans 8: 15: For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”).

Yahweh is near to those whose hearts are humble. He saves those whose spirits are crushed. —Psalm 34:18

No Greater Creativity… no greater desire to express it

   

   The Lord is all about types and patterns. I know this from my study of Scripture. However, I get a kick out of His Rhema word doing the same. If you haven’t read my previous blog post, “No Greater Love…no greater desire to express it,” you might want to read that first.   This morning I was asking Him for guidance, inspiration, and anointing for the art lesson I am giving my granddaughter tomorrow. He has blessed her with an artistic gift, and her mom wants to foster it. So we are having monthly art lessons, despite my lack of formal training. 

   At any rate, He answered my prayer with the following: 

     “A fun prayer to answer. You know how you long to have time to paint? That is my creativity rising up in you. If you long to paint, think how My Creativity rises up within Me! I love having willing children through whom I can express it.” 

I immediately recognized His response contained the same pattern I noted in my previous post, and it made me chuckle. 

   I didn’t begin painting in earnest until I retired from teaching at 66. In fact, I saw myself as totally inept at art. However, I really wanted to try, and decided no one would ever have to see what I created. I could just enjoy the process. I began, as many have, by watching the soothing encourager, Bob Ross. He was right up my alley with his “happy little trees.” At first I just watched him; yet a longing arose to gather some supplies and try along with him. My paintings never came out just like his, but surprisingly, I liked them. Even more surprisingly, others did, too.  Since then I have sold and given away many, along with creating cards, journals, and children’s books. (The sketched art in the books would be designated ‘primitive’…an understatement.) Yet these books, which have touched many, arose out of the pictures I created for the Lord in my daily journaling. He seemed to enjoy them and later prompted me to create the books. From that time in 2019, His creativity has flowed out of me, and He has anointed my creations far beyond their artistic merit. What I’ve discovered is that He loves to pour Himself through us in various creative ways. If you think you have no artistic ability within you, think again. You might be very surprised. Partner with Him and see what comes, even if no other soul ever sees what you create. He Himself will love what you make and probably attach it to His refrigerator. However, you might be astounded at what you make that others will also love. With His hand on yours, everything changes.

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Julie’s website: BearfootArtsfortheShepherd.com

Artists you might enjoy watching and be inspired by on YouTube:

Designer Gemma77

Jay Lee

Bob Ross

Liesl’s Artistic Studio

Emma Jane

Justin Gaffrey (super texture)

Akiane Kramarik’s testimony and interviws

…so many others

No Greater Love…no greater desire to express it

   

 Valentine’s Day 2025 

   As I was pondering the true story of St. Valentine’s martyrdom for his faith in God’s Greatest Gift, it filled me with a desire to express the true heart (pun intended) for this day. I wanted to pour out not only my love and thankfulness to the Father, to Yeshua, and to Holy Spirit, but also to the precious family and friends with whom He has blessed my life.

  I began thinking of little gifts of love to share, tiny mementos symbolizing something so much bigger than I could express in either words or packages of any size.🎁 Knowing each family member so personally, I was filled with joy in scouring my home for tiny finds that would delight them, from small presents I had been storing up for the right occasion to little treats discovered in our pantry. 

   The Lord then spoke to my heart: “You see now how my Nature in you is to pour out Love…to enjoy giving little gifts as well as big ones…to take delight in the choosing of even the smallest. If you carry a tiny fraction of that desire in your heart, think how much I carry…for you, for your family, for My whole family…and even for those outside of it. I long for them to come within My Family circle, ‘under the feathers of My wings’* where I can bless them with the large and the small.”

   Don’t think that the Lord can’t be bothered with ‘the smaller things’. He gets a kick out of delighting His children, just as we do. Take time to notice His little gifts, as well as the more obvious ones. They are not products of ‘luck’ or ‘coincidence’ or ‘fate’ or ‘the universe.’ Recognize them for what they are: personalized expressions of love from your Father’s heart, just for you. There is no one else on the planet, or even in Heaven, just like you. You are a unique treasure to Him, and He wants you to know it.

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*Matthew 23:37; Psalm 91:4

   

Avoiding Idolatry in current times

   

   When we read about idolatry in the Bible, we often see references to the worshiping of statues and manmade figures, like a golden calf. However, idolatry is anything that takes the place of God in our lives. The Lord has opened my eyes more and more to rampant idolatry woven into our times, including within the Christian community. Sometimes these thoughts, words, and actions have become such an integral part of our language that we don’t even think of them as such.

   I love the show Escape to the Country, but if I hear one more presenter tell people searching for a home in the UK that she’ll be ‘crossing her fingers’ for them, I think I will scream at the top of my lungs. Actually, I do renounce it every time I hear it, no matter how tedious it may seem to those watching the show with me. 

   Crossing one’s fingers has two meanings, neither of which is a Biblical action. As children we might have thought it meant we were excused for lying. NOT. This gesture’s other use is to help bring about the seemingly positive outcome one desires. Strike two. It is God to Whom we look, not futile gestures. 

   A similar action is to knock on wood. I have observed so many Christians doing so. The action’s history goes back to worship of the ‘goddess’ Gaia, who was said to dwell in the trees and in other created things. New Age believers of today continue to worship Gaia. (New age is not new.) Once again, it is to our Heavenly Father we should be praying, not knocking on a piece of furniture.

   When I was working in a retail artisan store, I lost track of the number of people who purchased crystals, gems, towers, pyramids, and similar items to give them power to make their lives better. Many carried them in their purses daily. Others, including Christians,  bought sage or ‘evil eye’ jewelry to drive away and protect themselves from evil.

   The idea of Karma has been completely adopted in our language, including by Christian believers. The Hindu concept of Karma is the antithesis of Christianity. As believers in Jesus’ sacrificial death for us, we trust in Him for our salvation. To trust in Karma is to trust that your good actions will outweigh your bad and you’ll be ok. This, of course, isn’t even true according to Scripture. [See Romans, among others. I especially recommend In the Grip of Grace by Max Lucado.] The Bible does present the concept of reaping and sowing; however it is not a balance scale through which we hope to be saved. [FYI The Hindu people believe that those in the lower castes deserve their level  because of past lives, so they will not lift a finger to help them and interfere with their attempts to work themselves up the ladder of salvation.] 

   Have you described, on social media, a challenging situation in your life and had some respond, “I will think positive thoughts for you.”? That and fifty cents won’t buy you a cup of coffee, as the saying [doesn’t] go.. (Obviously a financially out-of-date phrase.) Thinking positive thoughts without praying is a totally powerless action. The statement is idolatrous because it implies that your mind effects* change in someone’s life.

   Hallmark Christmas movies have more ‘sweet’ idolatrous actions than Carter has liver pills”. (Forgive me, younger ones; you won’t know this reference the way my generation will.). My other shouting and renouncing time, in addition to my defying of the cross your fingers references, is Hallmark movies’ continual attribution of life’s direction to the universe and fate. Wherever God used to be referenced in older books and movies, ‘the universe’ has now been substituted. O Christmas Tree has replaced Joy to the World and The Night Before Christmas has replaced The Nativity Story. 

   In a similar way, Destiny (separated from God’s destiny for us) is assigned power and control over us, as are ‘the stars’, horoscopes and other forms of astrology. God’s creation doesn’t have power to direct and affect us, El Shaddai, ADONAI Elohim does. He gave authority over His creation to Adam.. Well, you know how that went… Thankfully, Jesus, the Second Adam, restored it to His Ekklesia when He triumphed over satan. 

   Tarot cards, Ouija boards, and all forms of the occult. This should be an obvious one. However, I just saw a popular show in which a ‘sweet’ girl works for a company which combines the Tarot with the use of ‘natural’ makeup. She even had the t-shirt! Disney, as many of you know,, has woven witchcraft into most everything they create. Be careful what your kids and grandchildren watch..

   To avoid too lengthy a post, I will simply list other common forms of idolatry of the 21st century: Some may be challenging (and you may want to challenge me!)

• Get rich quick schemes, always looking to win the lottery, etc vs trusting God for your provision
• Wishing on on a star or tossing coins in a fountain, 
• Sports superstitions of all kinds (a huge pot of foaming idolatry)
• Theater superstitions
• Superstitions like burying the statue of a saint upside down to sell a house
• Belief in reincarnation. Hmmmm, let’s see…I get to live one miserable life after another on earth until I finally attain perfection? (See Romans again.) Or I repent, ask for forgiveness, and trust in Jesus’s perfect sacrifice for me. Which shallI choose? It’s so hard to decide.
• Buddhas and Hindu goddesses in gardens and homes. I see these in so many house-hunting shows. Believe me, these are not good decorations!
• The term Zen. It’s everywhere! Zen comes from Zen Buddhism. Once again, you work your way to ‘Heaven’. One of many downsides, however, is that this attained state of so-called perfection is ‘Nothingness.’ I rest my case.
• Feng Shui “a traditional form of geomancy that originated in Ancient China and claims to use energy forces to harmonize individuals with their surrounding environment”. ** Do you really want to pursue an idolatrous eastern religion to decorate your home? 
• Reiki  “Reiki practitioners use a technique called palm healing or hands-on healing through which, according to practitioners, a "universal energy" is transferred through the palms of the practitioner to the client, to encourage emotional or physical healing. It is based on qi ("chi"), which practitioners say is a universal life force” (vs GOD as our healer)’
• Other phrases to avoid: in the cards, thank your lucky stars…

Now it gets more subtle and easily missed:

• Intellectual arrogance vs using God’s gift of intelligence for His glory
• Power and influence, as a sort of god in one’s life…vs under God’s favor and direction
• Our own accomplishments and success independent of God
• Entertainment and technology
• Food and drink
• Exercise and body building as a ‘god’ vs stewarding God’s temple. [When one’s whole identity is tied to physical prowess and abilities]
• Unforgiveness/pride, bitterness (Who is on the throne?)
• Fear of what others think about us more than what God thinks
• Our reputations
• Sports (how much time, focus, passion?)
• Our families (ouch). Do we put the family we love above God, more important than what He wants us to do? For example, do we avoid speaking the truth in love He’s prompting us to do, because we don’t want to risk damaging our relationships with them? (Yep, this one’s for me, too.)

Let’s examine our lives, thoughts, words, and deeds. 

Let’s ask Holy Spirit to show us, prompt us, make us aware (Psalm 139)… of not only our own hidden idolatries, but also for help in identifying what we see or hear elsewhere. Let’s help open our friends’ understanding, if we hear them using or pursuing idolatrous philosophies, religions, or language. Let’s speak the truth in love, not just ignore it for concern over what they will think of us. Our speech is very powerful (both positively and negatively). [Reread Proverbs, James, and Psalms. Also search ‘speech’ and ‘words’ and ‘power’ in Bible Hub or an e-version.]  Idolatry is not taken lightly by God. The state of our once-covenanted nation reflects our pursuit of it. Let’s ask Him to purify our hearts in these areas. This will increase our faith and trust in Him, rather than our looking, even unknowingly, to powerless idols for our help. Our sincere faith is so very pleasing to Him+. Let’s ask Him to help us in this sanctification process and see His broad smile in response. 

+(See Hebrews 11:6 and beyond.) 

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* Yes ‘effects’ is correct in this situation, despite what your grammar checker may indicate. 

** Wikipedia .

Insights on staffs and stones

   

  Some of us are blessed to have a spiritual inheritance of faithful ancestors, even if this only applies to one generation before us. Others of us are the first to begin anew... Many of us also have powerful testimonies of God’s Goodness in our lives.. (Everyone has received from His Goodness, although they may not be aware.) Certainly, we all have a history of God’s blessings on our nation, through our covenant roots with Him. Although our nation has wandered far from Him, we have seen a turning back to those roots by hundreds of thousands, along with those of us who never left them. Our efforts have produced much fruit!

   This morning I was rereading a post from Dutch Sheets’ first Give Him 15 devotional (Day 24). He delved into the original meanings behind words used detailing David’s experience fighting Goliath. We have certainly been fighting Goliaths in our time. Many of us, though greatly distressed, have felt insignificant and powerless against them. However, it has been modern day apostles and prophets who have helped many of us to rise up believing, and take a stand against them, both in our outward actions and, most importantly, through spiritual warfare, We have repented of our inaction and also rehearsed God’s past and present faithfulness, declaring and decreeing His will for us and for our nation. We have repented of modern idolatries and poured ourselves into rededicating ourselves and our country to Him, praying that His ‘Will be done on earth as it is in Heaven’, with very specific petitions and decrees concerning what we are facing.

   I found Dutch’s unpacking of particular words in this account very eye opening and encouraging. You’ll remember that  David gave his testimony of faithfulness before he took action against Goliath. According to the Hebrew meaning of testimony, it is more than just remembering. It literally means to repeat an action or do it again, releasing the same power into the present. [I will add that the same idea is communicated by Jesus when He said of what we now call Communion:  Do this in remembrance of Me.]  Neither involve simply ‘remembering’ that something happened, as we use it today.. It means to ‘re-member or put back together in the present. Our testimonies are full of power, affecting the present, building faith and effecting change. 

   Another insight from Dutch was the fact that David’s use of a stone to kill Goliath was symbolically tied to his tribe of Judah, as were both his drawing those from a brook and carrying his staff as he approached him.. In that time, staffs were often carved with symbols of personal history (a sort of testimony, like the killing of a lion and a bear). David also declared the testimony of God’s faithfulness, prior to his attack. Additionally, for the Hebrews a brook symbolized inheritance.. David drew the stones from his inheritance. 

   Finally, Dutch unwraps even more related to David’s tribe of Judah::

     And yet, there is still one more connection to David’s history which played a part in this battle with the giant: his Judah nature, his DNA. Most Christians believe Judah means “praise.” That, however, is a derived meaning. In this pictorial language, the Hebrew word pictures the extending of the hand. It is because of this that it is a word used for “praise,” since raising the hands is a form of praise. However, because Judah means to extend the hand, it also means “one who throws a stone.” In his history, David was from “the tribe that throws stones!”*

   So many nuggets to discover when we dig deeper into God’s unending wealth and layers of understanding. Understanding which informs our prayers, decrees, and declarations for our own families and for our nation. God is speaking through His modern-day prophets that He has more than we can imagine in store for us in 2025 and beyond.. However, He wants to partner with us to see it manifested. Let’s grab our staffs and our stones, drawing from the brook of our spiritual inheritance**, and courageously fight the giants of today, knowing that God wants us free to experience the abundant life*** he has for us, for our nation and for the world.. 

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**Give Him 15; an Appeal to Heaven Devotional, VOLUME 1 by Dutch Sheets

Other guidance in petitions, declarations, and decrees can be found through people like Tim Sheets (Oasis Church), Andrew Whalen, and many others (eg see ElijahStreams.com)

** Ephesians 1: 5: 1 John 2: 27; Romans 8: 17; Ephesians 2: 10; Isaiah 54: 17 (and so many more!) 

***John 10: 10

A different kind of usher

     

     Before I retired from teaching and moved to be near our kids and grandchildren, we belonged to a wonderful, humble, little church on the Space Coast of Florida. Holy Spirit’s sweet and powerful Presence often dwelt there.  I think He came in power so often because we simply loved Him and wanted what He wanted, more than we wanted our own way. To be blessed by His continual outpouring, our pastors had to be willing to step out of the way and gratefully hand over the reins to Him. 

    In this spiritually intimate atmosphere, people needed to only choose to come near the altar, and Holy Spirit did the rest.* One of my job assignments from the Father was simply to get them there. I would listen for His direction, go to the person he designated, silently reach out my hand, and walk the chosen one forward.

    It was a very short walk, but a life-changing one. Whether for healing of body or soul, a resting in His Love, or a first-time surrender and commitment to Him, Holy Spirit’s Presence effected the transformation. Yet the short walk needed to be taken. The Father knew, of course, what was going on in each one’s heart, including who wanted to come forward but was struggling with whether or not to do so. All they needed was a hand outstretched to help usher them forward. 

   Whether we are in church, on a sidewalk, in the grocery store, or having coffee with a friend, we can be an usher. The Lord knows what is happening in each mind and heart. Let’s remain open and sensitive to His prompting. We musn’t be reluctant, for fear of what others will think of us. We can’t read a heart, but He can. 

   Let’s “put our whole trust in His grace and love”…for ourselves as ushers, as well as for our ushees. [On anothe occasion, roles may be reversed.] We may be only one in a long chain of ushers, which culminates in that person’s final walk to the altar. There they will find that His hands are the ones outstretched, ushering them into His very heart.

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* Quiet, anointed soaking worship, as well as our pastors’ tender hearts and sensitivity to Holy Spirit, also served to create this manger of a church.

** “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. —2 Corinthians 13: 14

Rnsmd

 

Have  you forgotten that your body is now the sacred temple of the Spirit of Holiness, who lives in you? You don’t belong to yourself any longer, for the gift of God, the Holy Spirit, lives inside your sanctuary You were God’s expensive purchase, paid for with tears of blood, so by all means, then, use your body to bring glory to God! —1 Corinthians 6: 19-20

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“Go! This guy has paid an astronomical price for you. Come out of your cell and go with him,” my owner barked at me. The ‘guy’ takes my hand, and instantly we are outdoors. He lifts me up onto the saddle of His horse and climbs up behind me. His arms encircle me, securely protecting me from falling, as He urges the steed forward. Our pace increases from a gentle walk to a smooth, loping stride, as we move through the sweetly scented fresh air. I lean back against Him and feel His heartbeat against my back. I can’t believe I am free after all the years of bndge.to my sadistic mstr. Is this a dream? The beauty around me takes my breath away. I tip my head up to look at Him, and He gazes down at me tenderly. His beauty far surpasses the landscape through which we are passing. Embarrassed at my ugly appearance in contrast to His shining purity, I look down at my dirty, stained clothes and discover I am wearing a shimmering, diaphanous gown. My skin is glowing, clean and scrubbed. My hair, now washed and gently flowing, feels soft against my face. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I call to Him above the sound of the horse’s hooves and the breeze rushing past us. As I look up at Him again I notice something I didn’t before: There are scars on his forehead. As I look down, I see that His wrists, which rest in front of me, are scarred as well. I fear there are many more unseen wounds on His body. Signs of His battle to save me? I wonder what He actually endured to set me free. Was it more than money He paid to rescue me? And why would He do this for me? All I know is that I don’t ever want to be separated from Him. I want to serve Him now. Love and gratefulness exude from my whole being. He says I am free to go and do as I please. But I don’t want to leave Him. Ever. 

Grateful astonishment

     Sometimes we know particular passages from Scripture so well that we almost become immune to their impact. We hear them in our heads almost in a singsong voice. New believers can read the same verses and say,

“What? That’s astonishing! Wow!” 

We’re like, 

“That? Oh yeah, sure. I’ve known that since I was a kid. Are you excited about that? Yep…it’s true.”

New believer: 

“So when it says God loves me so much He left the awesomeness of Heaven and came to be brutally tortured and smashed beyond recognition and slowly suffocated in agonizing pain, carrying ever evil thing ever thought, said, or done, on Himself…..This was all to save me here and now and eternally….as into the eternity of eternities……that’s all true?”

“Ummm, yeah. Maybe I better look at that John 3:16 thing again myself. Wooooh…..”

So….this morning I was reading Psalm 139 in The Passion Translation*. I actually almost skipped it, because I know it pretty much by heart. Da, da da, da da, da da.. However, because it was from TPT, it was like hearing it anew. It was astounding, once again.

“You know every step I will take before my journey even begins. You’ve gone into my future to prepare the way, and in kindness you follow behind me to spare me from the harm of my past. You have laid your hand on me! You impart a blessing to me.” ——Psalm 139:5

To sit, to camp, to rest in the bottomless yet rock-solid knowledge that my ADONAI knows every last thought I have…every negative attitude; every lie or omission or crafted retelling; every selfish motive; every bit of pride or vanity. In fact, He endured severe torture and agonizing death because of it. Yet He still loves me and wants me to live an abundant life. Wants to give me more than I can ask or even imagine. How incomprehensible is that? There is nowhere I can hide from Him when shame overcomes me. Nowhere He isn’t. He even descended to Hell to take its keys back for my sake. 

How have we let that knowledge become humdrum in our lives, as we pursue our daily activities and focus on what my mother used to call ‘the tyranny of the urgent’? I know I am guilty of losing my ‘third heaven’ perspective. Not that I think our Heavenly Father wants us to be ‘so heavenly minded we’re no earthly good,’ as the saying goes. However, have we become dulled to the wonder of Who He is and what He is doing and has done? In living years or decades away from our first-found romance with our Bridegroom, have we relegated Him to the background, taking Him for granted, as He supports us every single day and moment of our lives, steadfastly present and aware of our every word and thought? Longing to truly commune with us and have us partner with Him for HIS Kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven?

“Do the riches of His extraordinary kindness make you take Him for granted…?” —Romans 2:4 TPT

I know I can be guilty of this. Guilty of jumping into my day, prioritizing both the seemingly urgent and even the mundane over communing with Him; delving into His Word; agreeing with and praying for the things most on His heart; declaring my love for Him and my deep thankfulness for all He has done, is doing, and will do. Sometimes He calls me Jumping Bean, because of all the times I start to pray and listen to Him and then jump up to do ‘just this one thing before I forget’. That one thing can become another and another. Or I just want to check this one text or post or phone call. Sometimes I never even begin my devotional time in the first place. I ‘stand Him up’ in our meeting place. Never even say “Good Morning Father, Good morning, Yeshua, Good Morning, Holy Spirit.” Never even a hug or an “I love You” or a “thankYou”. How is this possible? Though it’s true, I don’t want it to ever to be so.

If you are at times like me, let us both be determined from this day forward never to allow the incredible depth and extent of His love and mercy to excuse the shallowness of our daily devotion to Him. 

So be it.

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“,,,we beg you not to take God’s marvelous grace for granted,”. —-2:Cor 6:1

**Note on TPT: Brian Simmons, by the way, did not just create his own modern paraphrase of ‘the real Scripture’. He is a Bible translator for many languages and a scholar of Hebrew, Greek, and Aramaic His is not just an accessible, feel-good retelling of the Word. What it is, however, is a refreshing translation, based on linguistic research and choices from various possible English synonyms, most in keeping with the context, historical background, and heart of the original languages, under the guidance of Holy Spirit.

Kneeling in the sand

    I have once again been reading through the Acts of the Apostles, and, as always, have been struck by something new. This time Holy Spirit stopped me as I read about Peter, Paul, and others kneeling in prayer.. [See Acts 21:5; Acts 9:40; Acts 20:36; Luke 5:8; Luke 7:37] In Acts 21:5, for example, Paul kneels in the sand with all the members of a new church to pray together before he leaves them. I thought about how seldom most of us kneel to pray, individually or corporately, anymore. Why didn’t Paul and crew just stand in a circle praying?

This brought to mind the fact that, in worship, I can tell when Jesus is standing before me, because I find myself on my knees.

Have we lost this type of manifestation of reverence in the church?  I was raised as an Episcopalian.* Humor regarding this denomination (also referred to as ‘the frozen chosen’) often referenced the ‘up and down, up and down’ movements of our congregations. Yet there is meaning behind this practice: Stand to praise; sit to listen (attitude of being teachable); kneel to humbly, reverentially, pray and worship.  There are times at a beloved non-denominational church, where I find myself kneeling down at some point during opening worship. I sense the need to be as close to ‘on my face’ as I can get in my space between the chair in front of me and my seat. I know that I am not doing what everyone else is doing, but I know I must overcome the need to fit in and instead do what I sense Holy Spirit is prompting me to do. [As I get older, it is harder for me to actually kneel, but If I can’t kneel, I at least sit with my knees close to the floor and my head bowed.] 

If Jesus is before me, I don’t think about it at all. I just find myself on my knees.. 

There are a couple churches I’ve attended in which all kinds of people are worshiping all kinds of ways. People don’t seem to be as aware of each other, as much as they are aware of the God they have come to please. Flags, shofars, dance, kneeling, standing, sitting, prostrated on the floor, resting in Holy Spirit on their backs, hands up, hands down…. The freedom to worship ADONAI in sincerity, truth, enthusiasm, loud praise, quietness, or silence. The giving of one’s whole self in various forms at various times, I believe, is pleasing to our Heavenly Father. As is refraining from criticizing or judging others for how they are expressing their worship.

Let’ take a look at ‘the other side of the worship coin’ from what we’re used to in our own churches. Do we always praise loudly and never become quiet in worship? Are we always quiet in worship and never ‘shout with a voice of triumph’? Do we criticize in our hearts (or even forbid) praising with flags or dancing? Do we flag and dance but criticize those who quietly kneel? Are we open to everything God says in His Word is pleasing to Him, both the overt and the hidden? Do we make a place for and encompass it all? 

I personally find it difficult to find a church that intentionally does so. A place with both historicity, lively worship both ancient and modern, a place where you feel free to kneel or jump up and down, sit in reverence without moving, lie facedown on the carpet; dance and wave a flag, or sit cross-legged with head bowed. 

A wonderful trend I see emerging, however, is denominational blindness, with ‘my church’ talk being replaced by ‘Jesus’ Body’ talk. A unification (without compromise on the Word) of the Ekklesia, praying and standing together as one for God’s kingdom to come on earth as it is in Heaven.’ Alleluia! Let’s make our worship, in all its expressions, do the same. 

While we’re at it, let’s not lose the power of reverentially kneeling together before Him. 

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Take a moment to enjoy this song, “Find Me”, from Jonathan and Melissa Heiser): 

https://youtu.be/G_LFvzKsbfw?si=21eVCO5dfINB4gOp

Is this seat saved?

    

We used to joke around sometimes when someone asked if the seat next to us was saved. We would say,

“I’m not sure,” shake the chair, and ask, “Are you saved?” 

The humor was based in a time when people might well have asked you, or any stranger, if you had truly received salvation.

Last Sunday I had an empty seat next to me in a thankfully very full church, where late arrivals were searching for a spot. (I wish all our Bible-believing churches were that full for 4 services.) The one empty seat made me think of our old joke. It also prompted me to think who should have been in it. Who was God calling to take his or her place there? 

The pastor spoke of Lazarus and the fact that Jesus was not the one to actually roll away the stone or even unwrap his grave-cloths. He asked the others to do it. “Unbind him and set him free!” (Luke 11). The pastor’s message had to do with our role in ‘unbinding’ others and the power we have to do so, even though Jesus is the One Who brings the actual resurrection.

He spoke of people ‘being dead to one another.’ Of the binding cloths of unforgiveness and judgment. Of the lonely ones, the hurt ones, to whom we could be reaching out and drawing into our life circle. He spoke especially about the ones who have severely wounded us or continually taken wrong paths until we have finally given up on them. The ones of whom people say, “He’ll never change!” [Never speak a prophetic word that opposes God’s will!] Even those whose prickly personalities cause us to avoid contact with them whenever possible. The ones who often need ‘unbinding’ much more than those vulnerable-seeming, humble ones who are much easier to love.

Whom have we written off?

Whom have we ignored and left in the cold, while cozy in our own warm circles?

Whom do we intensely (or even moderately) dislike and avoid reaching out to, whose presence in our friendship groups could sabotage our comfort levels and pleasant interactions? (Martha: “but Lord, there’ll be an odor!” Luke 11:44)

Whose reserved seat may be empty because we ourselves have fallen short of doing the hard thing? 

Or perhaps we’re the stone-removing forgiver or renouncer of condemning prophecies. (Speak ‘crop failure’ to those spoken words!) Yet God then plans to call someone else to draw that person to his saved seat?  All we need to do is be obedient to our part. 

It seems unfair that we should be considered responsible, especially when we have been the recipient of someone’s unkind, disrespectful, neglectful, or even abusive treatment. It may be a jolt to our self-righteousness that we are even seen by our Lord as having the ‘job’ or the capability of helping to bring that change about. We’re ‘only human,’ right? 

We absolutely need to set boundaries in cases of potentially harmful relationships. However, that is not what I’m referring to above. It’s the large stones blocking the tomb, the boulders of refusal to forgive, the walls of a back turned against another, and even the pebbles of rejection due to our discomfort with those annoying personalities, that make it challenging to reach out to another, whether stranger, acquaintance, or even family member.. 

So many reasons for a seat sacrificially saved by our Savior to remain empty. Sometimes it’s self-loathing masquerading as arrogance. Sometimes it’s straight-forward intellectual arrogance. Sometimes it’s a spirit of rejection that whispers to a mind, “You’re unwanted, unsuccessful, unworthy, unknowledgeable, unloved, unforgiveable.” 

If you find yourself, like me, putting your hands over your ears and saying to the Lord, “I can’t hear You!”…you’re in good company. Hence, so many empty ‘saved’ seats. Let’s determine that the next time there is an empty seat next to us at church, we take our hands off our ears and ask Him for whom it’s reserved….and what He might want us to do to help fill it. We might be one of several on a team or in a series, whom our Father is asking. Yet if no one else answers His call to roll away the stone, let it not be we who refuse.