Here am I...(Rabbit Ears, Part II)

When I hear the phrase Here am I, I immediately think of Samuel, who heard God whisper his name. [Samuel 3:4] It took three times for Samuel (and Eli) to realize that it was God calling him. However, I never remembered that Moses responded the same way when God called out to him. [Exodus 3:4]  I usually think of him as a reluctant and insecure prophet. However, at least he was listening well enough to hear God call to him. Before that time, Jacob was twice called out to by ‘the Angel’ and responded,  “Here I am.” [Genesis 31 & Genesis 46] Even earlier,  Abraham, when God called to him first to sacrifice his precious son of promise and then to refrain from it, also said “Here I am.”  [Genesis 22:1, 11] (I think I would have held my hands over my ears and wobbled my head, saying, I can’t hear you!)

Call and response.. All of these individuals responded (at least ultimately) with faith and obedience. Well, Moses...stalled quite awhile before agreeing to be ‘sent’. I think I identify best with Moses.  “Hey, God, I have a better idea. Why don’t you send my brother...yeah, send him. He’s a much better speaker. I don’t think anyone, especially Pharaoh, will pay any attention to me. I’d really rather stay here and tend the flocks, if you don’t mind. Yeah, Mikey will do it!” (Sorry, younger friends...it’s an old cereal commercial reference.)

I, like Moses, am intimidated by all the positively demonic attitudes of ranting and violent people, including friends, whose downright hatred for my beliefs is beyond irrational. I would rather hide out in my cocoon and plug my ears.  However, God has not stopped calling. What He specifically calls us to say and do will vary. But He doesn’t want our fear of man to cause us to pretend we can’t hear Him. “Lord, did You say something? I must have been distracted.”  Yes, by fear and panic. I just want to be content and cozy, Lord. Aren’t there other people whom You can ask to go out there and make a difference?  After all, I’m retired! And You know I hate it when people are mad at me.  Poor excuse? Yes, I remember You saying something about people hating me who hate You. But now people hate me who don’t hate you. They believe in you! Oh, right, that part about deception in the latter days....Ok. I am without excuse, aren’t I? Do I want to partner with You to bring people to You and have their eyes opened to Your Truth? To see the delusion they’re under? Yes, Lord. Yes. Even though the war within me rages to remain hidden away. The real tending of sheep is not for wimps, is it? Any Shepherd will tell of the courage required. Ok. Can I do it afraid, as Joyce Meyer says? Right, got it. As long as You’re with me, telling me what to say or do and when to say it. And also how to pray. You promised to do all that? Yes, You did, didn’t you? Rabbit ears? Ok....

Here am I. Send me.

Rabbit Ears

I love to have my prayer time on the porch and listen to all the birds, living in the trees surrounding us. I’ve wondered from which bird each call, song, or cry emanated. So I downloaded an app called BirdNet. I record the birds and then ask the app to analyze and identify the source, if it’s able. So far it’s identified about a dozen birds.  

The challenge in recording is to capture the quieter bird songs between the raucous calls of the crow and the scrub jay. This caused me to ponder what it is like for our Heavenly Father, with billions of voices calling out...some directly to Him and many just plaintively calling.  They don’t realize He hears their every whisper and every inaudible cry.

The Lord knows every one of our voices, as well as the number of hairs on our head.* He longs to have a two-way conversation with us. He hears the human equivalent of the soft coo of a dove at the exact same time as the unlovely cry of the raven. One does not drown out the other. In fact, He recognizes every individual dove, jay, towhee, swallow, starling, and robin as distinct from one another. You are not just part of a species and genus to Him, but rather a creature like no other. He hears every personality-filled call.

But do we hear His? Do we recognize the voice of the Shepherd amidst the cacophony of world events, social media posts, movies, television broadcasts, and conversations with friends and strangers? Do we listen intently amidst the fears, anxieties, dread, rationalizations, and even happy diversions of our minds?

When I was young, my mother called me rabbit ears. She and my father could be whispering 2 rooms away, and I would ask them questions about their conversation. “How do you DO that?” they would ask me. The Lord reminded me of this recently. 

I want you to have rabbit ears again, He said. 

What, Lord?, I replied with consternation.

Rabbit ears...remember? I want you to to listen so intently for me that you can hear me through all the noise and chaos of the world around you, especially when I seem far away..  Even through the fears and anxieties of your soul. It is vital now that you do, and even more so in the future. It will help if you turn off the secular external audio input. However, there’s no OFF switch for the internal voices, except through the power of My Holy Spirit. Tune those rabbit ears to My frequency and fine tune your reception. I AM above the circumstances in which you live, and you can be, too. But you must stay finely tuned.

Spend more time feeding yourself with the good food of My Word, by discerning teaching, and most of all by praying in My Spirit. Your rabbit ear growth comes from these...from My very Presence.  Live higher.  You will hear My whisper in your ear.

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My sheep listen to mu voice; I know them and they follow me.  --John 10:27

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care.[a] And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.    --Matthew 10:29-31

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You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain. ...

How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

--Psalm 139: 1-6; 17-18

Soul composition scale

Since before the quarantine, I’ve been trying to use weights and do aerobic exercise each day. As my birthdays increase, so do my weight struggles. I want to be strong and healthy for the last part of my race, and a sedentary life is a great temptation in retirement. My recliner is such a temptress.

I know having strong muscles helps in this regard, so I’ve been trying to track my fat vs muscle percentage using a body composition scale.  This tells me more of the truth than a scale that simply measures my overall weight.  The scale works by sending a low-power electrical signal through the lower part of the body. The signal passes through water and muscle faster than fat and bone, so it comes up with a formula to summarize your fat, hydration, and muscle percentages.

I was frustrated and discouraged this morning because I’ve been improving and regressing every few days.  It makes me want to just give in and walk to the Dunkin’ Donuts down the street. However, the Lord reminded me this morning that He’s more concerned with the fat percentage in my soul. He wants me to keep a perspective and focus consistent with His. Although He wants our bodies, His temple, healthy and strong, “a fatty heart is more concerning than a fatty body.”  A fatty soul can impede the signal of His Holy Spirit flowing in and through us to others.

When we get caught up making minor issues major ones...or we focus more on what is wrong with our lives than on our blessings...with our discouragement more than our victories...or we let an offense take up residence and root us in the cement of  unforgiveness...or we plop ourselves in the muddy puddles of regret...our soul composition makes it more difficult for the Holy Spirit to move through us in transforming ways.

Let’s make it our goal to become “lean, mean, fighting machines” in the spiritual realm, as well as in our bodies. We are called to be Warriors* after all. We may actually fight best in our recliners, if we’re praying in the Spirit while we’re there.  But no matter what area of our Trinity of Man is sidetracking us...body, soul, or spirit...let’s determine to “cast aside everything which hinders us”*  and impedes the flow of the will of God in our lives.  He’s waiting and excited to show us, including making use of household analogies.
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**Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. —Hebrews 12:1

*2 Timothy 2:3-4

“May my meditation be sweet”

I’m in the Psalms once again. After countless readings, I still find myself saying, “Was this Really always here?” Today I stepped into Psalm 104 and was so profoundly affected that it was like a drama unfolding before my eyes, and they filled with tears.  There is so much in this Psalm, that I could camp here for days. And I think I will do just that.  I want my meditation to be sweet so that I bless Him. Bless the Lord, O my soul! I want to see His creation with new eyes of wonder and awe and thank Him with great joy and rejoicing.

In a notebook separate from my prayer journal, I have been recording psalm verses under various categories, such as The Goodness of God, Who He Is, Joy, When in Trouble, Images of God, Praise, Testimony, Creation Praising Him, and Prayers for the President.  In some psalms, there are verses for all these categories....from Trouble to Praise.

In a previous post, Conception, I mentioned my attempts to draw scenes from Scripture and to depict the relationship with the Lord they encourage...the images of God they paint, and the intimacy that blesses Him.  How can I show Him covering Himself with light like a garment and stretching out the heavens like a curtain, or watering the earth or feeding us out of His hand...or filling the earth with riches and creatures? I can certainly paint in my mind, though my sketching skills be lacking.

Scripture adjures us to “read, mark, and inwardly digest” it. As it ‘goes down,’ it can sometimes burn like a fire, as well as bringing peace.  It can foment your soul, if you let it.  It can put you on your face, from which position you find Yeshua’s hand extended to lift you up.  As long as I have breath, I want to praise Him...truly, madly, deeply.

As we ask the Holy Spirit to stir us up, to inspire and energize us out of our spiritual and physical lethargies, He will be faithful to answer.  In this time of quarantine, it is easy to become sluggish not only in body, but in spiritual fervor. I have felt this inertia on both counts, this deadening of my spirit. Truly, it can be the exact opposite if we ask Him to wake us up and spur us to chase after Him, laughing and rejoicing. Tag, you’re it!

Pebbles and The Rock

Remember what it’s like to walk on a ‘beach’ of small rocks and pebbles? You’re always trying to keep your balance, as they move around under your weight.  If you’re wearing flip-flops, it’s even more difficult to remain stable.

This morning the Lord gave me that image to reflect where people are looking for their stability in this time of pandemic panic and uncertainty.  Relying not just on medicine, but on connections with other human beings has , for some, become the holy grail of ultimate value.  It reminds me of Christmas shows which tell us that Christmas is all about family and friendships.  It all sounds so good and warm and cozy, but its foundation is mush.

On this Holy Thursday, when devoted human beings denied and deserted our Lord, we realize again that even the best of human beings will disappoint, will fail in a test of faithfulness. We have all done so and we will do so again, despite our deep desire to the contrary.

Pebbles appear to be rocks, but you can’t trust them for stability. Only The Rock is solid underneath you. Those who don't yet know Who Jesus is, are looking for someone or something to provide what only He can.  What a great time to share with friends and acquaintances about the Rock of Ages.  

There’s an openness in people’s hearts right now, as they feel powerless in what seems like an unreal situation. And, indeed, all earthly circumstances are unreal, compared to the Reality of God’s Truth. As we’re tempted to just hunker down in our homes, let’s reach out of them like never before and take advantage of this Kairos time for drawing people to the King of Kings; the Lord of Lords; the Shepherd of our Souls; our Rock, Fortress, and Deliverer.   

Family is one of God’s greatest gifts, as are our friends. But we need to help others understand that “though  our father and mother forsake us, [He] will receive us. [Psalm 27:10]. That as it says in Deuteronomy 31:6-8, He goes with us and before us, and as Paul quotes this in Hebrews 13:5, “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. 

Humans with the best of intentions can be like a dry, bent stick when it comes to salvation in any sense of the word.  Or to return to the other analogy...seek to help those in your circle of influence not to rely on unstable pebbles instead of The Rock, or on warm, mushy ground instead of The Sure Foundation.  I’m asking God for courage to do the same.

The fields are ripe for harvest. [John 4:35]. Let not the workers be few. [Matthew 9:37]

Lying down

When was the last time you read...really read the 23rd Psalm? Better yet, have you prayed it, read it out loud, or turned it into a prayer of Thanksgiving?  Try speaking it, as if you've never heard it before.  Make it personal...from you to the Lord:

   “Lord, You are my tender Shepherd.  Because of You, I’ll never lack anything I truly need. You remind me to lie down on cultivated fresh, soft grass, beside Your restful water of life. You restore me inside and out...my body, my mind, my emotions. You have sealed Your powerful and comforting Spirit within me, where no one can ever take it from me.  I am Yours forever.

   When I am afraid or face attack from any enemy, in human or spiritual form, You care for me right there in the midst of it, right in front of it all.  Even when I walk through fearful times and places, You are with me; your protective rod and guiding staff give me comfort and reassurance that I need not fear. Your Truth overrides all factual circumstances. I need never fear anything or anyone, because You never leave or forsake me.

   You pour the oil of Your Shalom over my head and gently rub it into the infected and wounded places.  Your provision for me  is gloriously abundant, so much so that I can’t even contain it all, and the overflow floods out onto other people.Dear Lord, You are good, tender-hearted, gracious, merciful, and full of lovingkindness.  Your nature causes these blessings to even chase after me, when I am running in the wrong direction, looking to the world around me to still my fears and satisfy my needs.  Forgive me for looking away from the light of Your countenance to any idol of my heart.

   You suffered incomprehensibly for me, not only to give me abundant life now, but so that I could be with You, dwell with You, that we might never be separated from one another forever...and ever...and ever.....The vocabulary of chronology is totally insufficient to describe Your great promises, Faithful One.

   How can I ever thank you enough for all this? You tell me...Lie down; accept and receive; be thankful; and love Me back....  Yes, Lord.  Amen, so be it.

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"Goodness and grace will pursue me every day of my life...."  --Psalm 23:6; CJB
"Fear not, little flock, for the Father is pleased to give you the Kingdom."  --Luke 12:22

The Power of Conception

Most of us know by heart Paul’s instruction to be transformed by the renewing of your mind [Romans 12:12].  Recently, I’ve been listening to eye-opening teaching on this subject by people such as Barry Bennett (Conception in Your Heart); Andrew Wommack (series on Imagination); Duane Sheriff (Orlando o Gospel Truth Conference 2019, multiple sessions).  My own conception of this verse is now so much greater than before.  [See also my post, Ministering to the Lord].

The term imagination has been pretty much relegated to the realm of fantasy.  Their interpretation, however, based on the Greek and Hebrew understanding of the original text, involves transforming your mind by seeing what God sees, seeing what God says...envisioning His will for you and for His kingdom, whether through His written Word or His Rhema Word.  He wants us to turn our eyes from what we can see, touch, and hear in the natural world, and from our feelings and circumstances; and see, instead, the Truth beyond what our western world calls the facts of the situation.

Ever since I started listening to teachings explaining the power of Conception (in both senses of the word) , I’ve begun to see new insights in my daily Scripture readings, as well as in my prayer time. I’ve often stopped and tried to visualize the situations taking place in the Bible (see through the eyes of the participants, etc.). In fact, it has stirred up questions in me for the Lord. I’ll ask Him, “Why this?” Or “Why that?” or “How is this possible, Lord?” Or “What did you mean by this? I don’t
understand!”  I’ve found He loves questions; it means we’re truly delving in and trying to understand at a deeper level. Some days I don’t make it past a single verse in my Scripture reading.

As mentioned in a previous post, the word Yetser has been translated: frame, conception, imagination, and meditation.  When I didn’t make it past one verse and was trying to paint a picture of the statement or event in my mind, I was meditating, imagining, trying to conceive it. When we apply faith and belief to conception, we’re in a position to conceive (or give birth to) what God says and desires to become a reality in this physical world:  from Spirit manifested into physical reality.  His Reality, His Truth is so much greater than anything our ’unrenewed’ minds can conceive (in either sense of the word).  Ah, but when our minds are renewed and transformed by meditation on and conception of what He says, then we begin to see the fulfillment of what He promised:  “you shall do greater works than these...”; “all things are possible for those who believe...”; “you shall say to this mountain...”; “by His stripes you were and are healed...”

In a previous post, I encouraged us all to try to draw on paper what we’re trying to conceive, whether with stick figures or with artistic skill.  The Father loves the heart of what you’re trying to depict.  He isn’t concerned about the level of your artistic talent.  (Remember the pictures your children brought you?). Draw pictures of yourself with Yeshua, with the Father, with the Holy Spirit. Draw a scenfrom the Bible. Draw something beautiful from His creation and thank Him for it. Draw a memory of an encounter with Him (at any age). Create drawings of thanksgivings. Paint scenes of how the Word describes Him (your refuge, your shield, your strong tower, your delight, your Father, your shepherd, your mother hen; singing over you.  Look for images of Him in the Word and record them in a journal. Then gradually draw them one by one.  Trust me; He’ll love them.

Imagine people who are currently struggling: now imagine them (with faith and belief in your heart) whole, happy, and fruitful.  Imagine marriages, finances, health, and every other aspect of people’s lives, including your own, in a state of Shalom, in  wholeness in every sense.  Conceive, envision, depict, meditate on what God sees, wants, and desires to become manifest...and what He has already accomplished in the spiritual realm at the Atonement.  “It is accomplished.”  Not just for one day in heaven, but for now.


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If you’re interested in listening to the teachings referenced at the beginning of this post, you can go to YouTube and search the names of the people,  along with a search term  like “conception” or “imagination. If you have Roku, you can add Andrew Wommack Ministries channel to it. There you’ll find all his teachings, including the one on Imagination, as well as titles like God Wants You Well, Believer’s Authority, the Balance of Grace and Faith, Spirit, Soul, and Body, and many others.  If you have any difficulty finding any videos , please be sure to comment on this post  with a question,  or email or fb message me.  Don’t be offended if a video challenges your current understandings. They did mine, but I am utterly convinced, now, of their truth. Look at their fruits in massive signs and wonders taking place. (“By their fruit you shall know them.”). Personally, I am more interested in pleasing God than in guarding my own spiritual pride.)

Ministering to the Lord

In my January 30th post, we were exploring Chronicles, and I broached the subject of what it might mean to minister to the Lord as New Testament believers. So I’ve been exploring and asking the Lord what that really means. In some ways, it is akin to my search for what pleases God. [posts 11/8-11/13].

Personally, I am in what my friend Joan W. refers to as a time of  'betwixt and between.'*  In a new geographic location, having moved away from my previous ministry as worship leader (and occasional teacher) at a wonderful little 'manger' of a church, I am unsure how and where and what the Lord wants me doing, now that I'm retired from full-time work.

However, as I read repeated references to 'ministering to the Lord,' I heard the Lord say, "Why don't you focus on ministering to Me?  I enjoy your ministry.  I figured I must have made that up in my head, because why would the God Who created the solar system and universe upon universe need or want 'ministry' from little me...or from anyone?

The truth is, according to His Word, He is blessed by our loving on Him.  All of us.  Want to 'lead worship,' encouraging intimacy with the Lord by the music you choose?  Sing to Him, all by yourself.   Want an outlet for what you're learning from Him?  Tell Him how excited you are about what you're learning.  Want to create beautiful paintings of His creation?  Draw pictures of you and Him together.

I am a consummate stick figure artist.  Yet, God has been guiding me in expressing the love I have for Him (and He for me) through little sketches no one but He sees. We laugh together over them, but He isn't ridiculing my attempts. He tells me He enjoys my art.  He'll do the same for you.  (I found a really good eraser..not those awful ones on the end of pencils.)  He'll say, "Try it this way."

He's opened my eyes to what is around me so that individual elements in His creation almost vibrate before me as He calls my attention to them.  I tell Him, "Wow, Lord, that flower is such an amazing work of art!  Look at the detailing!  I want to draw that.  My efforts may be woefully inadequate, but my heart sincerely desires to express how lovely I find this world in which He lovingly placed us.

We take walks together.  Sometimes I forget He's with me, as my mind wanders around.  I tell Him I'm sorry I forgot He was there by my side.  I don't want to forget...ever.  Sometimes he directs me down certain streets so I discover hidden spots of quiet beauty.  He'll do it for you.

Sometimes we dance. He will dance with you as if there's no one else in the world.

Just let Him know you want to 'love on Him' in ways that please and minister Him.  He enjoys us.  He enjoys interacting with us, as true friends do.  Not everything is of cosmic import to Him.  He likes being with us, laughing with us, playing jokes on us, and drawing out the unique personalities, gifts, and eccentricities He created in us.  He likes to have fun with us.

Ministering to the Lord is, yes, praise.  It's telling Him how much You appreciate Him, not only for what He's done, but for Who He is. It's sincere and devoted worship. It's affectionate reverence.  It's pushing aside other demands to spend 'devotional' time with Him.  It's hungering after what He has to say to us, in both His written and spoken Word. It's loving on others in His Name.  But, most of all, I believe, it is getting to know Him more and more intimately, so that our lives are filled with ongoing interaction, spoken and unspoken, in joyful abandon to Who He is.

You might say, "I could never do those things you do.  It's just not me.  Well, just be you!  Ask the Lord to show you what He considers ministry to Him from you.  He only created one of you, and your experience with Him will be unique.  He doesn't want you to be anyone but you with Him.  But you might discover, when you stop predetermining what you can and can't do with Him, that He'll surprise you with a new form of Yetser.  [Translated in the Scriptures as all of these:  imagination, meditation, frame, and conception.]  Are you open to new conceptions as you minister to the Lord?
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*Betwixt and Between, by Joan Weller
** Here are some Scriptures referring to 'ministering to the Lord.'  I can't put them all here, or you'd never get through them all. 

Psalm 17:15  15 As for me, I will continue beholding Your face in righteousness (rightness, justice, and right standing with You); I shall be fully satisfied, when I awake [to find myself] beholding Your form [and having sweet communion with You].
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Psalm 16: 1 Keep and protect me, O God, for in You I have found refuge, and in You do I put my trust and hide myself.

2 I say to the Lord, You are my Lord; I have no good beside or beyond You.

5 The Lord is my chosen and assigned portion, my cup; You hold and maintain my lot.

6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; yes, I have a good heritage.

7 I will bless the Lord, Who has given me counsel; yes, my heart instructs me in the night seasons.

8 I have set the Lord continually before me; because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.

9 Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my inner self] rejoices; my body too shall rest and confidently dwell in safety,

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2 Chronicles 5:13-14 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

13 And when the trumpeters and singers were joined in unison, making one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and other instruments for song and praised the Lord, saying, For He is good, for His mercy and loving-kindness endure forever, then the house of the Lord was filled with a cloud,

14 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God.

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2 Chronicles 6:41  41 So now arise, O Lord God, and come into Your resting place, You and the ark of Your strength and power. Let Your priests, O Lord God, be clothed with salvation, and let Your saints (Your zealous ones) rejoice in good and in Your goodness.
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2 Chronicles 30:
21 And the Israelites who were in Jerusalem kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread for seven days with great joy. The Levites and priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with instruments of much volume to the Lord.
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27 Then the priests and Levites arose and blessed the people; and their voice was heard and their prayer came up to [God’s] holy habitation in heaven
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2 Chronicles 31:2 2 And Hezekiah appointed the priests and the Levites after their divisions, each man according to his service, the priests and Levites for burnt offerings and for peace offerings, to minister, to give thanks, and to praise in the gates of the camp of the Lord.
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2 Chronicles 29:27-28      "...the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets and with the instruments ordained by King David of Israel.

28 And all the congregation worshiped, the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded; all this continued until the burnt offering was finished.

30 Also King Hezekiah and the princes ordered the Levites to sing praises to the Lord with the words of David and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness and bowed themselves and worshiped.

31 Then Hezekiah said, Now you have consecrated yourselves to the Lord; come near and bring sacrifices and thank offerings into the house of the Lord.

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1 Chronicles 6:32   

32 They ministered before the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting with singing until Solomon had built the Lord’s house in Jerusalem, performing their service in due order.

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Exodus 40:34-35 Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC)

34 Then the cloud [the Shekinah, God’s visible presence] covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle!

35 And Moses was not able to enter the Tent of Meeting because the cloud remained upon it, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.

Ready to Jump On?

Remember those career days at school, where you could bring your parent in to share what he or she did for a living?  (In my school days in the 50’s and early 60’s,  it was pretty much just the dads.). This morning I was envisioning what it would be like to take my ABBA to school for career day.

Can’t you just picture holding his hand and introducing Him:  Hi everybody...this is my dad! He created the whole world and all the universes,  just by speaking! He keeps everything going, too! He is so good and kind and wise.  He’s the perfect dad. It might take Him quite awhile to tell you His job description, so maybe we should eat our lunches here in the classroom.  I’d like to say He’s just mine, but I know He wants to adopt all of you, too. So pay attention, everybody. He has the best job ever!

Are you proud of your Heavenly Father? Do you guard His reputation when people try to slander Him? Do you stand up for Him when His character is maligned? Are you more afraid of what others think of you than you are how God is regarded? I’ve had to ask myself these questions.

When people attribute illness and death to my Heavenly Father, do I speak up? When someone asks why He took a child or gave someone cancer as a teaching opportunity, am I quick to jump up and say, “Hey, that’s not my dad! He’s not like that! Don’t you say that about my daddy! He’s a good dad, a great dad. He would never do that!  [Obviously, He gives us mature ways of communicating that truth, but that attitude should be what rises up in us.]

As children, many of us were quick to praise and defend our earthly fathers, who were so very imperfect. Why do we not declare how good our perfect, Heavenly Father is, who gave everything for us so we could be with Him both in this life and forever? Why do we timidly stand back while even Christians slander him?  Is it because we’re uncertain about Who He really is and what He’s really like? Have we let doctrines and philosophies and circumstances dictate our understanding and replace our delving first-hand into His Word?  I know I have.

No more. I am seeking the truth about His nature as never before, and He, who always answers prayers for wisdom, has given me a seat in His Healing Academy of the Holy Spirit. I can’t get enough of these new understandings of His Word. Finally, after decades of setting certain Scriptures aside because I didn’t know what to do with them (“You shall do greater works than these....If you say to this mountain...”) my eyes are being opened to the hows and whys of what Jesus said.

Jesus didn’t say “...gotcha...just joking!” when He spoke those words. Neither does He toy with us and tell us to do things that are ridiculously impossible, although that’s what it had seemed like to me. There are people and ministries right now living out His statements with signs and wonders...massive numbers of healings, deliverances, resurrections from the dead...blind eyes opened, deaf ears hearing, the depressed freed, the addicted delivered, the paralyzed walking.  Greater works indeed! Yeshua doesn’t lie.

The proof is in the pudding, and you and I can enter in, if we’re willing to let go of our pride and be humble enough to learn.  To be more concerned about fulfilling God’s purposes in our lives than we are in our own comfort, or in leaning on our own understanding. To repent of being modern day Pharisees and, instead, say, “teach me, Lord!”  “I believe; help my unbelief!” “Show me my error. Let me see you as You really are. Forgive me for maligning Your character in my mind and heart and speech...and for being silent as others have done the same.  You are so Good. You want us well and provided for in body, soul, and spirit. You suffered and died not only for our sins to be forgiven, but for us to have everything we need for abundant lives here and now. We place ourselves in Your life-giving School of the Holy Spirit and say, ‘Lead us on!’”

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If you want to join the class in which I'm currently a student, try listening to any of these people (searchable on YouTube), who are living out Jesus' first century call:  Andrew Wommack, Audrey Mack, Barry Bennett, Bill Johnson, Randy Clark, Todd White.  The eyes of your heart will be enlightened, as mine have been, and you'll never be the same, as you follow where Yeshua will take you.  Remember, humble yourself...and He will lift you up....  If you think you already know it all (you've read it, studied it, taught it, heard it all before)...you won't be able to receive the truth of it, by seeing new insights into His Word.

• Barry Bennett:   https://youtu.be/zhaRZMM7YA8   [and dozens of other teachings]

• Panel at Healing is Here Conference 2018:  https://youtu.be/VJ-K6XlaHnc 

• Todd White, Heaing is Here 2018:  https://youtu.be/-6Aak2mT-lU   [fast forward in about 7 minutes]

• Audrey Mack, Healing is Here 2018:  https://youtu.be/7NjpqTOmUr8    (part 1); https://youtu.be/eTvAF57o_hc  (part 2)
• [see also Healing is Here Conference 2019, sessions 10 and 11 (fast forward in 1 hr, 15 minutes! for session 11)]
• 
  
• Andrew Wommack:  https://www.awmi.net/healing/ 

Continuing to learn from Chronicles....

As I continue on my journey through Chronicles, verses are popping out at me in a fresh way. This morning I read about God (through  David) setting up the duties of the priests from Aaron’s line,  and the Levites from the line of Moses.

The priests were set apart to sanctify him as most holy and to consecrate the most holy things, that he and his sons might burn incense before the Lord, minister to Him, and bless in His Name forever. [1 Chronicles 23:13] At first I was confused by the two hims in this passage. However I realized that the first was Aaron, the human High Priest, and the second Him was God. 

As New Testament believers, after everything changed with Yeshua (see yesterday’s post), we form a royal priesthood.  [1 Peter 2:9]. It is our assigned and glorious purpose to minister to Him and bless in His name.  Yeshua is our great High Priest, and He has called us all to fulfill the role of Aaron’s sons.

He has also called us to be Levite’s, whose duty was to oversee the work of the Lord’s house [1 Chronicles 23:4]...and to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise in the evening; and to offer all burnt offerings to the Lord.

Where David set aside the sons Asaph and of Heman the ‘king’s seer’ to prophesy with harps, with stringed instruments, and with symbols, now we are all called to praise and prophesy, as inspired by the Holy Spirit given us at Pentecost.  No longer do only certain people receive a word from the Lord. All of us who are open to the Holy Spirit’s work within us are given the privilege. How awesome that even the least in the Kingdom of God* is honored and called to praise, prophesy, 
serve, minister to God, and bless others in His Name. 

As we ponder these thoughts in the context of our daily lives, let’s ask the Father how we can better fulfill these roles to which He’s called us, as believers in His Name. Furthermore, let’s reorder the list above and place minister to Him as our first priestly priority.

What does it mean to minister to the Lord?  Stay tuned...
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*Matthew 11:11

Everything changes...

I have not read Kings and Chronicles anywhere as often as I have read the New Testament, or even other books in the Old, such as the prophets. But recently, my sweet daughter-in-law referred me to a passage in 2 Kings involving Elisha, in which he directed people to dig troughs in the ground to make a place to receive what God had for them. [2 Kings 3:16-20]

This set me on a path to read all of Kings and then the two Chronicles, which are so totally entwined. Once we make it through all the genealogy, we discover much treasure buried there. I had forgotten just how much.

The last few days, I have been reading about David. Today I came to the point where he took a military census, against the advice of Joab, the commander of his armies.  This upset God greatly. Why?  Because David was then relying on human strength for success. It was God who, despite situations of greatly inferior numbers, had brought the victories David had experienced.

Even after he repented, David was afraid to go before the Lord in the Tabernacle. He followed God’s direction to build a ‘local’ altar, but he did not have confidence to travel and come before the altar in the holy Tabernacle tent, itself. [1 Chronicles 20:30]

I was immediately reminded that everything changes with Jesus.  Even David, beloved mighty man of God with such a heart to serve Him, was unsure of his welcome after his sin.  Remember, even the man who touched the Ark of the Covenant to steady it, lost his life in the process.  [2 Samuel 6:1-8]

We, however, never have to be afraid or uncertain whether we’re welcome at God’s altar or at His feet. It’s all because of Yeshua. We may well be coming before Him with a great sin (or a long series
of ‘smaller’ ones) on our hearts. We may be thinking our sin is too great or we’ve repeated a sin once too often for Him to tolerate our presence. Yet Yeshua paved the way, now and forever, for us not only to survive coming before our Most Holy God, but to be encouraged and welcomed in His Fatherly arms. We no longer need fear death, or even condemnation, before the Throne. We’re welcomed as precious children, naughty though we may have been.

Yes, as a child of a Father Whom we love and desire to please; Whom we hate to disappoint; Who we want to be proud of us; we are grieved at grieving His Holy Spirit.  But we should never fear running directly to Him in our sorrow, never be uncertain of our welcome. Everything changes from Old to New....all because of Yeshua.

You, even if you feel least in the kingdom of heaven, are greater than David, greater than Moses, Elijah, Elisha, and even John the Baptist, whom Jesus called the greatest man who had ever lived up to that time. [Matthew 11:11]

Yeshua cancels every curse, from the Garden forward. He makes us righteous and worthy to stand before His Holy Father and receive His great and tender love. He stands in the gap as the Great High Priest and Intercessor for all who trust in Him. He sets us free from captivities of body, soul, and spirit. Everything changes with Him....how incomprehensibly wonderful is His gift to us.  Be sure to tell Him so this very moment.  And while you’re there, stay awhile.....

Need a good soak in the tub?

This is my first Christmas in this new season of my life. I can luxuriate now in large doses of quiet on a weekday morning, with no parameters looming. I’ve often wished to soak in the tub of the Holy Spirit’s presence and dwell in the reverence and holiness of the time of angels and shepherds, keeping the shopping world at bay while His Star shines forth onto the silent hillside of my heart .

Even so, my ‘get-er-done’ personality is tempted to jump up and accomplish various tasks on my to-do list. I have to say no to this Martha self and tell her to wait, while I participate in my Mary’s ‘better part’.  When one is soaking in a tub, the door is closed to everything outside it. So should it be in the tub of the Holy Spirit.  The light of God’s candle shines, the fragrance of lavender wafts in the air, the sacred music touches the deep places of body, soul, and spirit.

This morning, as I was remembering and longing for the holiness and intimacy of some church experiences past, Adonai reminded me that this exquisite intimacy is always available to me, no matter where I am. His habitation beneath His Canopy, His Tent of meeting with its canvas flap, is open day and night because of His gift of Himself as Emmanuel.

There is an old praise song whose lyrics say, “Commune with Me...beneath the wings of the cherubim...I’ll meet you there...commune with Me....” Whether woman or man, we are His Bride; He draws us under the bridal canopy as His own forever. As Babe, Bridegroom, and Mighty Savior, He is always Emmanuel, God-with-us. He longs for us to come with swift, expectant feet into His dwelling place, where we find He’s also chosen to dwell within us.

Emmanuel, God with us, is also God within us.   When we yield ourselves to Him in grateful abandon, we are encompassed by Him in such a way that we don’t even know where we leave off and He begins. Yet we revere Him as Holy beyond our understanding. That He paid the price for us to be wholly and completely His in the midst of His holiness, is incomprehensible but wonderfully true.

Let’s push from us, as my mother used to say, ‘the tyranny of the urgent’ and instead urgently run into the arms of His Holy Spirit. Let’s soak in the vibrant quiet of the Holy Night and all that He offers us because of it, rejoicing in the Gift of His all-encompassing Presence.