The end of 2011

I sit here before the computer with nothing to write.  I think my brain has gone into overload as i go over the events of 2011. Nationally, globally, personally, it has been quite a year! Then I peer into the year 2012 and it is an empty page holding the promise of more challenges but also the sweet experiences that brighten our days. Fortunately we live out all our days one moment at a time; that is all we have. We cannot go back and re-write the past; the future is yet to come.  

Papa, I thank you for this past year with all of its joys, sorrows, victories, and yes, failures. All has been an invitation to trust You and to find You faithful. One of the small things I have especially appreciated is how You have helped me find things that I have misplaced. How is it that the God who takes care of the Universe and everything in it, cares enough about me to show me where I have put something? I love it!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Walking in the flesh

I have a perfect example of what happens to me when I try to do it right in my own strength. Today Glen and I were out shopping and he was doing something differently from the way I would have handled it.  While I am waiting for him I am saying to myself:
 "I will not mention this."
"I don't need to say anything."
"It is so silly. I won't say anything."
Well, he did something else that was not to my liking and I protested.  Everything I had decided not to say came out. It was at this point that I realized how the whole situation was out of my control. Not once did I turn to Papa and say that I was over my head and would He help me. It was such a little thing.

I think that God orchestrated the whole drama to let me see myself and just how silly I can be.  I love it!  He is so down to earth with us.  We take ourselves far too seriously.  And, it makes a good story for my blog!

Receive: Peace WITH Others

“Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”  Matt. 5:9

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to Himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation.” 

II Cor. 5:17-19

This extension of peace horizontally is not passive.  Oh no! God is for peace. Relational peace. He is the first peacemaker. I think about where it is hard to extend peace, reconciliation:  To neighbors, family members, enemies, co-workers, between races, between generations, toward the unjust.  But the Christ within me says to me, “i AM your peace.”  So, we are back to the beginning.  We receive in order to give!

Papa, I am a new creation and have been given the ministry of reconciliation. I receive peace and so am given the tools to pass it on. The whole thing is much deeper than just getting along with others. I make a choice to let God’s resurrected Life flow out of me to others; to share the message of reconciliation.

Receive--the peace OF God

This is what Jesus said to His disciples the night before He died:  

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." Jn 14:27

Peace--freedom from agitation, anxiety, fear.  

But it is more than freedom from; peace brings quietness and rest of heart.

The world does not have access to true peace. 

True peace for those who are Believers is the serenity that is untroubled when the oceans roar as financial systems collapse, when nations prepare for war; when our personal worlds fly apart. 

Peace is a choice.  

Papa, In this Christmas Season, I am so grateful that Jesus came to us as the Prince of Peace. He indwells me as peace. In times of great stress--even the stress that comes to me during THIS season--I can turn to You and receive peace by faith. You say, “let NOT your heart be troubled. Let NOT your heart dwell in fear." I always have a choice. I give You my fear and anxiety today in exchange for Your peace.

Receive-- Peace WITH God

As I move from 2011 to 2012, I find the world in turmoil yet God has much to say about peace.

God makes peace with me in that He moves toward ME and does not require any activity on my part.  Two scriptures put this into perspective for me:

In Col 1:21,22 Paul says, “And you, who were once alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, He has now reconciled in His body of flesh by His death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before Him.”  

I was completely hostile to anything pertaining to God.  DIdn’t want Him; didn’t need Him.  But, He moved toward me!  Jesus brought me into reconciliation with the Father through His physical death on the cross.  He now presents me as holy, blameless, above reproach before Him.  Nothing in this verse says anything about going to church, baptism, prayer, or living right--not that there is anything wrong with these things, but nothing I DO will ever make me right with God. God did it all! 

Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.  

Rom. 5:1

Papa--I receive today the peace that comes from being reconciled to You through your precious Son. I receive it by faith. You are so extravagant!  I give you my nothing for your everything.  Loving You today.

JESUS

Swaddled at birth

Swaddled in death

This is our Lord!

God Wrapped in a Blanket

Jesus,

Loves pure light

Shines from the heart of God

Into this Holy dark Night

Swaddled in cloth

Placed in a cradle of wood.

Jesus,

God with us

    Blood,

      Tears,

          Rending of flesh

Sorrow poured out on a wood tree.

The light of the world,

Swaddled in darkness

For me; for me.

Jane Reeves

Receive--A Hiding Place

David says in Ps 18, “I love you, O Lord, my strength. The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 

He is my I AM--my present shelter, my true hiding place.  He says to me:

"Jane, I AM your strength

I AM your rock

I AM your fortress

I AM your deliverer

I AM your God

My Rock in whom I take refuge

I AM your refuge

I am your shield; the horn of your salvation

I am your stronghold.”

“Papa, today, right now I receive You as my I AM, a very present help in trouble. I exchange my weakness, my vulnerability, the sense of homelessness, for Your complete sufficiency. When I got Jesus, I got everything! You ARE my hiding place. I don’t need to wait until Christmas Day to unwrap a place of safety. ‘I love you, O Lord, my strength.’”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goxRioEGrH4  My Hiding Place

Receive--The Father’s Heart

My earthly father did not choose me, but my heavenly Father did!

Ponder the following scripture:

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons. And, because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts crying Abba Father! So, you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.  Gal. 4:4-7

Nothing in this verse implies distance--an old man with a long beard who sits in heaven uninvolved, uninterested in his creatures on earth. Oh no, this verse implies intimacy, sonship to the living God. He is now Daddy, Papa.  He chose me!  He loves me!  We talk together; He shares His heart with me and I share mine with Him. He who is God, is in fellowship with me through his Son, Jesus.  Truly, it blows my mind.

Papa, I love you!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7IjQYza7jk  A Child of God

Receive--Joy!

That Holy night, shepherds are out in the field watching over their sheep. I can picture it:  A fire, above which hangs the coffee pot; stars twinkling against a velvet dark sky; shepherds lying around the fire on the hard ground thinking about so many little things such as the sheep that keep wandering, the mortgage and their lack of money, the sick child at home, fractured relationships, the tax that hasn’t been paid. Suddenly the darkness is made incredibly bright by an angel saying to them the most outlandish things! I sit here and imagine their thoughts: 

A baby has just been born?  

He is lying in a manger wrapped in rags?  

This baby is a Savior, Christ the Lord? 

It is a cause for joy, for rejoicing all over the world?  

And if that is not enough suddenly the sky is filed with thousands of angels all singing about the baby. Wow! Just when you least expect it, all heaven comes down.

Father, Jesus is my joy NOW. No matter what the season, He is joy! Joy dwells in me. May this joy bubble up and out to others who dwell on this planet at this time, those whose hearts are failing them with fear about so many things. 

Yes, “Joy to the world the Lord has come!”

Two Choices of a great carol!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=68j6Ceof8QQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5hj518Iugk

Receive--Light

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them light has shined.  Is. 9:1

Little lights shine from our Christmas tree; candles flicker on the mantle of the fireplace. These are but a poor reflection of the One whose birth shattered the darkness. The babe who came 2,000 years ago and who declared Himself to be “The Light”, has brought light into my darkness. I received Him as a gift from my Heavenly Father many years ago.

Papa, How grateful I am to You that You sent us your only Son as a mere babe to overcome the darkness engulfing our world. I am pierced anew by your lavish gift to me in the person of your Son. I receive Him in a fresh way this Christmas season. Enlighten the eyes of my heart to clearly see the hope to which I have been called. Jesus is the light of the world; He is my light and my salvation.  

Light of the World You stepped down into darkness.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2nLyfzBfKw  

Christmas is about Receiving

What an odd statement. I thought that Christmas was all about giving.
I think about this and as I do, up comes a verse! 

For unto us a child is born,

Unto a son is given.  Isaiah 9:6

Why do we need this child?

Why was a Son given? 

Who is this child? 

Verse one of Isaiah 9 gives a hint on why THIS child is needed:  

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; 
those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shined. 

The darkness is great and something is needed and so God gives a Child who becomes light to those who live in darkness. The trouble with walking in darkness is that it becomes familiar.  Those who walk in darkness don’t even notice this darkness without light.  God gives the gift of light but a gift that is is given must be received; welcomed. Presents do us no good if they remain wrapped. I have experienced going from darkness into light. God desires all to understand that they do walk in darkness if they have not received God's gift which is Jesus, the light of the world.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TN5BaOGTmGs  For unto us a Child is born.

All Things

For of Him and through Him and To Him are all things, to whom be glory forever and forever.  Amen.  Rom 11:36

For by Him all things were created...all things were created through Him and for Him. He is before all things and in Him all things hold together.  Col 1:16,17

In Him all the fulness of God was pleased to dwell, and through Him to reconcile to Himself all things whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of the cross.  Col 1:19,20

Of Him--All things

Through Him--All things

To Him--All things

By Him--All things

For Him--All things

Before--All things (before creation)

In Him All things hold together

In Him is all the fulness of God

Through Him comes reconciliation to Himself

All things whether on earth or in heaven

Making peace by the blood of the cross

Papa God, your Son is pretty awesome.  NOTHING is left out of “all things.”  I can understand how Paul worshiped by saying, “In Him I live and move and have my being.” (Acts 17:28) I bow before You with the same words. “I live in You, and in You have my being.”  Thank you that Jesus your Son makes peace by the blood of the cross. Through that cross I am fully reconciled to You. You are before me, in me; You work ALL THINGS for me in accordance with your will. You bend toward me in loving embrace and I can rest; truly rest.

Incomprehensible

God dwells outside of time. He is at the beginning of time and at the end of time--at the same time.  He has no mass.  He is neither big nor tiny.  He has no dimension.  He is not long, or short, fat or tall.  He is Spirit who has neither beginning nor end; eternal. He is incomprehensible and yet it is His desire that we know Him!  The One who dwells in the Father; the One who created heaven and earth; the One who is The Word--Jesus--became flesh and dwelt among us. He has made the Father known to us. 

“If you have seen Me, you have seen the Father.” Jn 14:9

Papa, words simply do not describe your greatness, your majesty, your eternalness. So much about You that I cannot get my head around, but my heart sings when the storm comes and the wind blows; when I walk in the meadow in the spring; when I see the birds in flight over the water; when I wake up to a golden moon slipping toward the horizon. All of creation shouts of a loving creator. Then I meet You in the pages of a Book as I encounter Jesus in every line. He is “the exact image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.”  And YOU LIVE IN ME!

Cookies and Conversation

We gather together; our words easily flows to the “business of life”…jobs, kids, schedules, gift buying, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, parties and programs. And then we realize… the Advent season is upon us! And so the conversation takes a turn and we redirect our talk to what PEACE ON EARTH actually means to us. What a good question! We can’t buy it or gift it! Will there ever be a time without war, famine, pain and sickness? That is easily answered due to the life experience we all have had both within ourselves and in those around us.  

Does this take the rosy blush off the season? As we converse we all agree that it doesn’t. Rather it puts the joy of the Redeemer back into it! The babe in the manger came to bring new life, new beginnings, reconnections and, yes, PEACE in the midst of “the business of life”, as well as eternal peace. Though born a baby he grew, taught, was crucified yet rose again on the 3^rd day. That is what we lean our faith on! That which we celebrate now - the Christmas story - was only the beginning.  

We are satisfied with cookies and challenging conversation. And so we leave and go our separate ways. We ponder…Peace on Earth. Then one gets stuck in the snow; has a deadline! Another goes home to a child with a fever of 103. And yet another gets a “pink slip”. PEACE?  But we are leaning on Jesus’ words: 

        “My peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you. I do not give it as the world gives.”

A priceless gift… 

                                                                                                                                             By Naomi Plate

I Must Have Love

I MUST HAVE LOVE

Love of my heart, my stream runs dry

O Fountain of the heavenly hills

Love, blessed love, to Thee I cry.

Fill all my secret hidden rills.

Waters of love, O pour through me;

I must have love; I must have Thee.

Amy Carmichael

The Missing Son

Today I was thinking about the Prodigal son.  As I was pondering the story (Luke 15:11), it dawned on me that the Prodigal never ceased being a son.  The “extravagant” one was asking his dad to disown him when he asked for his inheritance early, before death. The Father gave his son the inheritance but he did not disown his son. Instead, he continued to love him--passionately. The Father watched for him daily. When he saw the son coming, the Father ran to his son, threw his arms around him and said, “welcome home, my son.  It is time to party!”

Papa, I have missed this all my life.  The PRODIGAL never ceased being the son of his Father.  Neither do the prodigals of this generation cease to be your sons and daughters.  Not one is lost.  This story is a picture of your heart:  The waiting yearning heart of a Dad.

Tucked into the Vine

Jesus said in John 15:5:  I am the Vine; you are the branches.  Whoever abides in Me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from Me, you can do nothing.

As I sit here pondering this I see the vine as the Tree of Life.  This Tree/Vine has branches in all of the redeemed--fruit bearing branches.  Each of us is a walking cluster of grapes giving forth life to an empty, desolate planet as we go about living each day.  But, am I responsible for producing the fruit. NO! The fruit is formed out of abiding not working. In fact it is only by staying in the Tree/Vine that we can do anything.

Papa, what you are asking of me is impossible. I want to go forth and slay dragons; satisfy the needs of my brothers and sisters.  I want to look good in the eyes of others.  I want to be noticed and affirmed. I,I, I. Yuk! It seems to me that abiding in the vine is pretty passive and lazy in its appearance. I am asking you today to teach me all it means to abide--it is against my human nature. But I believe that what you are saying in this verse is truth and that abiding is activated through faith.  I give you my nothing today--in exchange for your everything!

Two Kingdoms

...giving thanks to the Father who has made us fit for sharing the portion of the saints in light, who has delivered us from the authority of darkness, and translated us into the kingdom of the Son of his love:  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins...           Col 1:12,13 Darby

The first thing I notice is that the verses are in the past tense:  has made, has delivered and has translated us into another kingdom--in whom we now have redemption.  It is the Father who has made us fit through the redeeming work of his Son.  The scripture shows two groups of people.  No other groups are mentioned.  Just two.  The first group is living under the authority of darkness, and the second group is living in a kingdom of light and love.  Both groups get dressed in the morning, eat breakfast and go about their daily routine.  Both groups are made up of singles, of marrieds; the healthy and the sick; the rich and the poor.  Not only that but neither group may be aware of which kingdom they reside in.  It is not obvious to them, necessarily, nor to others.  Both kingdoms are part of another dimension and are invisible to the human eye.  The point for me as I read these verses is that once I was part of the kingdom of darkness, but then at a specific time I was transferred into the Kingdom of light.  But do I believe this deep down, really believe it?

My dear Papa,    These two verses are only part of one sentence...  I think I could spend days on it.  The past tense brings me back to what your Son did 2,000 years ago, and how I received the truth of His sacrifice for me; at which time I was transferred from darkness into light. As usual, I cannot get my mind around it. My senses are so aware of what is happening in my physical world and it is hard to change gears and contemplate a dimension that feels out of reach.  Paul grasped it so it must be possible for me also to perceive it and live in it now.  Yes, to live in it right now.  

My Weakness for His Strength

The latest, and the last book that Michael Wells will ever write, came to me in the mail yesterday.  The cover said:  My Weakness for His Strength--Volume one.  It startled me to realize that he had planned several books in this series.  Mike went to bed and to sleep one night about eight weeks ago--and woke up in heaven--his time on earth was finished.

He dedicated the book in this way:

To God who does much with little

more with less

and everything with nothing.

Galatians 2:20--Again!

I am crucified with Christ and no longer live, I, but Christ lives in me.

These words, “Christ lives in me” have been rolling around in my head for the past day or so. By whose life do I live when I get up in the morning? According to this scripture I live by the Life of the One who dwells in another realm.  So, while I walk around in my earth suit in the physical realm, my true life comes from another dimension. I live in two dimensions at once, just as Jesus did when He walked this earth. Jesus said that He could do nothing apart from His Father. While He lived “here,” He was connected to “there.” When I get up in the morning I can choose to live out of the natural based on what I see and understand to be real, or I can choose to live from the Life that is in me, the Life that comes from another realm.  

Ah, Papa, this is a great adventure we are on. I cannot make this stuff up. You are tying together something I read here with something I have read there. This verse that has been somewhat confusing to me is beginning to make some sense.  I still do not know how to live out of your life but I have a feeling it is something that happens moment by moment. But first, I have to believe that You have come to live in me which connects me continually to that source of Life that is You. Thank you for this incredible relationship!  I love you so much.

Crucified with Christ

I want to revisit this verse for it is the theme of my website.

Darby wrote in 1890, "For I through the law, have died to the law, that I might live to God." (not FOR Him.)  He goes on to say:

"I am crucified with Christ, and no longer live, I, but Christ lives in me; but in that I live in the flesh, I live by faith, the faith OF the Son of God, who has loved me and given himself for me."  Gal 2:19,20

How do I unpack this verse?  In very small bites!  The word for Crucified in the greek is "stauroo" It means to "be crucified WITH."  It denotes union, companionship.

Romans 6:6 says, "knowing this, that our old man has been crucified WITH Him, that the body of sin might be annulled, that we should no longer serve sin."  (Darby)

Eph 1:4 says, "According as He has chosen us IN HIM before the world's foundation, that we should be holy and blameless before Him in love; having marked us out beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ to Himself."  Darby

Eph 1:11 again uses the words "being marked out beforehand"

The thing that pierces me to the core is that, I was chosen in Him, marked out beforehand.  Before what? The foundation of the world.  So, I was in Him before creation.  I was in Christ when He died on the cross and so perished with Him.  I live but not as before. Christ lives in me and it is out of His life that I live my life. I live by faith, the faith of the Son of God.  It is not out of my faith.

I am complete in Him.  Complete!  It leaves me breathless, undone before Him.

Dearest Papa, you marked me out beforehand for adoption through Jesus Christ.  You marked me out unto Yourself.  You chose me before creation to be holy and blameless; then you provided the means for that by the crucifixion of your Son.  I am even now, a new creation. What can I possibly add to that? Out of death has come LIFE!  I am fully alive, complete.  I ask you to give me more revelation of this truth, empower me to walk out of who I am:
"CHRIST IN ME, THE HOPE OF GLORY!"