The Answers

Answers to some deep questions...

"Now may the God of peace...equip you with
everything good that you may do his will, 
working in us that which is pleasing in his sight."

Who equips you?  The God of peace
What does he equip you with?  Everything good
Why does he equip you? So you can do His will
Who works to make you pleasing to God?--God

Reader, the pressure is off! Grab this verse by faith
and run the race that is set before you!

It really is--all about Him.

The Eternal Covenant

As we continue to look at Hebrews 13: 20

"Now may the God of peace who brought again from 
the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great shepherd of 
the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant..."

Yesterday Glen and I pondered this with the Greek
open. However, I will not bore you with those
details!

Hebrews 9:12 spells out the eternal blood covenant:

"...he (Jesus) entered once for all into the holy places,
not by means of the blood of goats and calves but
by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal
redemption."

God secured an eternal redemption for us through an
eternal blood covenant--a covenant that was not only
instituted by God but is kept by God. This is awesome,
but have we lost the wonder of it?

OK, here is the hundred dollar question: Reader, have
you accepted Christ by faith but now strive to keep up
your end of the bargain by doing good works?
How is that working for you?

Jesus Speaks

Not long ago a young friend and I were meditating in
Heb 13:20. In the process I looked back at Ps 23 and
as I read it over I pictured Jesus on a hillside in Galilee
praying to His Shepherd Dad. Perhaps Jesus prayed
this Psalm many times as He walked through life here
on earth. Things came at Him fast the last three years,
but especially the last week of His life.

"The Lord is my shepherd...
I shall not want...
You lead me in paths of righteousness...
Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death...
I will fear no evil...
You Father, My Shepherd, are with Me...."

The "Word" speaks to God out of the Word. Perhaps
scripture was spoken as the Trinity talked together in
the Eternals before time began...

Reader, parts of this blog may stretch you a bit, but
it also may give you some new things to consider!

The Great Shepherd

Continuing in Hebrews 13:20,21

'...the great shepherd of the sheep...,'

Glen and I had a discussion as to whether the
great shepherd was the Dad or the Son. The
Greek indicates it refers to the Son. So, we find
that the Lamb of God is also the great Shepherd.
What does this great One do for us according to
Psalm 23?

He meets our basic needs for love, worth,
      acceptance, adequacy, and safety
He feeds and waters us--the pause that refreshes
He protects and leads
He provides the table in the driest of deserts
He fills our cups to overflowing--during lack
His goodness and mercy follow us
We shall dwell with Him forever!!!!!

Reader, you probably know this, but isn't it
uplifting on a Monday morning to review the
tenderness and merciful care of the great
Shepherd?

Peace and Power

"Now may the God of peace who brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ...

I tend to have an emotional response to the word
'peace'--passive, make no waves, avoid conflict,
weak. Have I been brain washed by the culture?
But, here we see that the God of peace calls His
dead Son out of the grave. It is not a spiritual
resurrection but a bodily resurrection including
an earthquake, a moved stone, a terrified guard,
and an empty tomb.

Dear reader, God your Father has the power to
call to life that which is dead. As Christians we
have experienced a spiritual transformation, but
scripture says: "If we have been united with Him
in a death like his, we shall certainly be united
with him in a resurrection like his." (Rom 6:5)
One day, perhaps soon, we too will experience
a bodily resurrection just as Jesus did.

May the God of Peace...

'Now may the God of peace...' (Heb 13:20)

The God I love and serve is THE God of peace. Can
you name another god who is called a god of peace?
In the greek it means, 'set at one again, quietness, rest, 
prosperity.'  In Hebrew the word is Shalom and means,
'to be safe, to rest safely, to be wholly well, happy, to
have good health, to be completed, to be at peace.'

'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace (shalom, shalom)
whose mind is stayed on Thee because he trusts in
Thee.' (Is 26:3)

I sit here drinking a cup of tea as I try to warp my mind
and my heart around this. I once heard a sermon, no, it
was four sermons, each lasting an hour, on this one verse.
The speaker, Malcolm Smith, had spent weeks meditating
in one verse. I spent weeks soaking up the message.

The God of peace dwells within me, you. He is our
resource for the whole definition of peace: In Him is
intimate fellowship; fullness of life. We are not fatherless.
We are not connected to a disconnected God. Glory!

Website:
http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com

A Good Word

At the end of Hebrews comes the most fantastic
blessing:

'Now may the God of peace who brought again
from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ, the great 
shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything
good that you may do his will, working in us that
which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ,
to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen'
(Heb 13:20,21)

I was just a little girl when the retired pastor took
the pulpit between pastors. Each week he would
speak this blessing over us in a deep confident voice.
It touched my heart and I can still hear his voice. I
met this man years later. He was old, unable to work,
depressed. He had lost his focus. He had forgotten
about that 'great shepherd of the sheep who worked 
in him that which was well pleasing in his sight.'

I need this word. You may need this word. So, I
will meditate on it and break it down and together
we will be strengthened to do 'that which is pleasing
in his sight.'

Himself

I came across this poem today and as I read
it through several times, I recognized deep
desire, but also I know that my flesh does
not agree. I wonder how you, my reader,
will respond to the poets cry.

"Oh, to be but emptier, lowlier,
Mean, unnoticed and unknown,
And to God a vessel holier,
Filled with Christ, and Christ alone;
Naught of earth to cloud the glory,
Naught of self the light to dim,
Telling forth the wondrous story,
Emptied--to be filled with Him."
P.G

Singing Psalm Thirty Six

Your steadfast love extends to the heavens
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds
Your righteousness is like majestic mountains
Your wisdom like the depths of the sea
And, You come to me,

Filling my life with your lovingkindness
I find my rest in the shadow of your wings
I eat my fill from the abundance of your
       household
And I drink from the streams of rejoicing
And, You are my King.

For with You is the fountain of life,
  in your light we see light.

Glory!

For Women Only

Since the post yesterday was something that men find not
very doable, I decided to go for broke and share another
post that will delight many women who read the blog.

When I was young, I had a great imagination. I loved to
imagine that one day a young man would sweep me
off my feet, rescue me on a white horse, marry me, and
we would live happily ever after. Well, a young man did
indeed come along and he did sweep me off my feet, but
living happily together all the time didn't even last through
the Honeymoon. We have very different ways of looking
at things and each of us was mostly self focused. Does
that sound familiar? It has been a journey.

Now, back to the hero on the white horse, the prince, the
castle, the happily ever after. Think of Snow White, and
Cinderella. Are they really Fairy Tales or is there some
truth that connects to us in the deepest part of our being?
Think of all the places in scripture that speak of the Bride
dressed in white, the handsome Groom, the Wedding, the
living together forever. Jesus even shows up on a white
horse! I believe that He will appear suddenly and sweep
us into heaven and so we will be forever with the Lord.
(Matt 24:44; 1Cor. 15:51; Eph 5:31,32; IThes 4:16-18
Rev. 19:6-8;11-16)

Papa--Thank you for sending a King to earth to defeat
evil and to make us pure and holy. I am so looking
forward to that day when He comes to get me and
sweeps me into his arms--His, forever His!

Come, Lord Jesus!

Dancing Through Life

Life as a dance. My Beloved takes me into His
arms, and leads me out onto the floor of life. He leads;
I follow. It is effortless--until I decide to take the lead!
In His arms I am safe. I trust Him. Sometimes the dance
takes me into the valley of the shadow of death. He
whispers in my ear as the darkness closes in. 'Fear not!
I will never leave you nor forsake you.'

His arms are strong as we float through each day. I
write a card to a sick friend, invite a woman over for
coffee, clean the toilet, polish the silver, cook a meal,
teach a class, work in the garden.

Dear reader, you get to pick out the dress, the dancing
slippers for the day. Just remember this--let Him lead!
( I realize you men may have a bit of trouble with this
one) 

What About Naomi?

Ah, yes, Naomi, the woman who arrived back empty,
with her daughter-in-law at her side. By the end of
the barely season, Ruth is married to a rich land owner
who gives her a son the following year. This makes
Naomi a mother!  Listen to what the women of the
village say to her:

"Blessed be the Lord, who has not left you this day
without a redeemer, and may his name be renowned
in Israel! He shall be to you a restorer of life and a
nourisher of your old age, for your daughter-in-law
who loves you, who is more to you than seven sons, 
has given birth to him..."

"The women of the neighborhood gave him a name,
saying, 'A son has been born to Naomi. They named
him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of
David.'"

The David mentioned above is King David from
whose line comes King Jesus, who is our Savior,
our Redeemer. Naomi was full the day she returned
to Bethlehem, so very full--only she was completely
clueless.

Reader, I sit here and wonder what I'm missing.
Surely I, too, am also clueless!

Check out my website:
http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com

The Unfolding

One evening Naomi says to Ruth, "My daughter,
Boaz is winnowing barley tonight at the threshing
floor. Here is what you should do." Blushing and
beautiful, Ruth responds by saying, "All that you 
say I will do."

Ruth goes to the threshing floor and watches the
man as he eats and drinks and where he goes to
lie down. When she is sure Boaz is asleep, with
heart beating, Ruth creeps over, uncovers his
feet and lies down.

Suddenly Boaz wakes up: "Who are you?"

"I am Ruth your servant. Spread your wings--
covering-- over me for you are a redeemer."

"May you be blessed of the Lord...It is true that
I am a redeemer but there is a redeemer nearer
than I...As the Lord lives I will redeem you."

Before dawn Ruth leaves.
Before noon Boaz has redeemed Ruth. 

"Boaz then takes Ruth to be his wife." (Ahhh)

What a story! Cinderella move over!

The story of Boaz and Ruth is a picture of Christ
and His Bride. (YOU) Our Savior became a Man
in order "to redeem us from the curse of the law by 
being made a curse for us." Can you say, WOW!

Reader, it is only four enchanting chapters filled
with tenderness, giving, serving, love, integrity,
redemption. Take some time this weekend to sit
and smile as you read it for yourself.

A Love Story

The Book of Ruth is a love story from beginning
to end. God's hand is in every twist and turn. He
brought the women to Bethlehem, the House of
Bread, at the beginning of the barely harvest. Ruth
goes out to glean and "just happens," to choose the
field owned by Boaz, who is a relative of Naomi.
Listen to their first conversation:

Boaz: "Glean from my field and not any other. 
Have I not charged the men not to touch you?"

Ruth: "Why have I found such favor in your eyes?"

Boaz: "All that you have done for your mother-in-
law since the death of your husband has been fully
told to me. May the Lord, the God of Israel, fully
reward you, under whose wings you have come 
to take refuge."

I love that last phrase. Actually, all the words of
Boaz make my heart sing.

Reader, don't you think that Ruth returned to
Naomi that day with a light step, a song on her
lips, and a blush on her cheeks? And I bet, they
laughed, really laughed together--well, certainly
a smile.

check out the website:
http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com

Full, Not Empty

Naomi felt empty, but, in fact, God has provided her
with a friend, a companion, a daughter. Ruth,
Naomi's daughter-in-law, left everything and went
with Naomi to a land unseen, to a people unknown.
What was it about Ruth that she was able to give
herself in this way to an unhappy, bitter woman?
Ruth had found Naomi's God:

"...Ruth said to her, 'Do not urge me to leave you
or return from following you. For where you go I
will go, and where you lodge I will lodge. Your
people shall be my people, and your God my God.
Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried.
May the Lord do so to me and more also if 
anything parts me from you'"

Naomi returned to the House of Bread, the house of
plenty because God gave to her, a daughter. Naomi
was, in reality, full, not empty.

Reader--What is the blessing that stands next to
you, but which is invisible to your eyes? 

Desolate, Without Hope

I am currently reading through the Bible chronologically,
and I today I finished the four chapters of the book of
Ruth. I had something else in mind for the blog but it
will have to wait. I am undone.

This small book opens with Naomi, her husband
and her two sons moving from Bethlehem, the house
of bread, to Moab because the famine is great in
Israel, and they had no bread. Naomi lives there ten
years and in that ten years she loses her husband and
both of her sons--there are no grandchildren.

Naomi is left empty, desolate, without family, without
hope. Listen to her cry:

"Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara, for the Almighty
has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and
the Lord has brought me back empty. Why call me
Naomi, when the Lord has testified against me and the
Almighty has brought calamity upon me?"

Dearest reader, have you been there? Are you there
now? Everything you hold dear is gone. Has iron
entered your soul? Is all hope gone? Not a shred of
faith left? Do you feel that God has left you, or worse,
that God is against you? Then journey with me through
four short, but packed, chapters of Ruth.

Check out my home page:
http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/index.php

Oh Glorious Day!

Easter Sunday was gloomy, cold, rainy...
But today, today is sunny, brisk, the air
washed clean. Jake and I walked past
stirring chickens, lambs lying in a green
pasture, a satisfied horse, a canal flowing
full with water. The ground was soft
beneath my feet--a bit muddy actually.

As I walked I hummed a little tune.

'Up from the grace He arose...
He arose one morning from the dark domain,
Now He lives forever with His saints to
      reign.
He arose!
He arose!
My Jesus Christ arose!'

Because He lives I can face tomorrow.
Because He lives all fear is gone.
Because he lives I will live forever!

Oh, glorious resurrection!

Betrayal

In Luke six, Jesus prays all night and then chooses
the twelve including Judas, 'who became a traitor.'
Did Jesus know Judas was the man? The disciples
were fooled to the bitter end, but not our Lord.
'Truly I say to you, one of you will betray me.'

Tell me, reader, what level of anguish, of deep
suffering entered into Jesus as He watched his
friend, his companion of three years, run out the
door? This was an inside job--family.

Last evening the focus was on Judas, but I found
myself pondering the phrase in Philippians 3:10,
'The fellowship of his suffering.'

Paul says we need to know the power of his
resurrection before we can truly enter into the
fellowship of his suffering. How else can we
handle inside betrayal except through Him?

Oh, Jesus, thank you for giving us an intimate
glimpse into your suffering. You are one of us,
for, 'You were despised and rejected of men; a 
man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.'
Because you are my resurrected indwelling Lord,
I can overcome the fallout of betrayal!

Go into stories and read the story of the very worst
betrayal. That of a mother towards her daughter.
'Quicksand'
http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.php

Conformed

'... that I might be made conformable unto his 
death. 

The Greek defines it as dying with Christ:
To become like i.e; to assimilate; to become
conformed unto, to receive the same form as.

So, I was crucified with Christ, but now I have
a choice as to whether or not I will walk it out.
It sounds like absolute surrender and unreserved
obedience--to Him.

Papa, This walk makes little sense when
viewed from most perspectives. To go down
is to go up; to lose is to gain; to yield instead
of fight. Lord, I have asked so often whether
to resist or surrender. We are definitely to
resist evil, but most of my life really has to
do with the surrender part.

Reader, do you see that you are not your
own for you were bought with a price?
Your Papa God wants you to lay down
your rights and expectations and let Him
be Life through you.

Check out the latest story
http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.php

Fellowship of Suffering

"That I may know Him and the power of his
resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering..."

OK, what does the word 'fellowship' mean? It
means: 'A joint interest; companionship; association
of persons on equal terms; the state of being
together.'

Equal terms, companionship, a state of being
together--with God--in suffering????

Papa, I hate to suffer. I turn down the AC; I raise
the heat. I avoid conflict. I moan and groan over
being misunderstood. It is death to me. I want to
explain, fix, heal. Jesus did not shy away from his
humanness but in every way He was tempted as
I am, yet, He laid it all down; became like one of
us. He shared our suffering so He could have
fellowship with us, with me. But, what if I refuse
the path laid out before me which includes suffering?
Well, I will know about your Son, but I won't know
Him intimately. Suffering deeply ties us together.
Lord, I am not yet at that point of letting You call
the shots in this. It is hard for me to surrender, to
truly surrender.

Check out the new story whose theme is suffering
http://www.hisvictoriousindwelling.com/stories.php