Breaking New Ground: Page 110

A change of season is just around the corner.  With all that this year has brought us, a cool change will be a great relief.  Thankfully many of us can’t wait for sweater weather but for some a simple change in temp won’t help them weather through right now.  Humbly said, sometimes circumstances are so crushing and life presses in so tightly we can’t get around our intense frustration and pain and we wonder what to make of it all.

 This is where I have found myself of late. I’ve been astounded at all that is taking place in  this world.  Prayer seems to be the only possible solution for what ails us.  With any problem that arises in the life of a Believer, we need to recognize that an inner cry of the heart, through prayer, and the spiritual seeking of intervention, through trust in the Lord, is what should propel us to find hope during life's pressures.

 Speaking of; for months now, I’ve been listening to a song on repeat knowing that it held a message for me but I couldn’t put my finger on exactly what that was.  Sometimes it just takes the right season to be able to say “Ah-ha”.  Here are a few lines from this song:

 

“In the crushing and the pressing-

you are making new wine.

In the soil- I now surrender;

 You are breaking new ground.”

 

Beautifully written, this is saying to get somewhere new we must live through the pressures of change.  There are many of us that know this truth too well. We can take this particular application into every area of our lives and hit the apply button:  maritally, emotionally, financially, mentally, spiritually and even nationally.  Yes, as a nation, this is deeply applicable.   

 Let's apply this together by digging deeper: 

Lately, the faithful and unsure alike have been asking this question, “What in the world is going on?”  If you‘re an astute traveler of earth you have stumbled upon this question more than a time or two.  It is from this perspective that I write this page! 

During this particular season the above question seems inevitable and begs for an answer.  As a true believer of the one-and-only God, who is the designer of all seasons, I know that great change is in the wind and it isn’t due to autumn blowing in.  The Lord is breaking new ground in this country as well as in every beating heart of humanity in order to cultivate something new.   Actually, I believe he is making something old new again; such as a desire for freedom and a heart for patriotism; however, it is truly how you look at these circumstances that will determine your harvest during this season. 

 What I do know with certainty is this: 

 

"I have revealed and saved and proclaimed--

I, and not some foreign god among you.

You are my witnesses," declares the Lord,

"that I am God.

Yes, and from ancient days I am he. 

No one can deliver out of my hand.

“When I act, who can reverse it.”

Isaiah 43: 12-13

 

Faith allows me to trust this powerful scripture.  Wisdom allows me to see the truth of it.  Obedience propels me to bow to God’s authority and awe-inspiring hope sees PRAYER as the answer.  This is what I hope for you as well. 

 Indeed, our life-style is being shaken and loosened and as we live through the crushing and the pressing we find our selves in the soil of circumstance and wonder how we got here.  How is one thing…but what’s next is the key issue.  I’d say it’s time to surrender to God's authority and then do everything to push through the tilled soil and rise up with new forms of courage; for the love of God, for the love of this country, for faith in God who makes all things possible  and even for the banner of freedom that encourages people of all nations; the American Flag. 

 The cry of my heart is this: “Too many are ashamed of the country God established.”  Too many are joining forces with evil to bring this country and it’s people to the ground.  Don’t be one of them, for it will be the believers of God who understand that we are to bow in surrender to Him alone, and therein find protection and the supernatural power of victory as we watch God move and work this out for our good and the good of our nation.

 It is in the soil of these circumstances, these very moments of spiritual surrender, that we gain the wisdom and knowledge to change our earthly perspective and agree with God’s hierarchy…. then spiritually admit that our current troubles are simply the breaking up of new ground. 

  RvH

Definition of “Breaking new ground”:

To do something that is

 different to anything that has been done before.

Cambridge.org

 

“Sow for yourselves righteousness,

 reap the fruit of unfailing love,

 and break up your unplowed ground;

for it is time to seek the Lord,

until he comes and showers

his righteousness on you.”

Hosea 10:12

"For (even the whole) creation (all nature)
waits eagerly for the children of God to be revealed."
Romans 8:19

 

“Now to the King eternal,
 immortal, invisible,
 the only God,
be honor and glory forever and ever.
 Amen.”

1 Timothy 1:17

 

Song Recommendation:

New Wine

By: Hillsong Worship

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ozGKlOzEVc

The Counsel of the Lord: PAGE 109

“The counsel of the Lord stands forever,

The plans of his heart from generation to generation.”

Psalm 33:11

In quiet reflection let's cast our mind's eye to past generations in remembrance our family and friends that are no longer with us. It is comforting to know that the counsel of the Lord was present and available when they walked the paths of this earth. 

Let's also envision the future and imagine the next generation of loved ones that will bring important meaning into our lives.  It is amazing that the Lord’s plans will unfold and His presence and Word will be with them also. Now, bring your thoughts back to here & now: Past, present and future are accounted for in the Scripture above that tells us that the plans of the Lord flow through all generations. Yeshua’s heart, the heart of God, is present in all circumstances and His plans stand firm, forever.  Not mine and not yours. His!

To elaborate: One morning, while sincerely worrying about this world's current problems, "Psalm 33:11" popped into my minds eye, out of the blue. I had no idea what the scripture actually said but what I did know was that I was living inside anxiety about our country's current condition.  You see, my emotions had gotten away from me regarding the events that are still unfolding in front of our eyes. I began to perpetually worry about what is happening to my society, my government, my generation and consequently, my life! I was living outside any form of control and frantically wanted to know what my future held on planet earth. 

Through Psalm 33:11, God, set me straight and boldly told me that these concerns are not mine to carry. The fears of my heart needed to be settled with the truth that the plans of God's heart will be carried out in this generation, as well as the next. God let me know that the weight of the world is too much for me to carry and that I could not worry enough for the entire planet.   As a word of comfort....neither can you. 

That day, I needed clarity. I was gazing back and forth from our current circumstances to past generations remembering the literal world wars that had taken place in the name of this thing we call Freedom! I wondered if we, as a people, were doomed to repeat the past.  Knowing that I needed a wake-up call, God graciously, literally and spiritually did just that. He woke me up to His truth found within that one pivotal scripture and simply said “My Word is firm: The heart of my plan flows through this generation...and the next, and the next.  I’ve got this.”  Well, that is my interpretation of Psalm 33:11.

Truthfully, I had to step into faith to just look up this verse but, when I did, I knew that the message was strategically timed, purposely delivered and specifically for me. Through this scripture, the weight of the world was taken off my shoulders and I was truly relieved. Here are additional scriptures from Psalm 33 that give us a more complete understanding of who is in control:

Verses 4-5:

 “For the word of the Lord is right,

And all his work is trustworthy.

He loves righteousness and justice;

The earth is full of the Lord’s unfailing love.

Verses 6-9:

 The heavens were made by the word of the Lord,

And all the stars by the breath of his mouth.

He gathers the water of the sea into jars;

He puts the deep into storehouses.

Let the whole earth fear the Lord;

Let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

For he spoke, and it came into being;

He commanded, and it came into existence.”

Psalm 33: 10 & 11

 (The message from the Lord to me that morning)

“The Lord frustrates the counsel of the nations;

He thwarts the plans of the peoples.
The counsel of the Lord stands forever;

The plans of his heart from generation to generation.”

(emphasis mine)

(This is a message to the citizens of the World)

“Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord—

The people he has chosen to be his own possession!

The Lord looks down from heaven;

He observes everyone.

He gazes on all the inhabitants of the earth

from his dwelling place.

He forms the hearts of them all;

He considers all their works.”

Verses 18-22

“But look, the Lord keeps his eye on those who fear him—

Those who depend on his faithful love

to rescue them from death 

and to keep them alive in famine.

We wait for the Lord;

He is our help and shield.

For our hearts rejoice in him

Because we trust in his holy name.

May your faithful love rest on us, Lord,

For we put our hope in you.”

Yes and Amen!

Song Recommendation:

Yeshua

BY:  Jesus Image Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ivUb1K0B0zE

“Yours is the kingdom. Yours is the power.

Yours is the glory forever, Amen.”

Valley of Dry Bones PAGE 108

Introduction:  The intention with each of my writings is to call your attention to scripture in order to show you who God is, what He has done and what he can and will do! “Lord, make it so”. 

_______________________________

The scripture below is a passage that has always intrigued me.  Before reading further, please put on your metaphorical 3-D glasses and envision the words happening before your very (spiritual) eyes:

Ezekiel 37: 1-10

‘The hand of the Lord was upon me,
and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord
 and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones.

He led me back and forth among them,

 and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley,

bones that were very dry.

He asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?”

"I said, O Sovereign Lord, you alone know.”

Then he said to me,
“Prophesy to these bones and say to them,

‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord!

This is what the Sovereign Lord says to these bones;

I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.

I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you

And cover you with skin;

I will put breath in you, and you will come to life.

Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

So, I prophesied as I was commanded.

 And as I was prophesying, there was a noise,

 a rattling sound,

and the bones came together, bone to bone.

I looked, and tendons and flesh appeared on them

 and skin covered them, but there was no breath in them.

Then, he said to me: “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man,

 and say to it, This is what the Sovereign Lord says:

Come from the four winds, O breath,

and breathe into these slain, that they may live.”

 So I prophesied as he commanded me, and breath entered them;

they came to life and stood up on their feet—

a vast army.’

Wow!  I just love the line, “… they came to life and stood up on their feet--a vast army”.  This visual is amazing; a resurrected army whose dry bones are full of life and breath again; the very breath of the Sovereign Lord! 

This passage gives us a cinematic view of what our God can do!  In any and every way, He can take what is dead and breathe life into it once more.  Our dead dreams, our dead marriage, our dead hope, our dead hearts….even our dry, dead country can receive the breath of life again.

Ezekiel was a prophet around the year 597 B.C.. One of his key writings says this:

“For I will take you out of the nations;

 I will gather you from all the countries
 and bring you back  into your own land.

 I will sprinkle clean water on you,

and you will be clean;

I will cleanse you from all your impurities
 and from all your idols.

  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;

 I will remove from you your heart of stone

and give you a heart of flesh.”

Ezekiel 36: 24-26

As we understand it, these words were fulfilled in May, 1948 when Israel became a nation again, after being absent from the scene for 2600 years! Christians take it seriously that Israel is God’s chosen people.  Therefore America is her ally!   What does this mean for us personally? That we serve God who is sovereign; what he says matters and what he says goes.

 During this unprecedented time in American History it feels as if our country no longer has breath or life; for our freedom, the heartbeat of our way-of-life, has flat-lined.  Many wonder if our economy can be revived and survive this- but this country was founded by the same Sovereign Lord of Ezekiel’s day.  For great purposes many miraculous events took place and the United States became a beacon of freedom to this dark world and the blessed home of the free and the brave.  The Lord can breathe life back into this land just as he did for the dead, dry bones on that valley so many centuries ago! 

Regarding the here and now: Perhaps God has been working on American hearts, to bring us back to what is important; to a more purposed life-style where family is front and center…where our slowed-down lives seem more peaceful…where the heart of the home now has a heart-felt heartbeat and our lifestyle is no longer a stone cold obligation but is seen for what it is- A great Privilege. 

What I do know is this: Our near-future has been set in motion by the greatest commander the world has ever known; our Lord God.  If God can revive an ancient, vast army, that had long lost their battle, then he can do the same for us. When He does, may we know and recognize that He, indeed, is the Lord who commands an Army of Angels and controls the fate of ALL. 

“The Lord thunders at the head of his army;
 his forces are beyond number,
and mighty is the army that obeys his command.
 The day of the lord is great; it is dreadful. Who can endure it?”

Joel 2:11 NIV

“Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered.

 “Those who are with us

 are more than those who are with them.”

And Elisha prayed,

“O Lord, open his eyes so he may see.”

Then the Lord opened the servant’s eyes,

And he looked and saw the hills full of horses

 and chariots of fire all around Elisha.”

2 Kings 6:16-17

Song Recommendation:

Rattle

By:  Elevation Worship

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xrAdbH28gIg

Revelation Be Heard: PAGE 107

Rise up. Be strong.

Keep the faith. Just hold on.

Listen to God. Trust His Word.

Remain quiet. Revelation be heard.

Though we have faltered-we can heal.

Hope is strength.  Hope is here.

Prophecy is a ripple that carries on...

and God has got this in more ways than one.

Keep the faith. Keep standing strong.

Believe and keep believing-that it won’t be long.

Change is coming. It will not delay;

a release of freedom in revelatory ways.

God puts in power whom He decides.

He ordains our days allowing new things to arrive.

God has patience.  He is waiting on us…

Dominion is ours but He must abolish the curse.

God has a plan and this was a part…

of a change that is coming – a change in our hearts.

Seek what you will but I seek the Lord.

He is arisen and He is in charge!

He is doing a new thing, do you not see it.

A higher power’s in charge; do you perceive it?

History and prophecy flowing through the air

Changing is coming- Let us Beware!

The scroll will be opened just as He said

The One who is worthy putting earthly Kingdoms to bed

He will bring rulers and princes to naught

And things will work out just as they ought!

Written by: RvH

Word Play Definitions:

Ought:  To be morally right

Revelatory: Revealing something hitherto unknown.

Prophecy: A prediction

Relevant Scripture:

Then the Lord replied:

“Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets

so that a herald may run with it.

For the revelation awaits an appointed time;

It speaks of an end and will not prove false.

Thought it linger, wait for it;

It will certainly come and will not delay.”

Habakkuk 2: 2-4

“See, I am doing a new thing!

Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.”

Isaiah 43:19 NIV

“He brings princes to naught

and reduces rulers of this world to nothing.”

Isaiah 40:23

“The prince of this world now stands condemned.”

John 16:11

“Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne

 a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals.

And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice,

“Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth

 could open the scroll or even look inside it.

 “Then one of the elders said to me, 

‘Do not wept!

See, the Lion of Judah, The Root of David, has triumphed.

He is able to open the scroll and its even seals.”

Revelations 5: 1-3 & verse 5

Song Recommendation:

Is He Worthy?

By:  Chris Tomlin

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkRiYsTN7KY