Being Poured Out Like a Drink Offering Page 69

There is a mystery in this world that cannot be understood with our natural mind.  There is knowledge that can be attained but not with the intelligence of human capacity.  There is a passage that leads to a sacred place but it is not of this material realm.  There is a door at the end of that passage that cannot be unlocked with a literal key.  The mystery, the knowledge, the passage, and the door are all spiritual in nature and NOT of human wisdom.  The scripture below delves into this eloquently:

“We have not received the spirit of the world
but the Spirit who is from God,
that we may understand what God has freely given us.

This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom

but in words taught by the Spirit,

 expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.”

1^st Corinthians 2: 14

I’m leading you into the spiritual realm using imagery and God’s Word so that you can absorb a recent spiritual encounter my husband and I had that contained irony at it’s core.  This moment-in-time encounter with coincidence presented a mystery wherein irony could not be the only cause.     

One morning we were reading our daily devotional together and going over how it applied to us specifically.  We were seeking deep understanding over typical human issues that plague most couples.  We were studying how the Holy Spirit works and surmised that we had not allowed the Holy Spirit to change us due to our individual strongholds.  We were searching out wisdom and had a time of prayer wanting to surrender our struggles to the Lord.

As we continued to talk I remembered a distinct prayer I had several months back and shared it with my husband.  It was an earnest prayer wherein all I had in front of me was a tub of water.  I pressed into the prayer, cupped a handful of water and sincerely offered it to the Lord. I was desperate yet empty handed, I thought.  I had never heard of a water offering yet shortly after that prayer the Lord led me to scriptures that discussed this type of offering and, as only God can do, He sharpened my mind with His teaching style using irony.  I passionately shared this with my husband trying to express the profound effect that prayer had on me and we continued with our reading.  He picked up one of my favorite devotionals called Streams in the Desert and said “Let’s read this one too.”  He opened the book to that day's date and was about to read it aloud to me…but I quickly stopped him.  I was prompted to point out that the Lord frequently speaks to me using that devotional and that I felt the Lord was going to confirm His presence to us in this very moment.  I told my husband to watch carefully because the Lord was going to show up in a profound way.  He opened the book to the page dated December 12th and began to read aloud and lo-and-behold the scripture at the top of that page was as follows:

“I am already being poured out like a drink offering,

 and the time has come for my departure.

 I have fought the good fight,

I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

2^nd Timothy 4: 6-7

The Lord shocked us both with His Spiritual presence and filled our minds and our senses with awe! It’s hard to share these types of spiritual encounters because they are so personal but I had to find a way!  I pray that you see that this seemingly ironic incident was the presence of the living, breathing Lord.  The timing and that scripture was sent straight from the Throne Room of heaven and it spoke volumes!  Some things that are beyond profound need to be acknowledged as otherworldly.  My husband and I were being God-taught and we both knew that the Lord was present in our heart, home and marriage for indeed His name is Emmanuel –God with us! 

“Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable his judgments,

And his paths beyond tracing out!
Who has known the mind of the Lord?

“Or who has been his counselor?”

“Who has ever given to God,

that God should repay him?”

For from him and through him, and to him are all things,

To him be the glory forever!

 Amen.

Romans 11: 33-36

Song Recommendation:
God with Us

By:  Mercyme

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05Y-Px39cm4 

The Great I AM Page 68

It’s Christmas time!  Literally, the World celebrates!  Here, at home, we decorate; we host festivals and enjoy festivities.  It’s a time for family!  We give gifts; we go to church.  We sometimes find peace-but many times we just feel pressure!  We unbox decor, purchase and write greeting cards, place gift orders, move through shops and crowds.  We’re living in the season and it’s meant to be a time of joy and holiness… but we bump into an unspoken emptiness; seeking good cheer- we press on!

Humanity can sense the deep meaning of the season but with the passing of time we forget!  We forget that this time of year is steeped in ancient traditions and beliefs!  We forget that this holy time is derived from ancient writings of the ancient Jewish faith that birthed prophesy whispering about a coming Savior!  Here is just one of those prophesies:

“For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given,

and the government will be on his shoulders.

And he will be called Wonderful Counselor,

Mighty God,

Everlasting Father,

Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and peace

There will be no end!

He will reign on David’s throne

And over his kingdom,

Establishing and upholding it

With justice an righteousness

from that time on and forever.

The zeal of the Lord Almighty

Will accomplish this.”

Isaiah 9: 6-7

This was written about 700 BC!

Two thousand Seven-hundred and Seventeen years ago!

Our modern-time Christmas season has been “accomplished” and firmly established by The Lord, Almighty! Remembering this brings holiness back to our December!

The genealogy of Adam is listed in Genesis 5.  As a child I wondered why this was so important.  Now, I understand that it graciously has to do with verifying prophesy and being able to look back through History and find truth; to find God! 

The genealogies of Israel are listed in 1st Chronicles 1:1 all the way through to 1^st Chronicles Chapter 8.  The first verse of 1^st Chronicles 9:1 says this:

“All Israel was listed in the genealogies

 recorded in the book of the kings of Israel.”

The genealogy continues in Chapter 9!  On and on it goes, leading us ...leading us…leading us to Truth; To Christ! Does this interest you during the Christmas season?  I pray it does!!

Let’s move from 700 BC  to approximately A.D. 60 or so (that’s 760 years)! In the very first book of the New Testament, Matthew Chapter One gives the Genealogy of Jesus- beginning with Abraham and moving through to King David - which is important because of the scripture, above, in Isaiah 9!  The genealogy continues all the way through to the lineage of….

“Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary,

of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”

Matthew 1:16

Let’s remember that God has stretched His Hand through human History to bring us this Christmas Season!  Our modern Christmas was carved and etched out through centuries of time, through the lives of hundreds and hundreds of people, through literal Kings, God’s prophets, scribes, and historians! We have all of this knowledge due to the meticulous  census-keeping of people from time-past and from our God, who made it so!  Interestingly, the reason Mary and Joseph were traveling and Jesus was born in a stable was due to a mandatory government census that was taking place: 

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree

 that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.

And everyone went to his own town to register.

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee

to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David,

because he belonged to the house and line of David.

He went there to register with Mary,

 who was pledged to be married to him

and was expecting a child.

While they were there,

The time came for the baby to be born,

And she gave birth to her firstborn, a son.

She wrapped him in cloths and

placed him in a manger,

Because there was no room for them in the inn.”

Luke 2: 1-7

The AWE of these details is what makes our Christmas season so holy! It’s what God has accomplished through the workings of fallible man that is breath-taking.  History has worked its way to December 2018 and still man rejoices over the birth of Jesus.  The Christ-child took His first breath then exhaled and an entire new way of life was birthed!  Let’s remember the reason for the season- for it ushers into the history books Jesus’ birth!  But, Jesus’ birth also culminates the story of life on earth and proclaims the return of God’s kingdom, as written about in Revelations Chapter 22 (the last chapter in the Bible):

Behold I am coming soon!

Blessed is he who keeps the words of prophecy in this book.”

Verse 7

“Behold, I am coming soon!

My reward is with me and I will give to everyone

 according to what he has done.

 I am the Alpha and the Omega,

 the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

Verses 12-13

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches.

  I am the Root and the Offspring of David,

and the bright Morning Star.”

Verse 16

Song Recommendation:

Mary Did You Know

By:  Danny Gokey

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2zybbNvK25Y 

The 23rd Psalm-An Exercise PAGE 67

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,

He leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.

He guides me in the paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk

Through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil,

For you are with me;

Your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

PSALM 23

A while back a friend shared this amazing spiritual exercise wherein you use the scripture above as well as the cadence and meaning of the words, which are a prayer, and then re-phrase each line using your own words so that it now expresses your most deep-seated understanding of God as the Shepherd and the protector of YOUR life.  In doing so you find an honest and deep perspective of your own heart! 

Here is my personal 23^rd Psalm:

“The Lord is my rescuer; I no longer feel alone;

He provides a place of security for me….

He tells me I am in safety.

He eliminates my fears.

He shields me from what isn’t right or just

Because he knows I need that protection.

Even though I live

In a world where people neither realize nor can meet my needs

I will be comforted and cared for!

For you, LORD, will never dishonor me!

Your protective instincts rise up to speak for me; you are my voice.

You tell me, and others, that I am valuable;

You mean every word. You shine worth

and lavish true friendship upon me;
My broken-heart overflows.

Surely the goodness of the Lord will protect me all the days of my life

And I will serve the Lord, my God-from now until forever”

This is the most honest you will ever find me and…. if you do the exercise it will probably be the most honest you will ever be with yourself as well.  In order to find the complete blessing of this exercise you must dig down to the deepest place of truth about yourself, and then pour it out in a prayer to our gracious Lord!

In that light, I must say: 

To those who know me and are surprised at the above writing-forgive me where I have hidden my weaknesses to you.

To those who knew me in college and never knew that I was a child of
Christ-forgive me for where I misled you.

To my childhood friends with whom I grew up with and those I now call close; some whom I may have hurt or disappointed…and some who have wounded me- forgive me where I failed you.

To my siblings-who I count as my closest friends; whom I look up to more than you will ever know; to whom I want to give the loyalty of my love-forgive me for the distance I’ve kept and the times I may have disappointed you!

To my parents-who are loving, faithful and true; gracious and blessed, amazingly perseverant and tenacious, strong and steadfast in all you do-including the extent you have shown me genuine parental love-forgive me for expecting more than your human heart could give and where I have disappointed you.

To my children who are gifts beyond measure and blessings I do not deserve; to those 3 humans whom I want to love and mother with  “perfection” but have fallen short - except by telling you about Christ-forgive me where I have failed you.

To my husband-of whom, I confess, I never give enough credit; who has a heart larger and more full of grace than I could ever possess; who is a wonderful provider, father, example, friend!  To a man through which God refined and redeemed my life in ways that are truly unexplainable on earth; to a person that is the most generous and simultaneously the most guarded person I know: who has taught me deep lessons and bruised my heart more than I thought I could take and yet filled it with more than I could have ever asked-and definitely more than I deserve-forgive me for where I have failed you!

To the Lord, MY God, my creator, mentor, confidant, and friend; On the day you open the Book of Life and seek the goodness of my heart that was never there; as you seek to find any redeemable qualities in me that I hid or abused-and though your holy eyes should find me totally unworthy thank you for the promise that you won’t! You have already looked at my human form, created in your image, and chose to mark me with a family seal that says I am accepted as your child!  Thank you for blessing me with an inheritance and a lineage that bestows value and worth.  No words of sorrow can change my earthly past but, with a heart that is in desperate need of eternal mercy, I ask that you forgive me for where I have failed you!”  Because of your grace, Abba, I know that all is well with my soul.

To the blog reader:  May the God of Grace and of the human race; of heaven and earth know you inside and out as well.  May He be THE steadfast hope to which you cling wherein you KNOW that He will GIVE YOU everything you need!  May you know His peace, which is beyond understanding, and may you know the grace of “this” type of parental nurturing; may your human heart, in every way possible, overflow with the grace, power and the love of our heavenly Father, God! 

RvH

To know the depth of the Lord’s love one must know scripture!  It is that simple! Here are a few passages that apply to this writing: 

“And you also were included in Christ

when you heard the word of truth,

the gospel of your salvation. Having believed,

you were marked in him with a seal,

the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit

guaranteeing our inheritance

until the redemption of those who are God’s possession-

to the praise of His glory.”

Ephesians 1: 13

“Because he loves me” says the lord, “I will rescue him;

I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.

He will call upon me, and I will answer him;

I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. 

With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Psalm 91: 14-15

“The Lord is gracious and righteous;

Our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the simple-hearted;

when I was in great need, he saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,

For you, O Lord, have delivered my soul from death,

My eyes from tears,

My feet from stumbling,

That I may walk before the Lord

In the land of the living.”

Psalm 116: 5-9

Song Recommendation:

Gracious Tempest

By:  Hillsong Young & Free

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ah0uydqMYhE