Remember that your Goals and your Dreams, are Not the worlds dreams........

Mini Challenge #1, part 1: (a letter to my young self.....)

Hello, Rainah.  I see you are very busy with your dance.  Your joy in learning and growing shows.  Your hard work will pay off.  Not necessarily the way you might expect, but in ways that matter the most, so just keep pressing on!

Keep being more and more attentive, patient, quick to work, quicker to give it your all, ready to wait for others to have their turn, ready to lead out, ready to be last, quick to encourage others, especially the weak, ready to say you are sorry fairly quickly (which you do when you actually know what you have done wrong - and, oh.... wouldn't it be nice to always know? but you won't, so just try as hard as you can.....).  Be ready to oil your feathers so false criticisms will roll off your back.  You are already usually quick to do that too, but you also need to be quick to realize when fear or jealousy are at the root of the criticism.  Watch for that.  It can help you to try to bridge the gap between you and those who fear you or are jealous of you.... Doing so will bring you much peace - a peace that you can share with others who love peace too........ Then, work on building relationships with those who love peace.  Those are the best relationships to have, because those people are not only extraordinary, they are a safe haven when life's storms get rough! 

Keep in mind that the criticisms from your teachers are not always spot on.  Don't let their concerns turn you from your path.  Realize that sometimes, their concerns arise because of their own inabilities, not your own.  If you haven't found the answers you need today from the mentors currently present in your life, or from the research which you have available to you today, don't. give. up!  Keep seeking the truth that will set you free!

If you have set backs, so you can't achieve your goals according to the worlds time tables, remember that your goals and your dreams are not the world's dreams.  You might need to find a safe place to save and protect your dreams for a while, but when you get past the set backs, know that it is still alright to unfurl the banner of your dreams and start pressing on again!

You are so in love with beauty that it could well be said that you cherish beauty; yet you are not focused on who is most beautiful, most capable, or who can help you get ahead.  While you wouldn't say so quite yet, what is growing in you is a sense of the power of beauty - the power to change lives for good.  You love the celebration of beauty, not the flaunting of ability, which is the most lovely frame for beauty's truths to shine.  Others will realize this of you before you do.  In the meantime, don't listen when some around you denigrate you because you seek to grow in your ability.  Your ability is important because it is a tool to help you share the truths which beauty can build into the lives of others.

While you do not yet realize the power of the spark of life placed in you, one day you will realize that it is right and good to (sometimes) stand in awe of that spark of life in you --- which is the best part of who you are.  Why?  Because you did not place it there yourself!  It is a created gift!  That spark of life has been infused with a beauty beyond what you can begin to imagine or believe.  Oh, and, by the way, that faith that you have in others' spark of life?  Open your eyes quickly so that you can begin to see how vital it is for you to believe the same about yourself.

You are willing to honor authorities - do more!  Love them!  Still, it is amazing that you are willing to lay aside a dream for a season when there is no mentor available to you who can guide you safely - which is wise beyond your years.   Continue to grow in wisdom, as it will help you move forward in life even when there are road blocks and delays in your path.  Indeed, only truth can carry you through, no matter what others may think of you, not just when you are young and hoping to establish a solid foothold on life, but even later, as you press on to see how much of a centurion and beyond you might become.

Live everyday like your last, but with a mind to making any New Tomorrows with which you might be blessed fuller than Your Today.  Your Today is a gift placed in your hand from the Divine Hand of providence - a gift from outside of yourself - a gift which you should cherish - and a gift which you should share with others.  Every Tomorrow which you live to discover, while still a gift from the hand of providence will also be, in great part, a gift that you gave to yourself in many ways -------- so be careful in how you prepare that gift today ---- and prepare a gift worth receiving yourself, so that it will be a gift worth sharing with others.

How do you see......... God? --- Hebrews 9:24, Isaiah 12, John 10, Genesis 22:1-14

In the fracturing?  oh! yes............ there is so much of that.......  More and more I hear the words tumbling out of my heart and out past the reach of my lips - - again and again.....:

"We live in a broken world."

He called out to us and said, "Despise not...... Despise not the least of these!"

But each of us knows down deep, that we are each the least of these.......  Yet we are all despised........ and each of us in our own turn, we despise......

And in the despising and being despised, and out from the despising and being despised, the fracturing was begun...... and the fracturing continues, ........ more fracturing day after day.... for out of the despising arises......... the offense........ and out of the offense......... all is hindered....... all are hindered........ from coming to Him........

But that is not a fracturing He is willing to leave to itself........

And so He whose love does not end........ who does not despise though He is despised........ He moves to end the fracturing, to establish the place of healing........

And that's where we might begin to see the clearest glimpses of the mist of His shroud....... His Holy shroud......

The beauty of His holiness........... has a heartbeat.......... a heartbeat of love....... a True Love that could not be conquered....... a True Love that by dying another's death conquers all.........

?.... By dying.........  Aye, because True love conquers even death........  In conquering death for Himself, He conquered it for his bride!

And as the earth shuddered and broke in despair when the purest of all hearts stood still.......... and became quiet.........  It was then that only living blood was finely sprinkled on the mercy seat......  - - no one saw it done....... but it was the most holy thing ever to grace this world.........  And the Holy of Holies was never the same again.......

Yes, the veil was rent!  But...........

The walls did not fall............

And now, this week, when He asked me to drop to my knees and ponder why the walls did not fall....... when this astonished heart kept asking Him how this amazed heart could know  ---- How could the heart of this broken child give answer for the intricacies of His handiwork?  ...... But He asked again....... and His words echoed back to Him - but not void.....................

While listening to the echoes ....... it was heard again!  What was it?  Oh! It was His heartbeat again.....  His heart!  Beating again and again and again and again and again!  For True Love truly does conquer all.  True Love even conquered death.  The heart of True Love could not remain stopped...........

And that's when He took this aching heart back.......  back in a flashback........ back in time......... back to the gate of the tabernacle........

And standing back in awe, looking in through the gate - where the one, the only, the singular veil, the only way in........ the Dalet....... The Door ------ opened ......... the light of hope clearly glowing inside......... glowing warmly and welcomingly....... the light of His promise of so long ago.........  the light of the promise of providing Himself a lamb.............   the light of hope held out to a broken people........... a people utterly fractured...........

Yes, The Door opened to the people........ to the fractured, weary, broken people..... and in the brokenness, they began to see the beauty of true love......... reaching out to heal........

So they saw the hope!  And in the midst of that hope, He called to them - - - to enter His gates with Thanksgiving! and they entered His gates with thanksgiving and praise............  that they may see Him!

But how could they dare to come before the Holy of Holies......... without their own heart stopping - with no hope of life again........ unless they came before the mercy seat for others........... and not only for themselves............

But who can stand before such holiness when we are, oh!, so... fractured............ who can do such a task?  It is fraught with utter danger...............

So He called on only One to finish the work............. but while we, in brokenness waited for Him....... one by one........... one would dare to to answer His call, and to come before the mercy seat.......... utterly unworthy, but in hope, coming on behalf of others............ while everyone else prayed for mercy upon mercy upon mercy, not only for themselves, but also for that one........  and also for that One!

..........

But when He came....... When He came to that Holy place...... When He came with that Holy heart.......... When His heart was breaking for us........ When He was torn for us.......... When He was broken for us........?  Then who prayed for the one coming to sprinkle precious, pure lamb's blood upon the mercy seat?

He was so despised............ So rejected........ So offended.......... So hindered from gathering Jerusalem as He so longed to do.............. to be in their midst....... with them!  But, alas, .......... He was sent out from the midst of them instead...............


And who prayed for Him?


Ahhhh!  But who lifted Him up!?!


The one who loved Him........ who loved Him forever ago......... who loves Him still.......... and who will ever love Him forever and ever......... with an undying love!!!!!  Who knew Him as holy long before any created one knew Him or called Him holy!

The Father who must surely have felt the piercing in His heart of hearts!  Certainly that beloved Father must hold that blood which was let out for others as ................  Holy, Holy..........

Worthy of service in the Holy of Holies..........


And now, with His most holy and precious blood sprinkled upon the mercy seat........ blood poured out when His heart skipped ---- to a stop, .............. for us..........

And now, with His most holy heart renewed! .......... still aflame with love for us, with His most holy heart beating in heaven yet again ..........

Those of us from a world of brokenness; Those of us who are ourselves utterly broken; Those of us who are...... fractured?

Those of us in desperate need of hope?

Now we dare to enter His gates with victorious thanksgiving!  With victorious thanksgiving and praise!

And what do we see upon entering the gate?  What do we see in the warm and welcoming light of true hope - utter hope - which brings comfort to every weary heart that enter?

We begin to see a little..............

A little of the glory of His majesty.
A little of the glory of His goodness.
A little of the glory of His sacrifice.
A little of the glory of His love.

And we begin to see.........

A growing sense of the travesty.
A growing sense of the deadness.
A horrid sense of the depth of vice.
The horror of the characteristic.......  of...........

...........us.

And if it were not for the light, our hope would utterly fade.  But as our eyes become accustomed to the light of His hope, we sense the Spirit of the Sanctuary.........and we see........ yes, we behold......... everywhere we turn............. the power of His Testimony.........

His Testimony of......

The Way.....
The Truth......
The Life......

The way of lowering one's self for others.........
The way of not being 'as God'........
--Rather than lifting up one's selfs for one's self........
--Seeking to vault ourselves up as God........

The truth that love bears one another's burdens.........
--Rather than loading another with our burdens..........

The life that comes by giving one's life for many.........
--Rather than using up the life of others for one's gain.......

And on and on it goes..............

.............

And in this we see the unity of the Father and the Son and the Spirit........
And now, we are finally drawn in by the beauty of the holiness and purity of His sacrifice.......
Drawn in now.......... no longer afraid........
Drawn in........towards the holiness.......... towards the holy place.........

Drawn in............  And we begin to weep with joy, knowing He will dry our eyes!  And we sing the Song of Isaiah.......

O Lord, I will praise thee: 
though thou wast angry with me,
thine anger is turned away,
and thou comfortest me.

Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and not be afraid:
for the Lord Jehovah is my strength
and my song;
He also is become my salvation.

And in that day shall ye say, 
Praise the Lord, call upon His name,
Declare His doings among the people,
Make mention that His name is exalted.

Sing unto the Lord;
for he has done excellent things:
this is known in all the earth.

Cry out and shout,
thou inhabitant of Zion:
for great is the Holy One of Israel.......

...........in the midst of thee!!!!!

Cry out and shout!
For great is the Holy One of Israel.........!!!!!!



Into the dwelling of the Most High!

Drawn to the heart......... of God

Alive! Raised Up! Together! LGG: Week 1: Ephesians 2:6-7; Genesis 1:27; Ephesians 2:1-10

Ephesians 2:5-7  But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.

Our God, who is rich in mercy, has indeed made us who were dead alive together with Christ!

What amazing grace that proclaims!   ......but that was not all He did!!!!........

He raised (us) up together!

*******......and............*****

He made (us) sit together in the heavenly .... in Christ Jesus!

Amazing.......... My mind cannot quite wrap itself around all of that heavenly togetherness....  How could anyone here on earth really begin to grasp that?  It's other worldly!  Still.......... Whatever that is, it must be amazing!  (more on that in a bit.....surprising bits, that is.......in the meantime.....)

Praise His Name!  Praise God Who is Rich in Mercy!

...........

Just be still and know.......  Be still before God!  God Who is Rich in Mercy! Oh! He sent His Son to die......... to die.......... so that we might live!

In order that we might have Life, and that more abundantly!

So, while it is good that my mind knows these things (at least in part)......... do I live Life more and more abundantly?

...........

It's time to live more of Life ...... each. and. every. day!  So..........  How do I do that?

What is The Way?  Where is The Way?  Do I know the answers to those questions fully enough?

What is The Truth?  Where is The Truth?........  The Way and The Truth ..........  It is time to find out more....... much more about whatever this thing is......

.........this thing called The Life!

...........

So what now?  Really.......  So, ........ like........ well.......

Who really knows what else to do? ...........

Our mind might say something like, "Let's simply say our Hallelujah's and be done with it, right?"

After all He said He gave us life (past tense).  He said He raised us up (past tense).

And He has..... but am I walking in all he means me to walk in?  In all of that 'life more abundantly' kind of living that He ....... well, that He died to share with us!

My mind might be quick to say:

'Yes, I've been (somewhat) changed already.

'What more of that?

'He also said that He made us sit.  What more could there be.....???

'Besides........  Again........

'This is all past tense...... He already did all of...... all of whatever that is...... for us!  Yeah!  That's it!  He did it ......... for us!  And....... again...... He made us sit, right?

'It's a done deal.  Relax!  ........ right.........., right?'

...........

But wait, is there more? and.... should we take this for granted?

What is it to be fully alive?  Really, think about it a bit.....

Is it to be:

In a spiritual coma maybe? That would be 'alive', wouldn't it?

.....to be........ Spiritually handicapped maybe? That would also be 'alive', no?

So let's ask again:  What is it to live?  What is it to live..... in the moment to moment -- moments....... what is it to live The Life?  To be IN the moment...... to be IN...... The Life?

....... I don't think I've begun to scratch the surface of it all.

Now, if I am honest, I can admit humbly that.............

I have begun to live..... And what's more........ at least in my mind, I do seek more life.

To be more specific, the spirit in me has indeed begun to live.   That life force which only comes from him? ...... that life force has indeed been birthed in my spirit!  In my spirit?  It's kinda cool...........

But is there more?  And............  Should I find....... you know....... Should I find even more?

Really, should I learn about more of life, and.. ...

Like......... well...... finally moving on to other questions worth asking....... that are all related to The Life......

What is this thing?  Raised up?  Raised up together!?  Raised up together with Christ!?  .......and........  Does even my mind know enough about that, let alone my feet and hands?

And whether or not I know enough about that... am I living what I know about...... about being raised up together?............

And........... oh!..... more questions......

What is this?  Made (to) sit together in the heavenly....... in Christ Jesus?

I don't know about you, but by now I've rather noticed that this world is a broken place, and it seems very much as if chaos, suffering, pain, death, and destruction are all about us!.........

Worse yet...... chaos, suffering, pain, death, and destruction......... they all....... all of them......... break. my. heart. every. day!

How is it, then, that we are 'raised up together with Christ', and yet more.... 'made to sit together in the heavenly........ in Christ Jesus'?

What all can this mean?  At least, how much of that can we understand while we are here on earth?  Is it just a matter of faith,.... or is there more to it that the great Hope!? ..........and.............

Even if one does find the answers (the real answers) to those questions (or any portion thereof)........

There are the more troublesome questions!  Aye, much more troublesome, indeed........

Who am I that I should be raised up?  Who, me?  I would willingly bow low before Him for eternity just worshiping Him for the majesty of His grace that brought life to me! -or-  I would willingly scurry to the recesses of His kingdom to serve in the corners with all due diligence if need be.

For me that could be so much more than enough!

Yet God wants more of me to live more of Life, and to live it together with Him!........ He does not simply want me to live before Him!  He does not simply want me to live for Him!  He wants me to live together ...........  with Him.......!!!!! ............?

Perhaps that makes sense in some promised dream of an ethereal, perfect world..........

Yes, perhaps so.

However, promises of that longed for utopia can seem......... like so many things in this world......... just another wished for promise......... just a pipe dream......... another dream to be crushed, right?

I mean, so many of us have noticed by now that........ well.......   After all, this is such a broken world!  A broken world filled with chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying.

In this place of suffering, death, and dying, how can we really become more and more familiar with life and living?  What can it mean, this idea that "He wants me to live together with Him"........

Who?  Me!?  I know all to well what it is to be dead in trespasses..........

Do I really know what it is to be alive in any way..........?

Alive together with Christ!?

What can that mean today!?  Here!?  Now!?  When we live here, in the midst of the pain and struggle?

Ahhhhh, but if we have bowed down low before The Passion of The Mighty Warrior?

If we have seen the majesty of His love which He demonstrated for us so clearly by fighting, dying, and being raised up from that death again for us........ If we have seen through the Word, how he faced down chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying?  How He allowed Himself to be broken by chaos, pain, suffering, death, and dying?  I mean, really .......... dying!

But then overcoming death and dying! ......... By Living!?

Then perhaps we can finally at least begin to ask how it is to live, and to grow in living, and even, through Him, conquer the power of death and dying in our *lives*, even in the midst of our own chaos, pain, and sufferings.

............

Just this week, when visiting with the mother of some of my students, the young mother made the comment that she didn't really start living until she reached her thirties. My eyes lit up, and I listened intently, wondering what treasures she must have unearthed.  I listened eagerly as she described Life and her path to finding how to finally begin to live Life.

This precious young mother had begun to find Life when she walked away from one lie-of-this-world, and then another, and then another and more and more......  In place of the lies, she sought out and began to find out a small, little bit about the Truth, and then more of the Truth, and then more and more.......  Then she sought the means to follow this Truth.  The more she did so, the more she knew that she finally began to live Life!  She is still seeking to know more truth.  She knows she has not arrived, but she knows when she finally began to live Life!

What a blessing she must be to her young family!  She has begun to learn to walk with Him! to be raised up together with Him!  ........ and in that she has learned to rest in Him!

........

Oh, and what a thing to rest in Him!  Is this not 'seated with Him in heavenly realms'?

Hmmmm.  What does that really mean?  After reading the English rendering, it's surprising to look more closely at the Greek.........



kai             synekathesin  en              
and / caused to be seated together (within & operating in) [us]    

tois       epouraniois
the     heavenly realms "properly, heavenly, referring to the impact of heaven's influence on the particular situation or person"

en                                                        
from within which operates      

Christ Jesus
Jeshua HaMeshiach



My mind asks, "How can this be?"

My spirit cries forth, "Hallelujah!"


This precious young mother had opened herself up to being guided by the 'impact of heaven's influence' on the particular situation(s) or person(s) in her life.  Moreover, Christ Jesus was the one which has been and continues to be operating from within that heavenly realm which is having such an impact within her, and within the situations in her life, and within the people in her life!

This new Life in her, yes, The Life - in her - is so clearly an expression of the work of His love in her life!  I couldn't help but hear (without resorting to legalism, I assure you....... I rather hate it.....), anyway, I couldn't help but hear one particular joyous song resounding in the hinter-choir-chambers of my mind, "God's law* is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies!  God's testimony is most sure and makes the simple wise!"  (Psalm 19:7 - as per the Scottish Psalter - punctuation altered - oh, and personally, I usually sing this psalter setting using the Kingsfold melody - though I sing it much faster than this recording)

My heart rejoiced at the work of His hand being manifested in this young mother!

.........

How then do we begin to learn more of what it is to live Life?

Oh....... we begin to learn to live Life when we walk as those Raised Up Together!

What are we raised out of?  Sin and Death!

Who are we raised up 'together' with?  The Mighty Warrior who conquered Sin and Death!

Sin and Death are no longer:

.......seated together (within & operating in) [us]    ----  

Sin and Death are no longer:

..........the impacting influence on any particular situation or person...... ......... in The Life ........ which lives in me!

They were embedded within us!  Deeply embedded within us!

But thanks be to God, The Mighty Warrior conquered them, and credited us with righteousness for our faith, as He did with Abraham.**

Because of that, we may meet with Him... with the new life in our spirit!  Life in our spirits which had been dead in trespasses, but which have now been made alive in Him!

And now, we not only meet with Him in our minds..........

We meet with Him........ spirit to Spirit!

And His Word illuminates our spirit!  And our spirit takes in more of life......... and more of light!

And our spirit begins to walk........... in........... life...........

.............even though.......... we are in a world of chaos, suffering, pain, death, and dying.

.............even though.......... our hearts and minds, and yes, even our spirits, carry the burdens of chaos, suffering, pain, death, and dying.

And as I reread these last several lines, I can feel a rather tremendous dance, a noble dance, yes....... but...... a resounding stomping dance, which announces the defeat of death in our Life!

But we are not alone.  We are not dying!

We are given life in Him!

We are raised up in Him!

We have in us, seated in us, the full force of the heavenly realms, which have within them.........  the life force of Jesus Christ Himself!  Jeshua HaMashiach!  The Savior!  The promised one!

A promised one whose promise could not be overcome by death any more than He could be vanquished by death!

And now, ......... in celebration ......... yet in closing for now........

Keeping in mind that it is as we seek The Way, The Truth, and The Life that ... The Life is manifested in us, step by step........

Here is my prayer for (us):

May He cause the heavenly realms and their influence which He has already caused to be seated within each of us, so that Christ Jesus, who operates within the heavenly realms, Christ Jesus, who is The Way, The Truth, and The Life ........ May The Life in all of that heavenly togetherness guide each of us with the Light as He works His will in each situation with each person in our lives!

Amen! ........ and ........ Amen!

Glory be to The Living God!

Glory be to The God Who is Rich in Mercy!

Glory be to The Way, The Truth, and The Life!








.................


*   -   "God's law is perfect and converts the soul in sin that lies"?  God's law?  Yes, the law......... the direction.......... the instruction..........  That which the Jews tell us is the way to restore fellowship.  This is what Jesus fulfilled........ the way to restore fellowship!  We have no idea just how much it can mean to be fully restored to fellowship with God.  We do know that back when God made man in His image? ....... yes, back then?  We walked with Him!  What must that have been like?  We do not know!  What will that be like in heaven, rather than a lovely, but rather finite garden?  Who can fathom?

But He promised it!  What grace!

What is it again that helps bring about that restoration?  A restoration that provides something more magnificent than what we broke?  What can restore any of that brokenness?  God's law:

God's direction........ His instruction.......

**  -  It's not a matter of keeping the law, Abraham couldn't do that, but God credited righteousness to Abraham simply because he trusted God.  Did God call upon Abraham to walk justly?  Yes, of course, but if Abraham had to be responsible for His own righteousness, he would have utterly failed.

Rather, God extended 'credit' to Abraham.  Abraham had a debt with God from the time God 'credited him' righteousness.   It was a debt that he couldn't begin to pay, but that was okay with God (because Jesus was going to pay the debt), so that was okay with Abraham....... It was humbling for Abraham, but he was willing to receive hope from ...... well, from the only source of any real hope.

Are you?

If you are, believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sins that you might receive the righteousness of God.

Then seek the Way, the Truth, the Life....... the Light.


........

***  -  Life and Light!

John 1:1b, 4   "....... and the Word was God. ...... In him was life, and the life was the light of all men."

This young mother?  Praise God for His work in her life!  She heard the truth from the Word, from Him, which brought life and light!

In this scientific age, we believe that light brings about life, but the light that is vital is that light that makes it into the soul and spirit and mind and heart.  No light can enter the soul of a dead man.  No light can enter the spirit of a dead man.  No light can enter the mind of a dead man.  No light can enter the heart of a dead man.

But, praise God, He has given us Life through Christ Jesus....... Jeshua Ha-Meshiach, and thanks to that Life, we can receive light into our whole being!


...............


Genesis 1:27  So God created man in His own image; in the image of God created He him; male and female created He them.

Ephesians 2:1-10  "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.

"But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.  For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.  For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

..................

S - Ephesians 2:(5), 6-7  "(But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His indness towards us in Christ Jesus."
O - By God's grace, we have been raised out of sin and death and into life!
By God's grace, we have been raised up together with Him and with the power of the heaveny realms within us.... (and with His Kingdom...... that is, * together with * those who believe in Him)!
By God's grace, by God's influence, we have seated (much as in a county 'seat') within us the heavenly places, with Christ Jesus operating as the influence/ruling-force within the heavenly places - and Christ Jesus is the power behind the heavenly realms' influences the situations in our lives....... and thus He is together with us in those situations in which He is, by His loving kindness and by His grace, tending to our every need, to every circumstance, and to every person in our life......
A - First, I am to be like Him, extending the influence of His kingdom in grace and love.
Secondly, I am to walk as one alive, not as one walking in sin and death (which He conquered for us).
Thirdly, I am to walk as one raised to living Life in light of the Light of His glory!
Lastly, I am to seek fellowship with Him and with those in His kingdom whom I am called upon to encourage.  I am to pray for all those I cannot reach out and touch.
But Constantly:  I am to constantly be a witness that:

"He (has shown and continues to show) the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness towards us in Christ Jesus."

 P - God, help me to watch for little lies in my life which I might not have yet detected, because they can produce great harm.  Help me also to watch for ---- The Way, The Truth, and The Life..... so that I know which way to be heading.  Send me The Light each step of the way, and open my eyes that I may see any dangers along the path, so that I may avoid them or call upon you for deliverance as need be, all for your glory's sake.

Then, as I walk along in your Light, help me to love those whom you have raised up together with me ....... together with Him.  And help them to love each other..... me too.....  So that......

Others may know we are Christians by our love...... that they may see what you have shown:  'the exceeding riches of Your grace in kindness towards us in Christ Jesus.'....... that they may receive the great deliverance you have offered all of us......... that they may be raised up ....... together with Him........ grow in your truth, and shine the Light and Life.......... the exceeding riches of Your grace!

Galatians 1

Paradigm for This Study:  Lessons in How to Walk Like Paul........

1:1  So as Paul was sent, not from men, but from God - so ought we to be sent by God....... to carry the good news, to make disciples, who carry the good news....... to fellowship in faith with those of the Kingdom of Peace.

Have we dared to stand in the audacious confidence which Paul had, knowing we are doing that which we have been called on to do, to be, to say, to pray......?  What is being 'on mission' in my life today - not yesterday - not tomorrow, but today?

Authoritatively Commissioned

.........

1:2  So Paul was a part of the Kingdom, aka: the 'brothers who are with me'.  Did they naturally have such a grave concern for the Galatian believers that they asked to be mentioned in the letter?  Had they prayed together fervently for the strife broiling in Galatia?  Did Paul help to inspire the devotion of those believers who were praying with him?  Did he call upon them to pray for the Galatian believers?  Did they pray specifically for the concerns which Paul mentions here in the opening of his relatively fiery letter to the Galatians?

Have we sought to know the concerns of believers elsewhere?  At the time of this writing, there are believers seeking refuge among the Kurds because of the horrid intensity of the persecution they are facing from ISIS.  Are we praying for them earnestly, and seeking to meet their needs through prayer and mammon?

Drawing the Hearts of the Kingdom's Brotherhood Together for Each Other

.........

1:3  So Paul didn't simply emphasize grace or peace.  Why?  What peace can there be in an imperfect world without grace?  There can be none!  Think of it!?!  We have no peace for ourselves before others without their forgiveness, whether we really like it or not.  Others have no peace with us without our forgiving others.

So it is in our hopes for peace in a relationship with God.  There must be grace.  Praise God, whose grace is more than sufficient to offer grace to us all - to all who will simply receive it......... and to all who receive that grace........ they also receive His peace.

Have we believed it yet?  Do we walk in that peace?

Reminding us of the Peace and Grace we Have through Christ Already

..............

1:4  Ode to be rescued from this present evil age.  That has been done in part........, and the promise is that He will finish the task in full!

God 'Wills' or Will-Do This:  a Complete and Utter Rescue!

"Ponerou":  evil ..... evil age......:  with an emphasis on the pain-ridden life that comes with living in this age when evil is not yet bound........  Many decry the fact that evil is not yet bound, calling God unjust.  This is something I can hear clearly........ they do feel the pain-ridden life's real pain.......... But am I God's judge?  This cannot be until I am able to put order to this universe myself - which I will never be able to do.  So all I have left is to trust His promise that the rescue will come - and the pain-ridden work and trials of living in this present evil age will end.

Reminding us of the Hope to Come!

.............

1:5  Paul has no thought as to judging God, only to praise Him!

So do we seek glory for ourselves still; or do we seek His glory?  What will it be today?

The Glory is All His!

.........

1:6  So Paul was astonished at those who walked away from the true gospel!  Did he give up on them?  No!  He sought to bring them back in line with truth - for only truth sets us free!

Do we give up on those who walk away from truth?

Do we sometimes walk the path of 'works salvation' or some social gospel of 'accepting' everything without consulting God's counsel first?

What about today?  Do we trust His salvation alone, but still, as Peter said, add to our faith in that salvation (II Peter 2)?  Paul certainly did!

What ought we to add to that faith today?  Is there anyone who should hear that we are astonished that they are giving up on the truth?  If so, say so!  If not, don't be complacent - the day might yet come!  Pray for those who do have a need to address those who are walking away from the truth!

Pray for those who *are* walking away from truth!

Calling All Believers to Renew Their Devotion to Truth

................

1:7  So Paul knew that the confusion came from those who seek to pervert the gospel!

Do we recognize the source of confusion when it arises?  Does the perversion from the truth bring true peace into the Kingdom of Peace?  Should we 'tolerate confusion' for the sake of ?peace?

Then what is to be done when confusion is brought in yet again, today, by those who seek to pervert the gospel?

And Recognize the Sources of Confusion Today

........

1:8-9  So Paul is not out cursing anyone......  But he is making it clear that some people come under a curse through their devotion to untruths and others through their devotion to actively twisting the truth.  Tender hearted Christians can feel the brokenness of letting them go - and thereby begin to judge God.    Others are more inclined to unleash a curse themselves.  Neither approach is what God has called us to.

We have only this:  to watch as those who choose to serve untruth come under the troubles of God's judgment.  May we pray that they are short-lived trials.

So We Can ............. Let Them Be!

Yes, there is a need to identify those whom we 'Let be'.  There is even a need to address why we 'let them be.'  But that is enough.  After the conflict is addressed, if peace is not possible 'as much as it is possible with us' (Romans 12), then it is time to 'let them be.'

................

1:10  Is it even possible to please all men in the church?  Paul wasn't speaking of trying to please men in the government, or in the 'politically correct world'.

Paul was admitting that he could not be about the business of trying to please men in the church.

All who try will almost assuredly fail - at least to some degree.  Men are horridly fickle creatures.  So move on when needed........

And be Servants of Christ - That's All

...........

1:11  Preaching a Divine Gospel!

...........

1:12  A Gospel Given by Jesus Christ Himself!

...........

1:13  No Longer at War with the Church

.........

1:14  No Longer Gaining Importance by Warring with the Church!

.........

1:15-16  No Longer Hearing from Men What They Want  -  Yes, seeking counsel can be a good thing, but when God's calling has been made clear, as His call to Paul was made clear; God will send those men whom He will to confirm His calling.  We do not need to seek them ourselves!

God Himself has all power to 'uncover, reveal, unveil' to us what He wills to show us.

*When/if* He does that in your life - He has revealed *Himself* to you:  apokalupto:  the same word for the apocalypse......... 'the unveiling of Him'!

Seeking Revelation/Unveiling of Jesus

This is the secret of having a relationship both with the body of believers and with Him.

.........

1:17  There are even times to distance ourselves from (at least some) believers in order to be prepared for the calling He has called us to - to listen carefully to know what message concerning the gospel we should be most prepared to share with the body - especially once we have heard what our calling is from God - and He has provided adequate witness as to what we have heard from Him!

Sometimes Only His Counsel Will Do!

..........

1:18-22  BUT.......... after that time, it is vital to reconnect with the leaders of the church before going out and fulfilling the calling of God!

That time alone is NOT to be a time of rebellion - but a time of fasting from various aspects of life.

But Then it is Vital to Reconnect with the Kingdom!

Not, however, to be a spectacle!  Paul could have truly created a sensation among as many believers as he would have been willing to expose himself to.  He did not seek to create a spectacle or a sensation.  He sought confirmation and support in prayer.  He sought to put the hearts and minds of the church at peace with the sense of mission which had been placed upon Paul by God Himself.

We must be ready to go out and serve quietly.

There might be a time to go back and reference such truths - but not for our own glory!  Only to substantiate the truth!

........

1:23  That is not to say that we must keep the glorious truth from believers who would praise God with us in spirit!

Seek Prayer for Those on Mission:  Make Known God's Miralces Among the Kingdom-Believers without Sensation!

........

1:24  And the Result?  God will be Praised......... because of ...... ?us?

AMAZING!

Staying Stretched to the Max in Love! - - - - - - - - I Peter 4:8-11; Good Morning Girls, Week 7, Tuesday

"Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another,  because love covers a multitude of sins."  (I Peter 4:8 - NAS)

Well.......  ya know, the first part of this verse doesn't seem terribly difficult in the English: it could be restated loosely by saying, 'the most important thing to do is to keep the light of love alive for the brethren'.......

But what does that have to do with love covering a multitude of sins?
.
Certainly Christ's sacrifice was made with fervent love....., and we should be like Him, but is there perhaps more to this than meets the eye...... What about context within this chapter and this letter?  What about the Greek?

Well, let's back up to I Peter 4:1, in which Peter tells us that Christ 'suffered'.  By clicking on the Strong's number for 'pathontos', we can realize how clearly it is said in this verse that His suffering was brought upon Him by others in this broken and fallen world, and that His suffering is something which He felt very, very deeply.

The same verse goes on to say that we should be of this mind:  that we should be *willing* to allow suffering from this broken world to be brought upon our flesh from the brokenness in the world outside of ourselves, and that we should feel that pain deeply whenever God allows that brokenness to weigh heavily upon us.

More importantly, the one having suffered (in the) flesh is empowered to be able to be finished with sin.  So much so, that, according to I Peter 4:2, the one who has suffered, if he has been obedient to 'be of this same mind' of Christ........, will be able to devote his time to the will of God without being drawn into men's lusts.  Ode to remaining in 'this same mind'........, in order to avoid adding unnecessarily fulfilling further the 'desire of the Gentiles' I Peter 4:3.

Oh, my soul, I would that mankind would no longer fulfill the 'desire of the Gentiles'!  But all too many still desire to fulfill those inclinations.  They even think it is strange that believers do not seek the desires of the Gentiles  I Peter 4:4, not realizing that they will have to give account of the fulfillment of their desires one day I Peter 4:5.

But that's just it, God has been merciful because they did not realize fully what they have chased after; they were 'dead' to the truth!

And here is where He lets us be a part of the solution!  Men who have been *willing* to allow the suffering from this broken world to be brought upon their flesh in such a way that they felt the pain deeply - with the same mind as Christ...... those men have been sent to warn those who still seek to fulfill the 'desire of the Gentiles'!  Those men have been sent so that they might live according to God in the Spirit!

But no man can be 'of this mind' on his own.  No man can 'be of this mind' without Christ changing his heart to a heart of flesh.  When Christ removes the dead heart of stone from within a man, and replaces it with a living heart of flesh, then that 'heart transplant' helps that man to truly live and to 'be of this mind' of Christ........

But not everyone has received this heart of flesh!

So many around us need the life that comes only through this 'heart transplant'!

'The end has drawn near, therefore be sober minded, and be watchful for the purpose of prayers.'  (I Peter 4:7)

And here, the context begins to become more and more clear........

We see that this phrase, 'above all, keep fervent in your love for one another' is couched in the middle of these two phrases:

'Be watchful for the purpose of prayers....... ......... because love covers a multitude of sins.'?  (I Peter 4:7b, 8b)

But how can our love combined with prayers aid in the covering of a multitude of sins?  Isn't Jesus the Great High Priest, whose sacrifice took care of the sins of the beloved who receive His grace through His gift of faith, available to us through His sacrifice?

Is the hymn wrong?  "Jesus did it all!  All to Him I owe!"?

Well, yes, Jesus did it all.  But for whatever all reasons, God wants us to be like Jesus!  He wants us to imitate His love for others!  And when we do, He celebrates our finally 'knowing good and evil' the only healthy way possible:

---to be broken, suffering, taking on the pain of mankind's brokenness in order to spare others' as much of the suffering as possible - able to bear one another's burdens only because of His *plan* of grace!

Back in the Garden of Eden, when we rebelled against God and ate from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and evil?  Yes, back then, knowing good and evil broke our hearts - and our hearts died!  We had dead, stone hearts!  Our hearts broke, and rigamortis set in so deeply that our hearts became stone!  That's what 'knowing good and evil' our way did for us!

But knowing God's *heart* of grace not only for ourselves, but for others,  helps us to face 'knowing good and evil' with a heart of flesh.

A heart of flesh will still suffer under the 'knowledge of good and evil', just as Christ's heart of flesh suffered for us on the cross!

A heart of flesh will not become a broken heart though, it will be 'brokenhearted' for others, but not broken, lifeless, stone cold, deadness!

Christ was brokenhearted for us!  He truly suffered in the flesh of his brokenhearted state - - - for us!

We ought to be the same mind for others:  brokenhearted for them!  Willing to feel their pain, to bear their burdens as much as they will allow us to...........

In this brokenhearted state, in which we suffer the pain inflicted upon our heart of flesh by those whose hearts are dead, broken stone, our hearts can bear the burdens of others' sins before the throne of grace...... bearing the burden of sin directly to the High Priest, ...........

And here, we begin to see how, in verse 7, the 'purpose of prayers' begins to be made more clear......

We are to be priests before God, joining Jesus, the High Priest, our holy advocate, as He advocates for the forgiveness of a multitude of sins!  (verse 8b)

............

So, that is the context of this verse:  "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another."''

It is becoming more clear!!!

.........

But what of the original text?  Are there more clues which bring the light and life of these words into clearer focus?

.........

Hmmmmm, in Greek, the word which we render as 'fervent' is a compound word:  ektenes:  with its parts being:

ek - 'wholly out'

&

tenes - 'stretched - without slack' (related to 'tension')

Really?  Keep Stretched to the Max in Love!?!

Wow!  How many trainers would think that it is wise to keep a muscle stretched to the max all of the time?

But maybe we should check out 'keep' in the Greek too?

Hmmmm, in the Greek, there are two words which were rendered as these three words in English: 'Above all, keep'......  They are pro panton:  with 'pro' meaning 'before,' and panton having its roots in 'pas' meaning 'every part of the totality'!

So, thus far, we have 'before every part of the totality..........love, stretched out to the max'!

There is 'echontes', which is translated best as 'you having/holding/possessing'.

Then just the 'eis heautous' perhaps best translated as 'in/among yourselves'.....

So putting it all back together:

'Before every part of the totality, you having/holding/possessing love, stretched out to the max, in/among yourselves.'

So..... going back to the NASB:  "Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another'.......  the word 'keep' is meaningful:  having/holding/possessing..... that's all an ongoing thing!

Staying, and staying, and staying stretched to the Max in love!  ........ in love which is in/among us all.........  STRETCHED TO ALL OF US........ STRETCHED TO THE MAX SO IT REACHES ALL OF US.......... ALL OF THE TIME, BEFORE EVERY PART OF THE TOTALITY......!!!!!

Oh, my soul........ that is so difficult........... Have you ever seen this done right?!?

But all things are possible to those who love Him!

Dear Father, OUR Father, help us to help each other keep that love stretched out to the max - stretched so fully that it reaches all of us all of the time, before every bit of the totality of time....... remembering the purpose of prayer:  prayer from the heart of flesh which you have given to us, and which you will place in all who put their faith in you........ prayer that love, as it stretches out amongst us all, all of the time, covereth a multitude of sins, as we pray for the lost, for those moments when our flesh wishes to go back and fulfill the 'desire of Gentiles'....... and so forth.....

Help us to 'be of the same mind as Christ', feeling the broken heartedness in our new heart of flesh, brokenheartedness for the pain which we all feel because of the horrid things done by hearts of stone.......

And as we feel some small part of the brokenheartedness which Christ bore on the cross, as we bear others' burdens before your mercy seat, seeking the Advocate, that His grace may take yet another fallen man in his heart broken state, and humble him, giving him a heart of flesh and allowing that heart of flesh to feel the heartbreak of life........., thereby becoming heartbroken.........

..........that he too may begin to recognize the intense need for us to intercede for the saints who are, and who are yet to be called........ to faith........ and that he too may begin to share the love, which we need to hold/possess more faithfully amongst all of us, each and every one of us, all of the time, before every it of the totality of this life...............

.......Staying Stretched to the Max - - - - in Love - - - - all of us....... together.....!!!!!

Driving Out Punishment & Fear! GMG: Week 7: I John 4:16-21

Oh, my soul, for weeks now, the heralds have gone out telling forth the good news..... :

Have you heard it yet?

........ that the God who *is* love, loves you! yes you!?!

Have you heard it echoing in the deepest chambers of your soul?

Do you believe it?  Or do you yet fear, that in some ways, here or there, that His love is not enough!?!

What have you to fear? You have confidence in the day of judgment!  You have confidence in His healing!  You have confidence in eternal life!

Then what has gone amiss?

Why are you hurt?  Why is your face downcast?

Oh, my soul, you know right well, that yet again, you felt fear rise up this week; you have wrestled again with the pain of those who judge you harshly and even falsely?

But, my soul, that fear cannot please God!  You can only please God with faith.

But what is it that one mere soul can do?

Give thanks!

Yes, Give thanks to the Lord God's tender mercies;
Give thanks to the gentle ministries of the Holy Spirit!
You, oh my soul, have been lead down the path of righteousness in spite of this fear!
He has helped to cast it out yet again!

By faith alone!  In Christ alone!  Through grace alone!

Yes, when fear sought you out!
When fear sought to carry you away!
When fear even got a grip on you for a moment!
Yes, then you felt its punishment this week!

(for fear involves punishment!)

You whose emotions died for decades at the tender age of seven.  You, who God guided gently, and carefully back away from the Abyss of the Tragedies; Aye, back from the wild, and twisted, and ragged Abyss of Tragedies, with its jagged edges, from aberration to aberration; with its varied crevasses of immeasurable depths...........;

Yes, You.

Yes, you, oh my soul......... who God challenged and nurtured, with the challenge to learn to ...

............ feel again........

Yes, you, oh my soul, who finally feel pain!

You finally discern more quickly which pain is the inherent grief over the brokenness of life.  Which is a healthy thing!

Such pain drives you to seek to share the good news of His grace!
Such pain drives you to pray fervently for His coming-again!

But more than that!

You, oh my soul, finally discern more quickly which pain is self-destructive........ which is Punishment-Self-Inflicted...... out of fear........ of others' brokenness....... of their brokenness breaking through and hurting you, precious soul created by God, yet again.

What did the Spirit's tender mercies reveal to you this week about this?

Oh, my soul, by His tender mercies, He revealed that:

In your moment of fear, in the fear of more pain from the rejection of those who call themselves 'brothers' and 'sisters'........ In that moment, you began to thrash yourself....... self-flaggelation!!! Not out of mis-informed penance, but out of fear!

How can it be, that out of grief of pain, by focusing on the pain, we thrash ourselves further with the whip of pain provided by those who have rejected us?

But that is so much the case........

And here it is........ The Solution!:

First!  To focus on His love for us........., aye, even for you, oh my soul!

For, again, if His love and saving grace is enough to heal us from our own sin, how can His love and saving grace be insufficient to heal us from the pain of those caught up in the throws of this broken world!?!

Second!  To focus on His love for us......., aye, even for them, and oh!!! their precious souls!!!!

So now, oh, my soul!, you ought to hope for that same confidence-in-the-day-of-judgment ..... for those others around you.

Do they have that confidence yet?  If not, seek to share it with them!

Oh...... but, if they do have that confidence already?  Celebrate it with them - in spite of their frailties!  Even when their frailties hurt you, oh, my soul.........

And if they will not celebrate it with you!?!  If, as much as it is possible with you, you seek to live in peace with them - - - but they reject such peace thus far.......

Celebrate the gift of grace provided for them - past, present, and future!  Even when their frailties hurt you, oh my soul.......  For you can trust Our Father to both heal you, and to correct them in time............

But how?  By being perfected in love...

But won't they hurt us again? ...... Does that matter?  Remember, it is in all these things that we Overwhelmingly Conquer!  Yes, IN those things!  Do we need to fear conquering in these things!?!

But there is more.........  Oh, my soul, have you not heard?  Perfect love drives out fear........

Oh, my soul!  Oh, my soul!  Oh, my soul!  Do you believe it yet!?!

Call upon the Lord!  Call upon the God of Peace!  Call upon the God who is with you!  Call upon the God of Righteousness!  Call upon the God of Healing!

Call upon the Lord our Banner!  Follow His banner wherever it leads you, and faint not!

Let His perfect love fill you and overflow through you........... to all those around you......

............ in All These Things.................

And yes......... in All These Things........... Overwhelmingly Conquer.......... in Love!

Oh yes.......

Faith, hope, and love..... abide these three............... but the greatest...............


........of these.........

........................is love.........!

...........................His love......!



.....................


 


Lord, Why Am I Anxious..........

Being Glorified! - - - GMG: Wk: 5 - Romans 8:28-30

So here it is!  He is working in us, and how surpassingly great is His power working in us who trust Him, Him who has provided a light to the eyes of our hearts!  That, through the eyes of faith, we may see the riches of His glories which He has prepared for us!  And when we look through the eyes of faith, through the eyes of our new  hearts, we see that we are on the path of hope, a path called straight, running straight through our heart, heading straight Home!  Yes, Home! Where Freedom reigns!

And even before arriving Home, we find that He has already provided Freedom for those on the Path called Straight!  Freedom from condemnation and death, and freedom to eternal life, and freedom from sin, and even freedom to examine ourselves and come to Him honestly and openly......, so that.........

.....yes, so that........ we can be Free to Lift Up and Build Up a Brother - thereby helping establish peace in the Kingdom of God!

And here on this path, this path called Straight, the Mighty Warrior is with us!  Yes, our Beloved (who calls us 'Beloved'), the Mighty Warrior, who has already achieved Complete Victory - a victory He calls us to share with Him - and on our way to join in the fullness of His Victory, there are still some residual battles being waged by those who have not yet received the official news that they will finally have to submit to His Victory.......... battles through which we may draw men of peace out of the ranks of those attacking us...... or...... rather, those who have been attacking Him (unwittingly or not........)..........

And along the way, on this path called Straight, He guides us on through various battles and through our various trials - *in* which we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us, trials in the midst of which He helps us to pursue those things which make for peace and the building up of one another...., in the which we find great Exultation!

.............And thusly we move on together, building up each other, being sober of spirit (knowing that a lost and dying world needs the truth of the cross and its redemptive power), being alert (watching for His soon return - and praying for it as He commanded), resisting the evil one (telling him, "May the Lord rebuke thee," - for even Michael did not rebuke the evil one himself), standing firm in our faith (which is still a gift of God)..........., for trials are a'comin.....

And thusly, we also move on together, because of the blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony, not loving life, even when faced with death........, and moving on together, awake, righteously, examining ourselves that we come not under judgment....... as we move Home.........

Home, furnished with an abundance of grace and glory!

.........

So then, are we prepared to walk into a realm of such grace and glory?!?!

While it is true that we will be changed in the twinkling of an eye, changed to a blessed state in which we are holy and imperishable, it is also true that He marked our horizons prior to creation (aka: predestined us), to be morphed-to-be-like/with Him, it is also true that, towards these ends, 'We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose......For those whom He foreknew He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son.....and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified!

Thus, we are 'morphing-to-be-like/with Him' - - - 'in all these things' through which we Overwhelmingly Conquer' through Him who loved us........... that we might be glorified.........

,,,,,,,,,,readied, through His handiwork in our lives, to walk into His realm of amazing grace and glory!

Oh, my soul....... are you seeking it?
Are you seeking as much Morphoses Most Glorious as you can receive each day?
Have you grown in His glory....... today?

Ode, Ode, Ode, to the redemptive power of His loving sacrifice...... which makes the Morphoses Most Glorious ........... available to us!