A Watchmen on the Wall

A Tranquil Treasure

If you follow the rainbow at the end you’ll find a pot of gold. How many of us have been told that story? I am not here to talk about a pot of gold, no I am here to discuss something of far greater value. A Tranquil Treasure, a treasure that fills you from the inside and not from outward things.

Are you Content with the Content of your life? As I look at this word and the spelling “Content” I find it quite intriguing as it is both an adjective and a noun based on the context of its usage. However, I am using this word as a question posed in regard to both aspects, are you Content; adj : fulfilled, at peace, satisfied, rewarded with the life you find yourself living? Are you satisfied with the Content; noun: the sum of who you are as a person, what defines your DNA – how others would describe your character. As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. alluded to in his famous speech regarding prejudice “not by the color of their skin, but by the “content” of their character”.

What are you made up of on the inside?

So how does one find a quality of content, the very thing we fill our inner most being up with to define our character, what worthy or noble thing can a person put inside themselves?

Proverbs 3: 13-14 “Blessed is the man who finds Wisdom, the man who gains Understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold”. Proverbs 24:3-4 “By Wisdom a house is Built and through Understanding it is established, by Knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful Treasures” (NIV)

This house we all are building is our lives; our hearts, our minds, our desires, our wills, and our emotions. Spirit, soul, and body the entirety of who and what we are, as well as the lives we impact.

Psalms 1 verse 1 states “Blessed is the man…” for the sake of this article lets define Blessed as “Content” as an adjective ; that which brings “shalom” peace, fulfillment, satisfied, Tranquil, contentment. Jumping down to verse 2 “…his delight is in the law of the LORD (YHWH), and on His law he meditates day and night”. Here we find the great link between Content in Content that is “A Tranquil Treasure”. What we are nourishing ourselves on becomes the very thing of which we are made of. As an old saying goes “you are what you eat”, this doesn’t simply apply to food, but everything we take in through our eyes and ears, as well as our mouths.

**Is 26:3 “You WILL keep in Perfect Peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they TRUST in You”**

As the Word of God (the law, prophets, psalms -The Bible) infills and dwells inside of you, it satisfies and transforms the very character of a person; it becomes the defining Content – the substance inside the container, it also becomes the source that brings the blessing or that satisfying place of being Content – Perfect Peace.

A Tranquil Treasure

In Mathew 4:4 Jesus is quoted as saying “man shall not live by bread alone, but by EVERY WORD that comes from The Mouth of God”.

Psalms 32:8 “I will instruct you and teach you in the Way you should go:”

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 1:14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. 1:18 No one has ever seen God, but God the One and Only (Word = Jesus) who is at the Father’s side, has made Him known.

So we see this Jesus, The Word of God, God in the flesh He is the eternal everlasting Word. He is what “comes from the Mouth of God”. He is the sole source of our being “Content” He is our perfect Peace and He also alone becomes the “Content” that which fills us and shapes the character of who and how we should be living in this lifetime and in ages to come. He – Jesus – IS Wisdom, and while yes we need to read the Bible He is the very person to which All of scripture points and He desires to have a personal relationship with each and every human being that has ever lived. He is our Peace, He is our great Reward HE IS Our “Tranquil Treasure”.

**Mat. 6:21 “For where your Treasure is there will your Heart be also”…**

In the books of Ezekiel 11:19, 32:26, and Jeremiah 31:3 The LORD God declares he would write His Laws and His Words upon hearts of flesh and not upon tablets of stone. Paul gives testimony to this in 2 Corinthians 3:3(c,d) ” written not with ink but with The Spirit of The Living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts.” (NIV)

In chapter 4:7 of the same letter Paul states that “we have “this TREASURE in earthen vessels (Pots or jars of CLAY). This TREASURE is His surpassing greatness and Glory indwelling inside of every believer. “…the Glorious RICHES of this mystery, which is Christ in you The HOPE of Glory.” Colossians 1:27 NIV

Would you invite Him in to your “house” today? Behold He stands at the door and knocks, he isn’t pounding on it, or barging in – No – he is simply and gently patiently waiting for you to invite Him in. To sit and have conversations with you and guide to that place of “A Tranquil Treasure”.

I pray and ask the God of heaven and earth to bless each and everyone of you that reads and hears these words.

One 7 Remains

**The Final Moment’s of God’s Prophetic Timeline** ***Daniel & Revelations***

There is an appointed time in the not too distant future many know as “The Time of Jacob’s Trouble” or “Jacob’s 70th Week”. Most Bible scholars agree that this period of time is also known as The Tribulation Period as noted in Revelations and is based upon the Book of Daniels 70th week.

So lets dig right in! First we should do the back story narrative and bring us up to more current affairs.

Daniel in his writings of his visions and the revelation given to him regarding his people (Israelites/Jewish descendants) gives an accurate detail of the Messiah being “cutoff” after 69 weeks (62+7) of a 70 week sentence of judgement [Daniel ch. 9]. Weeks here really is referring to the Shemitah cycle or 7 year Sabbath cycle as outlined by God in Leviticus 25. I will clarify by stating that this article is written from the perspective that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah. [Read Daniel 7-11]

Now with an extremely brief summary of Daniel covered we can say that there remains One 7 period of time for Jacob (Israel) to endure “Tribulation” or “Great Tribulation” which we will also address to complete the sentence imposed by YHWH, to remove iniquity, rebellion, and stubbornness from His heritage.

From approximately 70A.D. until modern time this event was a distant memory, a forgotten promise declared by The Sovereign LORD.

On May 14, 1948 the Jewish state of Israel was reborn in a day. “Can a nation be born in a day and in Ezekiel 37 “thus saith He to these dry bones Surely I shall cause breath to enter into you and you shall LIVE”. Then in June 1967; Jerusalem and the Temple mount was delivered back under the control of the Jewish people. This fulfillment of God’s prophetic WORD that He would bring the scattered people of Israel back to “The Promised Land” has happened and is one of the MOST astonishing fulfillments of Bible prophecy we in our lifetimes could ever image beholding. Yet One 7 Remains.

Since the Day of Jesus’s crucifixion; when an earthquake rocked the land of Judea and The Temple Veil was torn top to bottom, signifying amongst other things that the dispensation that was under “The Mosaic Law” or Old Testament covenant was torn, a symbolic gesture like the tearing of a garment signified mourning or death. The New and everlasting “covenant” also known as the Church age was about to begin or as it is also know as the Dispensation of Grace, The Time of the Gentiles. This has occurred so that by God Almighty’s hand he could graft into His family, those outside of His covenants made with the Patriarchs of the Old Testament. As two covenants cannot be enforced simultaneously He had need to “interrupt ” human history to fulfill His divine Plan of salvation. Yet One 7 Remains.

It is my firm belief that we are rapidly approaching the closing moments of this dispensation; The Dispensation of Grace/Church Age/Time of the Gentiles. How is this to culminate?

Since two dispensations or covenants cannot be enacted or enforced at the same time, this one – Church Age – will, have to be removed (not revoked) – taken away (greek word- Harpazo). This is what is known as the “Rapture of The Church” Christs Bride.

Two points to make here, first Paul states in 2 Thessalonians 2 That the lawless one (aka the anti-christ) cannot be revealed until HE who restrains him is “taken away”. This “He” I believe is The Holy Spirit, that was poured out on the Day of Pentecost, birthing the church age. Secondly since God will be receiving Him The Holy Spirit the “Ruach Ha Kadosh” back up into Glory, He will not leave His “Bride” the Church behind. This will be the “rapture” of All True believers in Christ Jesus that Paul talks about in 1 Thessalonians 4 at the Last trump that the dead in Christ will rise first then those that remain will rise together to meet with Him in the clouds. Jesus said He was going to prepare a place for us so that where He is we may be also.

It is at this very moment, just as the veils was torn, this dispensation of Grace comes to a close, once again bringing the whole world (the nations- the goyim) back into an era of Judaic covenant dispensation of Law. As he tore the veil in the Temple He will tear the veil of time and space to redeem those He has purchased. Yet, One 7 Remains

As Jesus fulfilled numerous prophecies and also more directly was the main focus of the Jewish Festivals Passover, Unleavened Bread, First fruits (barley wave offering); spring time festivals, as well as Feast of Weeks “Pentecost”-summertime festival (wheat wave offering); those prophecy watchers are looking forward to the Fall Festivals of Trumpets, Tabernacles, 10 days of Awe culminating in Yom Kippur The Day of Atonement.

As noted regarding the fall feasts it starts with the feast of Trumpets known today as Rosh Hashanah, it is the civil New Year – Head of months and is celebrated by the sounding of the “trumpets” the Shofar (Ram’s horn) specifically. The shofar is sounded 100 times, referencing the Apostle Paul he states – “at the last trumpet” could it be that on a certain time in the near future on the day of the Feast of Trumpets when the last shofar is sounded “the dead in Christ will rise, and those that remain will be caught up in the clouds” initiating the final sequence foretold ushering in the period of time as One 7 Remains.

The real urgent matter at hand, the great question remains; where will you be found when that marvelous mystery occurs? For those that remain in and upon the earth after the “vanishing” of thousands, very perilous and awful times await for the next seven years –One 7 Remains .

Dearly beloved I strongly urge you to consider this notice, and seek the Lord and His beautiful gift of salvation, provided by the spotless lamb, Jesus of Nazareth while it may be found. Avoiding the sorrow that is to come upon the whole earth.

**God’s LOVE for US was manifest at The Cross of Christ**

Salvation will continue to be offered during this awful time as God will send 2 Witnesses and then also afterwards He declares that angelic beings will travel the skies declaring the Gospel message in one last effort to redeem ALL that He can, the anguish of those days is not something He desires, so with a pleading heart I simply lay at you hands – receive Him now, for His GREAT LOVE is still available to those who believe and confess Jesus IS LORD! To the Glory of God The Father!

Amen, May God richly bless you in Him.

Dog Daze – Let FAITH Arise

In association with the last two posts Stuck in The Mud , and Re-dig the Well. I would like to look at another thread along that same theme, this tapestry He is weaving during this section of my life; this heavy season that I don’t believe I am alone in walking . I would like to open a couple of verses and convey once again the message I believe The Holy Spirit is trying to convey in my life and for anyone else finding themselves struggling to walk in that favored blessing of God Almighty.

I am a firm believer in trusting in His WORD, and HIS WORD alone for clarity, direction, and my sense of being.

In the book of Matthew there are two different accounts regarding dogs and with those verses I would like to present to you this message = Dog Daze.

Matthew 7:6 “Do not give to dogs, that which is sacred,..”

Matthew 15:21-28 {summarized] -A Canaanite woman whose daughter was possessed by a demon came to Jesus and cried out “Son of David have mercy on me.” The disciples bid her to depart from them. Jesus said to her “I have come to the lost sheep of Israel”, and in verse 26 ” He replied, it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs.

Now these texts can seem harsh coming from the loving Savior of all mankind, let us just say he also likes to teach us things that are hard or difficult to understand -leaving us somewhat baffled – in a Dog Daze.

Firstly, a dog has many functions in the current world, as well as that of in Jesus time and before. Just to say this and get it out the way, dog spelled backwards is god, also known as mans best friend, so we can discount any notion of me presenting dogs as being anything less than an amazing gift from our creator.

So what is the type of dogs The LORD is referring to here? It is not the animal but is a metaphorical image of two type of people. The first category are those that not only refuse and reject the words you share with them but also use the deep intimately confided words you’ve shared and then turn and take the tenderness of heart felt vulnerability you share and use it against you. That which is sacred is not only the deep tender parts of your heart, but also the gospel message of salvation and eternal life in the presence of a Holy, Just, and Loving God. Gods word and His Gospel message are Holy and sacred in that they too are precious gifts of sharing His heart with humanity.

The second type are those not considered His “children” let us say those outside of His covenant relationship. In OT times the phrase Goyim was used for the nations, later it became known as heathen, Pagan, or Gentiles, today we just call those folks “unsaved” NOT “Born again” as those yet still dead to God in trespasses and sin, because they have not accepted His free gift of salvation provided by His only begotten Son Jesus of Nazareth.

Words matter and from here I would like to turn our attention to The WORD, or Bread as we will see and discover a beautiful message conveyed by The LORD Jesus Christ to this woman whom his disciples saw as less than, but needed to learn the Truth of how valuable she is and was to God.

This woman sought healing for her daughter, Jesus alluded to it as bread. “Healing IS the children’s bread”…bread is for healing to his children did you catch that? Let it sink into your spirit for a moment. The bread to which Jesus is referring is not crushed flour and oil, and salt with or without yeast. Manna was provided everyday for forty years, it was the source of life to the Hebrews wandering the desert. Jesus testifies that He IS that bread which came down from heaven.

In the right hand side of the Tabernacle or the Holy place of the temple stood to the the table of showbread, also known as the “bread of His presence”. This bread represented His presence His body (bread) as well as the twelve tribes – His children. There is an offering described for the priests to make a fellowship offering, wave offering, it was unleavened “bread” cooked on the fire of the altar of God, When it was grilled it left on it certain marks, stripes. In Isaiah 53:5 it is declared referring the the Messiah that “By His stripes we are Healed” Those stripes were borne on the back of Jesus as he was savagely whipped and beaten for our iniquity and transgression. On the night of his betrayal The “Last Supper” he broke bread and said to take eat this was His body. In John 1:1 it declares “In the beginning was The WORD, and the WORD was with God and the WORD was God. The WORD became flesh and dwelt among us!” Jn 1:1 Hallelujah! Born in Bethlehem (it literally means House of Bread!)

In Psalms 107:20(a) The Bible testifies that “he sent forth His WORD and healed them,” the term “word” here in Hebrew is “dabar” Strong’s #1697 in the Greek they used the terms Logos (written) & Rhema (spoken, declared, revealed); Jesus The WORD, He is The Bread, and He IS our HEALING!

We need to understand and get this into our DNA that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be! Not just a good teacher, not just a prophet , He was and Is and will always be The Son of The Living God, the exact representation of God in human form. He needed to make this truth known and shown, demonstrated for his disciples as well as for us this many years and millennia later. Do we see Him for who He is? The Canaanite woman did, she boldly approached the throne of Grace and asked for Mercy, she called Him “Son of David” a title of Messiah which means Christ or Anointed One. He, Jesus, knew of what she was in need of. He came to destroy the works of the devil; so removing a tormenting demonic spiritual possession from a child was something he was more than willing and able to do.

Her statement of understanding ( her faith), even a dog – those humble enough to know they do not deserve anything from The Masters hand at least get the crumbs – tiny fragmented pieces of bread. A piece of Him is all we need, just a touch of his hem. The slightest revelation of this relationship is all that is required. She – speaking of the Canaanite woman revealed that truth, even a dog if it’s Master is even of little good will provide it’s scraps to their dogs. Leading Jesus to declare to her, “Great is your FAITH. Your request is granted.”

**Receiving from The Masters Hand in Humility & Gratitude**

Dog Daze is when we allow the influencing voices and thoughts, those that trample on us, discourage and discredit us, they will destroy us if we allow them to. They will prevent us from receiving exactly what The LORD God has for us, His goodness and favor, His Peace (Shalom), His healing. A daze is a confused state of mind or being and the author of that confusion is the one and only adversary who desires our destruction. Satan, the devil seeks to destroy and that is the destruction of our souls by discounting God at His WORD. And ALL that God has purposed for our lives. To shipwreck our faith!

So let us cast ALL our cares upon Him and in place carry His burden and be bound by His Yoke which He states is Light & Easy. Opening our hearts and minds to the TRUTH and learn like one of His disciples from this this humble and despised woman. Who walked away full of FAITH and Victory and assuredness about the Love and Promise of God’s WORD Christ Jesus The Lord.

Exodus 23:25 (NKJV) “So you shall serve the LORD your God, and He will Bless your Bread (Word) and your Water (Spirit). And I will take sickness away from the midst of you.

Healing, deliverance, wholeness, and salvation is Yours and can only be found fully and completely in Christ Jesus – would you find Him in your heart today?

Jesus is right here right now and He is saying to you Behold I stand at the door and knock, to all who invite me in with him will I come in and dine with you. The Word is near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart. So believe and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and that His Father- God raised Him from death to Eternal Life and you shall be healed, saved, and delivered.

Healing IS the Children’s Bread, so would you humbly accept His invitation to be adopted into His family?

And go from Dog Daze to God’s Glorious Rays – of Hope, Healing, and Wellness.

Let FAITH Arise

In The Name above ALL Names: Yeshua ha Mashiac

Amen

Re-dig the Well

A well, a water source in a parched arid region is a very valuable and contentious commodity indeed. First finding a water source capable of meeting the needs required to sustain life from a single person to a family, to crops and herds can be a daunting challenge at a minimum. Then the effort, toil and stamina to dig deep enough to reach it is another. In The Book of Genesis (Origins) Ch.’s 20-21, 26 we find several encounters revolving around a few wells and one well in particular.

**LIVING WATER in the wilderness requires deep digging**!

Abraham who had previously lived and thrived in the Land of the Philistines dug many wells, after his death the Philistines “filled them with earth“, that is they closed up the source of life giving water that provided much of Abrahams blessing and prosperity. The blessing and favor of YHWH often creates an envious spirit to those outside His covenant, a contentious spirit ensues and occupies the territory. Interesting to note the similarities in the stories of Abraham and Isaac; both experience a famine (as would Jacob), is it possible God takes into these seasons to draw closer to him, just a thought -both have an encounter with Abimelech of The Philistines in Gerar, both say that their wife is their sister for self preservation purposes, both make treaties “Oaths” or covenants with Abimelech (Father of the King) at Beersheba.

Isaac needed to find a source of water for his family and his servants and flocks, leading to him to re-visit the wells his father Abraham had dug. On two occasions the scripture says that they encountered dispute and opposition. The adversary does not give up easily or without contending for it. Isaac did not desire to squabble (contend) over the water rights with the Philistines, but later at Rehoboth his servants find and open a well that provides an abundance of life giving water. Leading to his festive celebration and renewal of the covenant with Abimelech at Beersheba [which means well of the Oath or well of seven].

**The CARES of This World, the things of the flesh, block access to LIVING WATER**

Sometimes, more often than not we will experience a dry and weary land in our sojourn with God. It is in these times we must remember what has provided blessing and outpourings of God’s favor in the past and re-dig the wells of REVIVAL for a New fresh flow of His Spirit. We must also recognize and discern when we are to contend and when we are simply to move on to what area God has next for each of us in our lives. Too much contention can deplete our strength and resources while missing the plenty God has instore. Just think if Saul continued to contend against the early church, as his encounter with the resurrected Jesus Christ records that it was “difficult to kick against the goads” (Acts 9:5, 26:14) often we can be fighting against the very thing The LORD is trying to steer us towards. In Saul/Pauls case it was to accept and believe in Christ for his salvation.

Are you experiencing a famine in your life, is your journey become a dry and parched weary struggle. The promise of God’s WORD is that out of your inner most being shall flow Rivers of Living Water! Perhaps it is time to remove the things that have plugged up that well, earth can represent the things of this world and the worries and cares that entangle us, or even an incorrect condition of our heart, WE must Re-Dig the Well and experience a fresh New flow of His Spirit in our lives. We MUST contend and do the digging, He is faithful to fulfill the rest. A wide and spacious land of his favor and blessing is on the other side of the break through.

I encourage you child of God do not give up, do not give in. There is an abundance of God’s promise if we have the courage and strength to DIG DEEP to Re-Dig the Wells and let the outpouring of His Spirit to once again flood and Revive our thirsty souls!

**Isaiah 35:6,7 – John 7:38 “My Cup runneth over” Ps 23**:5

“for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert.

And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water“

It may not be in the first well, second, or third, but the eternal flowing river of God is a vital source of strength and plenty, re-dig that well and drink full of His goodness.

God Bless

Liberty, Independence, Freedom – A Birthday Wish

**A Majestic Prophetic Symbol, The Eagle & U.S. flag**

July 4th, we as a nation celebrate today, the birth of this Great country we get to call our home. I would like to take a moment to consider how we came to be, where we have been, and where we are headed.

A country must be established on an ideal and a principal, its course charted and plotted, and like a compass, it MUST have a True “Standard” to guide it on its journey. If the compass is faulty, disaster is sure to be the end result. In circa 1620, the pilgrims landed in what is called today Plymouth, they established what is known as The Mayflower Compact which served as the “Foundation” stone of Our Constitution. The compass or standard by which the pilgrim’s established this new compact for the colony…which would become The United States of America, was The Bible; The King James version to be specific. They established their daily life and the structure of society by its creeds and standards of morality and conduct.

**A TRUE Meridian determines the destination**

They embarked on a mission, a journey. They established a clear chartered course for this society (nation) to function as a free, independent entity founded on liberty in regards to the knowledge of God and His WORD.

Years later, a Declaration of Independence was formally drafted and signed by those we refer to as our Founding Fathers, they built upon the foundation and concept of ideals that the early pilgrims and puritans established. As a symbol of prophetic vision, and trust in The Almighty God of The Bible, our flag and the eagle was selected as emblems of this ideal; Liberty, Freedom, Independence of its citizens to follow the biblical standard of daily life. You did not need to be a believer but you did need to adhere to the standard of conduct. This is how we became the great melting pot of the world!

Wars have been fought to lay hold of that ideal, lives have been sacrificed upon the great alter of freedom and liberty. Our Revolution, our Civil, the great World Wars I & II. All lay in retrospect of the cost of maintaining and honoring those ideals established upon the principals those pilgrims braved unknown waters and lands to establish. They joined in partnership with the indigenous people of the land to not only survive, but thrive and prosper.

Now, it is true we have not always remained true and steadfast to that which we were called. We turned against those indigenous peoples, imported slavery, and have abandoned our moral compass. Psalms 11:3 inquires about what can be done when the foundations are being destroyed. Make no mistake the foundations of this country have been under attack for sometime and many already have been eroded away and are crumbling – our nation is in peril!

We now are a nation, that mocks the God of our founders, we’ve turned to honor the god of pleasure more than sacrifice. A self centered society seeking what is right in everyone’s own mind. We can see the destruction of this abandonment in every stitch of the fabric of society. How long can we sustain ourselves in light of this great error; of holding course to the current compass of vague and shifting standards of conduct, morality, the pursuit and glorification of unrighteousness.

I have a birthday wish for this country, My Country;

Great God in heaven, Holy and Glorious is your Great Name, please send a spirit of hunger to return to your Word, your Standard, Our Heritage, to this land that I love, established upon your Truth.

It is time for national repentance! No longer can we celebrate for that which we have perverted, mistreated, and have led astray our future generations. Are we celebrating for their future? We as a nation need to have a good long look into that reflecting pool at Washington D.C. or WTC in NY and ask the hard question – are we exalting “Righteousness” or are we exalting iniquity? The wages of sin are death, and The Lord of Hosts will judge a nation in the life time of that nation. I do not believe nor am I asking for a theocracy but I believe as a nation we have allowed the foundations of our society to be eroded to the point of calamity. Only a true move of repentance birthed by The Spirit of God can we survive. My hope is not found in DJT, it certainly is not found in anything produced by the Democratic party. Only the Sovereign Grace of the God of The Bible and the atoning redemptive work of Jesus Christ’s shed blood can our nation be saved, healed and restored.

I am not asking you Lord God to bless this country with anything other than Your Spirit of Wisdom, Justice, Repentance, and for your Holy Presence to be honored in this place – called home.

A broken heart, and weeping for my country is how I will spend today.

Stuck in the Mud

Have you ever discovered at times in your life that no matter how much you try to press in or to continue forward in your walk, your journey with The Almighty it feels like walking in wet cement?

I know His promise is true “to never leave or forsake us” so why does it seem like we are abandoned while we are seeking Him earnestly, these moments when we seem to be “Stuck in the Mud”.

I believe in these periods God is trying to teach us a deeper level of devotion and relationship with Him.

Psalms 40:1-3 NIV

I waited patiently for the LORD (YHWH) He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire, He set my feet on a Rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and hear and put there TRUST in The LORD (YHWH)

As I cried out to him in my despair, my longing for a response or for some guidance , direction, or confirmation. He placed this WORD in my spirit. And He led me on a journey, which I would like to take you on. It starts with His Promise, at the beginning

In the Book of Genesis chapter 15 verse 13 God The LORD is speaking with Abram, and is about to enter into His Covenant with this servant of God Almighty. He declares “Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years.” Not a very wonderful promise to start off with, but He continues in verse 14…”and afterward they WILL Come Out with GREAT Possessions” emphasis added. This prophetic declaration and promise is found in the following course of time.

Joseph, many years after having saved all of Egypt and his father and his brothers is about to die and he informs his brothers in Genesis 50:24, that God will come to their “aid” and take them “UP out of this land” to the land promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and he made them swear an oath to take his bones with them.

As time passed, this great people, vast in number was placed in bondage and enslaved to tread in the “mud pits” to make brick. They were “Stuck in the Mud” for 400 years until that very first covenant promise was remembered and the prophetic decree was about to be revealed. Moses the Servant of God was about to be the instrument of God Almighty, the great I AM!

Exodus 3:7-8 “I have indeed seen the the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come “down” to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land flowing with milk and honey.”

Do you see from the miry mud, to a firm solid Rock. A place to be able to sing a new song.. This common theme continues as a promise and prophetic decree from Abraham, Israel, Joseph, Moses , as well as David in psalm 40, and we must now look to our ultimate example and fulfillment of ALL The Promises God.

Jesus was taken at night from the Garden of Gethsemane, accused and brought before Caiaphas, the Sanhedrin, and Pilate. He was beaten and scourged! Nailed to a tree, crucified and buried…placed in a tomb = the miry pit of Sheol. God The Father reached down and lifted (EXALTED) Him and set His feet on the sure and solid Rock… The Eternal Throne of Heaven and seated Him at His right hand. Guiding and directing the course of human history until He make His enemies a footstool.

“Who are you O mighty mountain?” Zechariah 4:7 Is it a circumstance, is it an oppressor, or devil or demon? What is the obstacle before you? Faith is TRUSTING and having confidence in GOD’S Promises. Although it may last a night, days, weeks, months or even 400 years our eternal hope and trust is in this; He IS FAITHFUL, and nothing…NOTHING can deter that which He has ordained.

By My Spirit says The LORD!

Now Arriving

The phrase “Now Arriving” is often heard while traveling via airplane, train, or even your cell phone after having typed in a specified address. Followed by the announcement that you have reached your “Destination”.

Everyone has a destiny. Some people believe they can choose their own path or
that they make their own destiny. Now some of that has a slight hint of reality
but the more Truthful reality is that we ALL have an appointment with destiny, by
which I mean to imply we will all reach or arrive at a final destination. Where will
I end up, where will you the reader end up, where will our loved ones end up?

There is an appointed time in human history, foretold long ago, of which we
all will come face to face with. No, I am not simply referring to death, but
more importantly The Judgement. Some will choose to stand based on their own merits of being good, bad, or any extreme in between, or some will say that they simply do not believe in God. These individuals will be found wanting. When weighed in the balance of a Just and Holy God, The Judge of Righteousness, these people will find themselves at a destination of eternal punishment and torture. We all – all of mankind – have been placed under this horrible decree. The wrath or Judgement of God abides; that is – it presently rests upon the children of disobedience of whom we all once were. All have sinned and fallen short. Sin is a simple matter of the human condition. And this declared sentence is only waiting for it be be imposed.

The only way out from under this sworn and established punishment, this divine sentencing , is to be redeemed out from under its terrible weight.

Such a person has paid the ransom, as an atoning sacrifice to appease a Holy
and Just God, this person is Jesus of Nazareth. He was and is Emmanuel,
that is God with us. The Gospel or Good News of John 1:1 states, “In
the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God,
and The Word became flesh and dwelt among us”. This same Jesus IS The Word of God and He offered himself as an atoning sacrifice for the removal of the stain of a corrupted human race.

His sacrifice not withstanding was accepted and validated only by His resurrection
from the grave. The tomb where he was laid would have been the place his body decayed and his bones only remained after his flesh rotted away. However, because He was found worthy, His offering up of Himself as a pleasing sacrifice to a Holy
God, he was not left to decay but raised to life eternal. And obtained a Name that is above every Name! We who place our faith and trust in Him, have a different destiny.

We have been redeemed, purchased as
it were, ransomed. He paid for our lives by offering His own.

Thus, Jesus provided a way for all who would believe in their hearts and
confess with their mouths that Jesus is The Christ – The King of kings
and The Lord of lords, He IS Messiah; fully God and fully man. The destiny that
awaits all those that accept this freely offered gift is – eternal life. Not one
of punishment and horror but one of joy and peace. An eternal habitation of
splendor and radiant Glory. A place of no more suffering or sorrow, or tears.

There is an eternal destination for every man, woman, and child that has
ever been born. The simple question is where will yours be? There are in truth
only two destinations; One with God, the creator of all life and living things
or one apart from God where only death, and damnation reside. Those that chose
to not be with The Lord now, will only realize when it is indeed too late.

So now is the time, today is the day for your salvation. For no person knows
what day or hour they will have to give an account. When will the departure for
that ultimate destination begin and what will the arrival at that destination reveal?

God LOVES you, so much that He died for you.

My sincere desire is that you would accept God’s free gift of grace, the
salvation of your soul.

**For GOD So LOVED the World! Jn. 3:16**

Good Vibrations

Sound is a very amazing and beautiful scientific realm of physics. Like light it uses waves or frequency to travel and even returns to its source through something called reverberation (an echo)

The ability to hear is an even more amazing gift, carefully designed and crafted. No wonder it is stated “I am fearfully and wonderfully made”!

I would like to discuss this topic of sound in regards to both, transmitting and receiving, from a biblical perspective, that is more specifically the Spoken Word.

**The Heavens DECLARE…the Glory of GOD; There is NO speech or language where their Voice is not HEARD. Psalms 19:1,3**

In the Beginning was The WORD, and The WORD was with GOD! It starts as a thought, an intention, a desire to make something known.
In the Beginning God made the heavens and the earth. God said (Spoke)…
By Faith we believe God SPOKE The Worlds into existence. And again, Faith comes by HEARING and Hearing by The Word of God and how should someone Hear without someone Speaking it.
From the thought or intent it is then “Spoken”. Then a very fascinating phenomenon and natural Law of the Creator is put in motion; in order for a word to be spoken there must be a “breath” that utters it outwards. The invisible working of the Wind of God, The Holy Spirit, “The Ruach ha Kadosh”!

So from the beginning we have a seed or thought originates in a mind (God – Father), The Spoken Word (God – Son), and the breath (God -Holy Spirit) utter forth that concept; always working in unison as one complete entity accomplishing their desires.

Man was created in the image of God and then God “breathed” His breath of Life into mankind, thus He the LORD God imparted The invisible Wind of God into man, granting us the power of thought, words, and with the breath of life to SPEAK and just as He SPOKE the worlds into existence we also have the power to create with the spoken word. We were created to create!

The following verses of The Word of God helps to illustrate this truth.

The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat of its fruit.Proverbs 18:21

By the fruits of his mouth a man’s stomach is filled; with the harvest from his lips he is satisfied. Proverbs 18:20

From the fruit of his lips a man is filled with good things. Pr.12:14, Pr. 13:3

We create the world around us by the condition of our heart and the words we allow to be breathed into existence as they are uttered fourth from our lips. Be it LIFE or death! Blessing or cursing!

This all is in regards to the utterance or transmission of speech, now lets look at the reception process. The same breath or wind that initiates the spoken word is then the key component to receiving that sound. In the design of the human ear it is made of tiny fragments of bone that do not touch, like a drum or other percussion instrument they vibrate with the frequency or wave equal to the source, this is why it is medically referred to as “the ear drum” taking the vibrations to the point of interpreting that is to say understanding the words or sounds in order to decipher them. It originated as a thought in a conscience mind, and only can be considered communication if that message is gathered to a like conscience being. Have you ever looked at a stereo speaker when music is being played, you can literarily see the sound in its vibrations or frequency, confirming that what we see is made of things unseen.

God the creator desires for His creation to be in communication with Him, so He provided everything we need to Speak, Hear, understand, and respond back to Him. He has been attempting to establish and develop that relationship with Him since the very beginning.

Adam and Eve were in perfect relationship with The LORD God until corruption caused a separation from Him. Christ Jesus on – The Cross – restored that ability to once again be in direct communication with Him and have relationship with The Almighty. We had lost The Breath of Life, and now He has been Restored unto us through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus The Messiah! The gift of The Holy Spirit.

When you hear that small still voice calling out to your soul, Do not deny or resist Him, accept what He freely offers you so can enjoy the Good Vibrations of A Good good God.

Genesis 1:31 God saw ALL that He had made, and it was VERY GOOD.

God Bless

A Tether

When one thinks of someone or something hanging by a thread, we never pay much attention to the thread, usually our focus is on either the thing or person hanging on or the circumstance causing the upheaval. A boat may be tossed about in a storm, We might think an anchor is all that is needed to weather the storm. Indeed an anchor is needed, but an anchor in and of itself is not sufficient if it is not secured – that is -tethered to the vessel as well as to the anchor itself.

**The reliability of The Anchor of which we TRUST in is determined by the Strength of The Thread by which we are tethered to it!**

An anchor used to stabilize a sea vessel to keep it from drifting upon the waves and the winds uses a tether, a rope, or chain in more recent times secured to the vessel joining the two as one. Most tethers or ropes can be defined as twisted cords of material, such as nylon, cotton, or hemp.

In the Book of Ecclesiastes 4:12 it states: ” And though one can OVERPOWER him who is ALONE, two can RESIST him. A CORD of THREE strands is NOT easily broken”. AMP

Perhaps for you or someone you may know of – life seems much like that boat tossed about like a toy to and fro amidst the storms and chaos of life. Are the storms of life chasing you, wearing you down, has life left you feeling like you are just barely hanging on?

You my friend DO NOT need to be ALONE in your stance against the chaotic storms of life. In the above quoted scripture it is pointing out that yes on our own strength we can be OVERPOWERED by him (the one who is trying to sink you, the adversary of your soul – Satan, the devil). But we can make a choice today to tether ourselves with a cord that is not easily broken.

So what is it that binds us to The Anchor of Our Souls? For those of us who believe in the saving power of Christ – He is our anchor in the Storm, but what is it that binds us steadfast to Him. What is our tether our life line to Him?

TRUST is the key, we can believe but do we TRUST? Proverbs 3:5 says to TRUST in The LORD with ALL your heart! If we can develop TRUST then we know we can rely on that which our trust is bound (tethered) to. As illustrated before, an anchor is a tried and proven device, trust is developed through use. Through trial and discipline of inspecting the rope, and ensuring it is secured at both ends. Trials and tribulations come our way to cause us to inspect our tether, we can be certain Christ is a solid rock and proven anchor, so the testing is for TRUSTING. Is our Trust secured at both ends?

Isaiah 40:31(a) declares; “They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength,” this word “wait” in the original Hebrew is qâvâh H6960# – Strong’s – means to bind , to tie or fasten, it is implying to fasten yourself or to bind yourself to The LORD! The vav is the joining letter here and it actually means to join or to connect, it is also the numeric value of 6 which is considered mans number or that which connects heaven to earth; in other words a tether.

So let us hang on with ALL that we have, reaching to touch the hem of His garment with one hand as an anchor, and with the other touching whatsoever things on this earth; connecting and tethering them together to be bound in unity in accordance to His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

And REST in perfect peace in spite of the storm, as our trust is steadfast in Him.

Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

A Tethered Anchor reveals A Tethered Soul

A Horn, A Box, and A Jar ?

In a previous post titled A Fragrant Offering , I tried to highlight the importance and understanding of an offering and sacrifice made by Fire, An Aroma pleasing to The Lord! As it applies to Christians today apart from the Jewish traditions and observances.

Today I would like to break open some other mentioned fragrances and how they might not only benefit us as believers in our journey with Christ, but also and perhaps more importantly how they may be presented and pleasing to our God.

In Revelations it states that incense that rises to the throne is the “prayers of the saints”. Rev. 5:8

I believe there is something The LORD God is searching for, sniffing for as it were. A pure, genuine unadulterated fragrant offering.

Prayer is such an important and vital role for Christ followers for without a daily regimen of it, it raises the question who and what are we feeding the seed of faith birthed in us?

I am going to mention a few types of fragrances and the containers in which they are typically and traditionally kept in during ancient times. And unearth some treasures from which we may hopefully be richly rewarded by the indwelling of His Holy Spirit as he guide us into ALL Truth.

A Horn of Oil

First let us look at at The Holy Anointing Oil- it symbolizes The Holy Spirit- and is emblematic of Separating/Sealing- A Holy perfume, not common. It was to be crafted and blended with oil, pure myrrh, cinnamon, Fragrant cane (calamus), and cassia. Exodus 30:22-25

This was a thick heavily fragrant blended oil, used to Anoint Kings, Priests, Prophets, and holy articles. It was stored in a rams horn; A Horn is a symbol of authority and an instrument to declare that authority and the fragrance it kept bottled up until the time it was need for a specific use, it gave that authority an Aroma.

Is there anyone among you sick? Let them call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in The Name of The Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick. James 5:14 NKJV

Prayer, Faith, and Anointing Oil in combination creates an aroma and atmosphere for The living God to take note, the fragrance is there to remind Him of His covenant promise as well as it is to remind us of who we are in Him. Fragrance is a powerful sensory mechanism of recall.

**Jesus The Anointed One IS The Horn of Authority, and The Anointer**

This is The Holy Anointing Oil also symbolic of The Holy Spirit and the sweet fragrance of His presence. Jesus – Messiah – (Christ) means The Anointed One, what was He Anointed with? A full measure of The Holy Spirit, if we are in Him, that anointing, that covering of The Holy Spirit is ours as His inheritance. May that powerful aroma be ever present in our lives. He, Jesus – is that Horn of Authority from which that anointing flows.

A Box

Next let’s look at Spikenard/Nard- it symbolizes Brokenness/Death/Burial and is noted as being a very costly prized fragrance.

On a certain night in Bethel, a woman came and broke open an alabaster box of expensive pure spikenard and poured it on His head. On another account, the night of his betrayal, a woman came and with her tears anointed his feet and wiped them with her hair. Jesus testifies that these women were anointing him for his death and burial and they would forever be mentioned wherever the gospel story was preached. Mat.26:6-13,Mk.14:3-9 , Jn.12:1-8

Alabaster is also commonly known as gypsum, you may have heard of this word before it is also known as drywall or sheetrock, gypsum board. Making this a very strong yet delicate material allowing it to be to carved in great detail, yet capable of crumbling to dust. It is stated somewhere that “He remembers that we are but dust.” Fragile and precious is the container that carries this great gift. So the fragrance which is contained within us as an alabaster box; our hearts, our souls, our hurts, our pains, our anguish and agony is very prized and precious pure as Nard to The Lord. Only when we are willing enough, desperate enough, to become fully exposed – completely vulnerable with our souls laid bare before The Lord our God can we bring fourth that sweet and fragrant offering that rises up and touches the very heart of God.

Samuels mother Hannah is another example of this sincere and open outward brokenness as she prayed earnestly, so intense and fervent was her prayer that the high priest dismissed her and accused her of being drunk. Sounds like Peter on The Day of Pentecost.

In the book of James, again we read of Elijah and the word that declares that the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (person) avails much. The encounter which James is referring to pictures the man of God (Elijah) in a position such as is similar to a woman in labor and child birth, this is referred to as a travailing prayer. No greater example of anguish of soul poured out to God The Father can be demonstrated than that by His only Son in The Garden of Gethsemane, on the night of his betrayal, The Pressings in The Garden .

Hannah and the women at Jesus’ feet are pictures of the same truth, a humble spirit and contrite heart God WILL NOT despise. He sees our suffering, He knows and hears our sorrow, our infirmities, our weaknesses. He bore that agony on the tree for you and for me, we meet Him there at the cross that is the altar and He is then able to restore us and give us hope not just any hope but the Hope of Glory which is Christ in us! The fragrance that only that depth of heart and soul can produce surely reaches the nostrils of our heavenly Father.

A Jar

Lastly lets look at The Balm of Gilead

The Balm of Gilead specifically represents – Healing/Restoration –

Is there no balm in Gilead? Jeremiah 8:22

Go up into Gilead and take balm, O virgin, the daughter of Egypt Jer. 46:11

In these verses it reveals a truth; yes there was a balm in Gilead, a natural balm that provided healing, comfort, and restoration for numerous ailments in the ancient world. However, in context these verses are pointing that without true repent hearts turning back to The LORD God – The True Balm of Gilead – there would be no healing, no restoration, and no comfort for the sorrows. The clay vessels used to store the balm, another symbol of our human construct that we are merely jars of clay, that must be opened to release the fragrant aroma of the resin of the tree from which the balm was derived from.

**2 Corinthians 4:7 NIV “But we have this TREASURE in Jars of Clay”**

In ancient Israel, Gilead would have been on the eastern bank of The Jordan River, south of the Sea of Galilee and north of the Dead Sea, lies the poplar balsam trees (opobalsmum) – a gift to King Solomon from the Queen of Sheba. Speaking of trees this leads me to the final aspect of the balm of Gilead.

Revelations 22; On each side of The River (of The Water of Life) stood The TREE of Life (Genesis 2) … And the leaves of the Tree are for the healing of the nations.

These fragrant emblems have one thing in common, they are stored in containers. A horn, a box, a jar.

The fragile delicate container of our whole heart, our whole being must be broken wide open to release the precious fragrant offering to saturate the surrounding atmosphere that rises to His Throne and before His majesty as a sweet and beautiful offering. Only then can He reciprocate in kind and pour out on us the Healing, Comfort, and Restoration we not only seek after but with that which we desperately need. In the Book of Judges in the account of Gideon and the 300 warriors God The LORD defeated the Midianites through them with use of A Horn, A Jar, and A Torch. [Judges 7:16-20]

The HORN of Authority MUST be SOUNDED and the clay pot MUST be smashed to release that which is contained inside the indwelling of HIS Glory to WIN the Victory for whatever battle we are facing and will face.

O how he desires for us to know Him, to be drawn to Him, to cover us with his love and grace, His mercy and His truth.

May The LORD God richly Bless you and may His fragrance and His Glory fill your souls as you Seek and pursue Him with ALL of your heart as a fragrance of itself!

Amen