With us in the Fog

As with His original disciples, so too with us. I came across this scene unexpectedly a few days ago, just after making an early morning trip to my P.O. Box with the intention of arriving prior to opening and thus upholding “social distancing” as best able. Upon leaving I was struck with a most beautiful mist that surrounded a grove of trees full in lavender and pink Spring glory. My urgent goal then became—park the car as quickly as possible, jump out and capture the moment. Before I could take a shot, the couple seen here in silhouette entered the path ahead of me. Scenes like this last only moments, typically.

Back in the car, I turned on the radio to hear a perfectly timed teaching about the original disciples–being in a fog–following the crucifixion of their Lord–and ours. The point the preacher made was: trauma can freeze us initially, just as it did the disciples. Even though, they had been warned. Even though, they had been told specifically what would happen. It took time, events, testing and reassurances of the Lord Himself to find their footing, be reminded of what they had been told and be assured that “Lo, (He would be with them) always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20.

So too with us. None of us has experienced this before–events of this breadth and magnitude; and yet as we gain our footing, we are reminded: our Lord told us what to expect and commands us to worry for nothing; for so too, “Lo, He is with us always, even to the end of the age.”

Might faith conquer fear. Where faith is weak, might we ask Him to bring the increase. Might the Spirit within us be out comfort; and in turn we be a comfort to others. Might He Himself strengthen us with might by His Spirit in the inner man, as He brings the clarity we seek. Might we trust in His perfect provision–and do as He commands, sharing with those around us in need. Might we be blessed with revelation that to follow Him, wherever He leads, to walk in His ways, is always the safe path–out of Egypt, through the wilderness and into the promises.

We know that birth pangs increase with frequency and intensity, but that they indicate, we are oh so much closer to His glorious appearing. He is Lord of the wind, Lord of the waves and Lord of the fog Might we be among those who endure, persevere and overcome in our day…step by step, strength to strength, glory to glory we go!

Who’s Reading Your Mail?

This photo was taken at dawn, as a rare morning fog was lifting. Within minutes the scene will change as sun overcomes shadow… haze gives way to clarity.

Despite popular opinion: As surely as the sun’s daily rise cannot be stopped by any but He Who commands its course, as certain is it that all things hidden will, in time, be exposed. Every thought. Every action. Every inaction. Every word. Every string of them.

The only comfort in this sure truth is that our Judge became our Redeemer, and wants to replace all our darkness with all His perfection and unmatched brilliant beauty.

Seek Hope. Seek a clean slate. Seek Life eternal. Seek joy everlasting.

Seek and you will find…Him.

The Right to “become”

Salvation.  Eternal Life.  Partaking in the riches of His Kingdom blessings…not for 90+years…but forever…never to be cut off from His goodness; never to be severed  from His outpouring undeserved favor.

Knowing Him as “Abba, Father”.  Not a ‘given’,  but a ‘gift’.

Choice…yours.  mine.   “There was the true light, which coming into the world, enlightens every man.  He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him.

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God…”  John 1: 12 

Beaten, bruised arms extended…knows your pain–intimately.

Come into the comfort of His compassion;  Fall at the feet of hope and assurance.  Cry out the Name of  the One Who became ‘like you’ so you could become ‘like Him.”   ‘Yeshua” “Jesus” (Messiah Redeemer).  Thousands upon thousands of testimonies have preceded yours….lives made whole, captives to sin in all its obvious and deceptive forms, set free.  forgiven.  New Creations–each and every one.   He already knows–has always known– if your heart would respond to His wooing.

Receive the right to become….a son…a daughter of God.   The Spirit-His-in you–will then bear witness, and you’ll know for certain.  You have become a child of God.

No longer do I call you slaves

Our brother John–and we can call him ‘brother’ if we, like him, are born again (born of the Spirit, born of the Father)–records Yeshua’s lengthy discourse to the 11 who  were his TRUE ones gathered with Him for His final meal on earth prior to the redemption price of Himself being ‘paid in full”.   The 12th–Judas– is referred to as a “son of perdition”;  for such he is, belonging to the other kingdom, the kingdom of this world; the counterfeit kingdom of the Prince of Darkness whose destiny is fittingly according to outer darkness and rightful assignment to it.   At this monumental meal, Judas, will ultimately be fully possessed and enslaved  by he, whose will he obeys and serves (John 13:2 and 13:27) even as the True King, “lays aside His garments”  to wash the feet of those He will shortly set free…slaves  become friends (of God).  (John 15: 14-15)

His holy hands cup tenderly each pair of feet created in His image and called to His paths of righteousness, knowing  His own will be savagely pierced through in the final act of surrendered servant-hood that will defeat eternally the master of all lesser slave masters.  Stooped even below eye-level, He continues to be the epitome of humility. Gently, and with the continued authority granted by the Father, He bathes the feet of His Adversary’s captives, just hours before the ransom price of His very life will set these  “friends of God” and soon to be,  true “brothers” free.  All His acts and all His ways are too beautiful and splendid to imagine or contain…this love for His own creation that stoops to swoop us into it forever.

Judas, ‘son of perdition’ follows his true father, and will forever be the slave of him whose offer he accepted–choosing, as did Esau, a ‘bowl of soup’ a temporary  satisfaction of  the flesh, as opposed to the eternal true riches of the Kingdom of God.   Thus Judas, like Esau, like the thousands upon thousands upon thousands upon thousands in every generation, will FOREVER  be among the many “called” and not “chosen” (Matthew 22: 1-14 and related…John 3: 16-21)

But to the 11–those who left everything to follow Him–the humble and rightful King,  says, “No longer do I call you slaves”.  His sacred blood, soon shed, will establish the promised New Covenant (Jeremiah 31:31 and 32:40) satisfy justice, and make possible a WAY for fallen man to become eternally the adopted sons and daughters of God Himself.

He knows, THE HOUR is now only hours away.  He knows, what they do not yet fully grasp, and what we as well, do not yet fully, fully grasp.  As the pilgrimage feast of Passover is upon them,  and the deliverance from a type and shadow of the spiritual  slave-master,  Pharaoh himself served,  HE (Yeshua) will fulfill, in perfect timing, the promise of the ages, redemption of captives, fulfilling what the Passover itself recalls and yet pointed to….

“No longer do I call you slaves…” (John 15: 15)  says The Way, The Truth, and The Life (John 14: 5-6)

Come out of Egypt.        By the blood of the shadow lamb then; by the Blood of the True Lamb now.

Come out of Babylon.    “And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, “Come out of her, my people, so that you will not participate in her sins and receive of her plagues; for her sins have piled up as high as heaven , and God has remembered her iniquities.”  Revelation 18: 4-5

Rise up, my love, my fair one and come away.  KJV Song of Soloman 2:10