AFTER CHRISTMAS SHOPPING AND GRANOLA

Christmas day meal at the Boinganu's and a snow picture from last year to represent the Christmas snow we enjoyed here. Tal's snow pictures did not show off the snow as this one posted does.

Wednesday was a day for shopping. Ben took us to a location of town that he had not been to since the communist stripped this city of it's life. The buildings were beautiful in their exterior architecture. People lived in apartments above the stores and they were actually trying to restore this section. Ben expressed sadness as well as delight as memories flooded his mind. He took us in a very small men's clothing store that sold some of the nicest dress shirts you will ever see and at a reasonable price. He explained that Braila manufactors these shirts that are sought after all over Europe.

The city police had blocked cars from driving on this street and it gave it the feeling of "holiday". A large covered deck like structure was in the middle of the street that allowed for relaxing with eatery or as a place for entertainers. This of course would happen in the summer. We made a purchase and headed over to Ben and Anna's for another of her good meals. Almost all meals begin with a soup of flavored broth with potato chunks, etc. sometimes a bit of meat or floating corn dumpling. Sliced bread, more dense than our, is eated at every meal.

We were finished by 3:oo and Ben announced we would go to Karrfore before taking us home for the evening. This is a super Walmart with a Mall attached. You can find almost anything in this grocery store. Some foods are more than I want to pay, so I will do without until I return home.

Before we left the house swarming with all ages of their foster children, 10 and three friends who came home from college with them, Anna and I put on a batch of Granola according to my recipe. After about 30 minutes of grocery shopping, Anna called the girls to check on it. They had already checked on it twice. I called about noon today to see how it turned out and if the family liked it. Anna said when she went downstairs the Granola was almost gone. We had made a 12 cup recipe. She saved me a bit to taste. I think the children liked it.

GYPSIES GET CHRISTMAS BOXES

The Gypsy community of Braila got their Christmas Shoeboxes. About 100 people packed into this one room chapel above. We gave out 80 boxes to very happy children. Honestly, this is all the Christmas these children will get. We took our food bags to the poorest of these families. This seems to be a solid work among the Gypsies of Braila. Also the village we visited Wednesday.

Ben's vision for future work is to empower the youth generation to go to school and if need be to move out of the area to find work. Several youth have caught his attention and they have responded with hope, showing signs of discipline that has taken them past the 4th grade. Most do not go beyond that. Ben also hopes to give promising men the training and financial loans to start independant business.

In the second picture, the woman named Sophia is a prayer warrior. She will call Ben occasionally to ask how he is and what the needs are. A month ago, she asked him about the arrival of shoeboxes. Ben had no answer for her, so she said, "Well, I pray about it." Thankfully, the delivery was able to be made. Sophia's daughter is a senior and wants to go to college. To go to college in Romania, you have to have the grades and pass college entry exams. I would personally like to provide financially for her.

GYPSYS NEED JESUS

I have struggled with this posting. You will understand why I say this if you have ever tried to explain a situation or share an experience and discover how impossible it is to communicate your heart. When you take a picture that is meaningful to you, it can't display all the little things around it that gave it depth, feeling, perspective, and imprinted your memory.

Life for the Gypsy is hard and trying to help them is complex. Many of them do not have jobs, therefore their children beg and steal. They are victims of a bleak social order that locks them into poverty and crime. Ben Boingeanu has a heart for bringing the Gypsy community to Christ. It is interesting that the Orthodox religion does not change their heart, but knowing Christ does. We took food bags to several families that Ben knew and 4 or 5 other men came to the house to pick up their food bags. I did not see any house that had more than two small rooms, no running water, no in-door toilet, no refrigeration. The dirt floor was covered with old and filthy carpets. Several homes had thick hangings covering mud dabbed walls that helped with insulation. Notice their stove/oven/heater in only one room of the house. This is where they eat, sleep and stay warm.

Many of the children do not have coats or adequate shoes. They leave their shoes outside. With melting snow there was ice, mud, puddles of water, dirty, messy shoes just outside the door. We stepped very carefully so as not to fall.

This delivery of food bags took all afternoon. In all the depressive things I experienced today, God is at work. I will share more tomorrow. Pray for those who carry the Gypsy communities on their heart.

MAY ALL PEOPLE CALL HIM HAPPY

The Jewish Translation I have been reading from for two years now, Psalm 72:17 says, "May all nations call Him happy." Other translations say, May all nations call Him blessed." We are not accustomed to thinking of God as a happy God. We most often think of Him as mad (angry), sad, disappointed, harsh, unapproachable and hard to please. The following is from my spiritual journal, March 2010.

Father, I do not easily see You as a happy God. There is so much to grieve the soul, trouble the mind, poison the body and deny the soul it's soaring on wings of Spirit energy.

This is an important truth to establish in my heart. A HAPPY GOD! I want to know more, so I ask You, Spirit of God, to open my understanding and allow me to live in the vibrant flow of a happy God. What a magnetic drawing to my soul! If it is true that people can bless themselves in God who is happy, my concepts must change to support the blessing. God is not made happy by my doing, (my performance) but by my being in Him.

John Piper writes much about our joyful God. If He is not joyful, He can not be my joy. Bill Johnson often says, "God is in a good mood, always." Then why wouldn't I want to draw close to Him? I know from my experience that God often invites me to come dance, come dine, come join the eternal party. Somehow we have misunderstood the character and mood of our happy God. Could it be because we are looking at God through our filter of personal perception?

When I think about how God feels when He looks at me, my first thought is not a smiling, radiant face, but a sad one, hoping for more and better. Yes, I glow in His grace toward me, but I need to spend more time celebrating the "being of me" that He created for Himself. He is happy over my being, not my doing. I wrongly think I am loved and valued because of how well I perform duties and keep commandments, how I compare with others, how beautiful I look, how much I accomplish for Him. Reputation seems more important than enjoying this happy God. Thus I become either like the prodigal son or the elder son with a bitter attitude. Neither son knew the heart of their father.

NOTE: If God's joyous heart and happy face depends on our good behavior, if He glories in His children, as we think, based on pleasant circumstances and our doing "right", then He could not ever be happy or joyous. Then where would I get the joy and the peace He promises?

Cut off from the Source of all joy and vibranat LIFE, man falls into self-consciousness. What a pit! Let this HAPPY GOD draw you deep into Himself. It will allow you to turn loose of so much that creates misery, depression, disappointment, etc.

Father, You creaated me to be the receiver of Your life flow, Your words, Your peacefulness, Your joyfulness and yes, your happiness, creativity and eternal vibrancy. I think it is time for me to walk into the warmth and safety of Your arms and dance until I can let go of all this junk that makes me sad. You only make me happy.

AMBROSIA

Ambrosia is what Tal's mother called a bowl of Citrus Fruit and Coconut.

While I was sick with a head cold and Tal the flu, we both found this dish healing and refreshing. Fortunately, even in Romania, Oranges and Grapefruit are plentiful and tasty.

Cut up twice the amount of Oranges as Grapefruit. For the two of us, I cut up in small chunks:
1 Grapefruit
2 Oranges
1 Apple
Pecan
1 Banana
A handful of Coconut
No sugar please.


Another dish I crave when I am sick is CUCUMBER PARSLEY. So cleansng and nourishing.

1 English Cucumber chopped finely.
1 handful of Parsley, chopped finely.
Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, and Sea Salt

Also try this Liver and Kidney cleansing dish. You can juice these vegetables to drink in small amounts through the day. Beet/carrot/celery/apple juice replentish and rebuild your energy after a sickness, but you can also shred up 1/2 of a Beet and sprinkle with Olive Oil, Lemon Juice and Sea Salt. The Lemon Juice takes the earthly taste away from the beet. You can do the same with shredded Carrots or combine the Beet and Carrot. Eat two spoonfuls at a time, periodically through the day. This is the time to simi-fast. Leave meat, sugar, processed foods for another day.

Now try making a side dish for your meal. BEET APPLE SALAD

Shredded Beet
Chopped apple
Lemon Juice, Olive Oil, Sea Salt

Celery and Pecan may be added if you like.

A VISIT TO THE LEPROSY COLONY

Thursday Ben picked us up along with another young man and we drove to Isaccea (sounds like Esacha). Our association built a church building for this Christian community and they are very proud of their building.

WE went first to the Leprosy colony to visit an elderly lady Tal has visited before. Her daughter was there visiting. Her tiny house is the smallest quarters I have ever seen. Notice in the picture that I am almost touching the heater and Tal is right inside the front door. I felt I was in a Hobit house (Lord of the Rings). There was one more room with a bed, chair and chest where the daughter slept. They cooked on a one eyed stove of sorts and had a tiny sink. This woman's hands are quite disfigured. She had no fingers, so when her daughter isn't there, someone must help her. Ben prayed with them before we left and then she prayed. The whole visit made me cry as we drove away. They have so little, yet are so gracious and grateful. This kind of leprosy is not contagious, but totally devastating to the one who endures it. Modern medicine have been able to stop the disease process.

One man who lived there was cured and left to live in Braila. He married and has two grown sons. One lives in Isaccea. The father and son stay at the Leprosy village three days each week as missionary/pastor to them and also the church in Isaccea. This is the young man we picked up in Braila and we left him there at his home. He is really enthusiastic about the work started. This seems to be a solid ministry in Romanian hands.

The little blue chapel was built by Romanian Baptists for this Leprosy village when it was established to care for them.

WEDDING ROMANIAN STYLE

The day of the wedding, I felt well, no symptoms of the head and chest cold. Sooo, I had Ben pick me up. Tal was still feeling rotten. I left the apartment at 11:45 and returned at 9:00 p.m. An 8 hour celebration.

I wish now that I had taken the camera to share a picture, but I didn't want to keep up with it. For some reason I have a slight fear of cameras. Haven't given it much concern though, Tal takes care of photography.

The couple was in their early 30s and both had good jobs. The Bride, followed by two Bridemaids, entered from the back. The Bride joined her Groom and sat together on the specially decorated wedding bench. The Bridesmaids sat on the front row during a 30 minute exposition of Christain Marriage and Family from Scripture. The grooms family was not Christian, but they experienced a healthy dose of Christian values. Then Ben led them in making their vows to each other.

We drove to a restaurant at the edge of town for the celebration party. This was a meal plus all kinds of activities helping us to get to know the wedding couple and celebrate their life. Christian music was presented the entire time by recording and by a small group of young people from the church.

The food offerings were over the top. From the time we arrived at 2:00 until we left at 8:40, food was being served, one course after another. Each table had a center piece of fruit - banana, oranges, grapes, and bowls of nuts. The first course was a lovely salad plate with tomato bowl filled with eggplant spread, a fish pate, cheese cubes, rolled deli ham. That would have been enough for me, but soon the next plate arrived. It had fried potato wedges and some kind of meat. That was taken away and a bowl of soup was brought. I was looking for dessert next, but two more plates were to come yet. Next was some kind of fish steak with a sauce and vegetable, then another plate of assorted meat. Other things were served that I don't remember. Oh, the dessert finally did come and it was worth waiting on.

It was a great celebration that I enjoyed even though I did not understand much and could not communicate with anyone. They are warm and friendly and I can smile back, but wow! how important is language understood!

DECEMBER 9

While parts of Europe are under heavy snow storms, Romania is not. It was another sunshiny day with mild temperatures. I felt much improved but Tal's fever has not stayed normal yet. We are invited to a wedding tomorrow afternoon, but I think we should both stay in if we plan to attend church Sunday. Luggage did arrive two days after our arrival.

I went to the grocery store with Ben and Anna this afternoon to get a few things for next week. Carrfore is like our Wal-Mart. I found grapefruit, oranges, bananas and apples, came home and immediately cut up some of each for a tasty fruit salad. Anna had brought me still warm creamed potatoes and Snitcel. Snitcel is a pounded piece of ham, dipped in an egg/flour batter and fried. Delicious! That is supper and the fruit again later before bed. I found plain yogurt and Kefir to help us keep our digestive tract healthy.

There are a lot of street dogs. They seem friendly but are always looking for a handout. Some restaurant owner must have provided a banquet for them because we were greeted one evening by a dog with two bones connected together by raw meat. We had walked about three city blocks to visit another missionary couple the second day. They reminded us about the dogs, that in some sections they are more agressive and territorial. On one earlier visit, Tal had a dog grab his pant leg in an unfriendly way.

It seems they are everywhere, in grocery store parking lots, looking so pitiful, holding one paw up in that begging position. Anna and I felt sad for them, but you don't dare reach down to pet. More tragically are the young boys in parking lots, trying to get money from anyone walking by. It was cold and foggy at the airport as we made our way to the car and a young boy looking about 8 or 10 years old followed us to the car, hoping for money. "Money!" holding his hand out. At the grocery store (Carrfore)a teenage boy was pretending to help folks find parking in hopes that someone would pay him. This breaks my heart. To give money usually creates more problems for you. It is like feeding the birds on the beach or in the park; suddenly more appear.

The IBM couple we visited told us that last Christmas a man and wife with daughter came up in their apartment building and seranaded them with carols. They were good and so they opened their door and gave them a small amount of money. It wasn't long before others came, who weren't good nor nice. The next several days, others came to try to sell things to them. When they refused to open the door, they quit coming and have had no more trouble.

TRAVEL ADVENTURES

Wow, what a frustrating experience! Air travel international. And we have to do it again inorder to get home in a month. Oh well, I will follow Scarlet O Hara's example: I'll think about it later.

The flight from Tri-Cities to Atlanta was cancelled due to severe weather in Atlanta, so Bill returned to the airport and we spent another night back home. Back to the airport the next day, making it to Amsterdam. We were given business class seating, which was most enjoyable. I was impressed with the comfort of the seats that allowed me to stretch out almost flat to sleep. Still didn't sleep but about three hours.

Our situation went sour again when we boarded our plane for Romania. We sat for five solid hours, not moving. The pilot kept asking for our patience while we waited for a place in line for de-icing for take off, which never came. We do not know what happened, but here are my suspicions.

Either the pilot did not want to fly to Romania for personal reasons, or the Ampsterdam airport was so disorganized due to the weather that they let us sit 5 hours being ignored by air traffic controlers. The pilot may not have felt competent to bring the plane down at the Bucharest airport in such dense fog, or he had some prejudice against flying to that destination or some unknown determination not to travel that day. Planes on our right and left were flying out, but not us.

There were a couple of angry men on board that spoke personally with the pilot. They had important business in Bucharest in the morning. Bet they missed the meeting. Two small children were on board and we never heard a sound from them. I couldn't believe it. The other travelers were pretty patient but bumbed out over the conditions we found ourselves in, as we were.

Can you imagine what it was like to join the people from 150 other flights who couldn't make their connection due to closed airports in England, Scotland? It was a zoo. And to make matters worse, one airport attendant would instruct us to go to this desk with 500 people waiting for re-ticketing, only to be told later by another person that we need to be somewhere else.

We were finally given accomodations in a hotel with no new flight assignment. They gave us a telephone number to call from the hotel for booking a new flight, but Tal couldn't get through to anyone. He finally called Kim at the Holston office and she quickly got us a flight to Bucharest through Paris. Others we talked to on our flight had still not been able to secure new flight plans when we boarded our plane the next day. THANK YOU KIM.

After the second night with even less sleep, I was beginning to feel pretty weary. Too much pulling luggage behind me at a fast pace. BUT WE MADE IT SAFELY, thanks to the skill of the pilot from France. He brought that plane down in thick fog. We couldn't see the runway until we were right on it. Just before getting off the plane I realized a head cold was asking permission to move in. Tal said his throat was a bit sore.

Of source, our luggage didn't arrive with us. It was left in Amsterdam on board our stalled plane or on the flight from Atlanta. We were met by friends and driven 3 hours to Braila, where Anna and Ben were ready to feed us. We got to our apartment about 10:00 p.m. We slept until 1:30 the next day. Tal nor I slept a wink all night this second night here. We finally got up at 5:30 a.m., fixed coffee and toast and are now pecking away at the computors. Still no luggage.

I hope we get ourselves in rhythm with our environment here in Brailia by this evening. I won't bore you will all the details every day. Good morning or good evening, which ever it is when you read this.

RELIGION

Religion is the counterfeit to authentic Christian expression. Christianity becomes religion when the Lordship of Christ is removed from ones' practical expression of life. . .hearing and obeying God.

Religion creates appetites it can not fulfill.
By nature it carries a value for form without power to live the Christ Life.
It carries a value for information and knowledge without experience.
It carries a value for outward appearance over issues of the heart.

Judiasm became religious, settling for form and law, instead of a living relationship with the God who gave it meaning. Hebrews speaks much of this and points us to the New Covenant that Christ ratified by His death. (Isaiah 58 John 5:42 (37-40) John 8:55-56) Hebrews 3 and 4 urge us to enter God's REST. Begin to enjoy retreating within yourself to relax with the indwelling Jesus and listen to Him. Get in touch with His celebrating heart and dance until your fears and negative inner dialogue is silenced.

Ask the Lord to make you aware of the many expressions of the spirit of religion in the church today. Would the Lord say to us what He said in John 10:1-4? (Read the whole chapter. Better yet, read John 10 through 17)

"I have come to lead My sheep out of the sheep pen, and give them abundant life." I think the sheep pen Jesus refers to is Judiasm. It had become a religion of rules, law that condemned, restricted God-fearing men from enjoying God and recognizing the Messiah when He came.

Labor to enter into His REST. The labor here refers to a determination to make time for your soul to rest. "Come away My beloved." Hear Jesus call you? Don't keep Him waiting due to busyness.

A DOMINATING IMPACT

The Church of Jesus Christ is to be a dominating influence, prevailing against the kingdom of darkness. It has been commissioned to carry on the works of the Lord Jesus and to do even greater things than He did.

How could anyone think that a dominating influence could be brought about by violence and force? The Crusades are a dark blot on the history of Christianity, but remember that this does not represent the heart of the Father. When the disciples wanted to call down fire on some trouble makers, Jesus said, "You do not know of what spirit you are speaking."

Put these two together: We are to love the Lord our God with all of our heart, soul and strength AND we are to love our neighbor as ourself.

Is it really possible to force one to love? Don't we create and draw love out of another by loving them with tenderness and appreciation? This is how the Lord Jesus treated those around Him. We who are called by His name will be known by the way that we love. We may be surprised at the end of life that God will reward us for how well we loved, rather than the volume of our accomplishments.

In the light of our crumbling world order, we may soon be called on to let go of many hopes and dreams of this temporary life and test our spiritual promises to actually see God's Kingdom coming in power and authority through us, as Heaven sees it.

God plans is to do far beyond anything we can ask and think through those who love Him better than life. Ephesians 3:20

The Church of Jesus Christ will have a dominating impact on the world before Jesus comes in bodily form, to the praise of all the world.

WORSHIP START WITH SEEING JESUS

"Worship starts with seeing You. Our hearts rejoice at Your revelation, Lord." as Matt Redman sings in his album Face Down.

You are the only true God:
Holy One
Worthy One
Famous One
Righteous One
Faithful One

I behold You. . . .Lamb. . .Lion
You are the reason I sing. . .the reason I bow down.

All my fresh springs are in You Lord.


The Lord upholds all who fall
He lifts all who are bowed down with care.
The Lord opens His arms to bid me come to Him.


I am not a victim of this godless society.
I am not a victim to deception from the spirit of the age.
I am not a victim to bondage from my personal brokenness
BECAUSE the "three-in-one" God has come to live in me.

I have a Helper for my infirmities. Roman 8
. . . .Counselor as my life coach. John 14
. . . .Shepherd, for I am sheep like. John 10 Psalms 23
. . . .Father who never takes His eyes off of me. Hebrews 13:5
. . . .Healer to make me whole. I Peter 2:24 Psalms 103
. . . .Revealer of all Truth. I can know His heart and His will. John 15

You are a God who communicates with Your human creation. John 14 & 15
You have given me ears to hear, a heart that understands, a will to obey and to follow You.
You have opened my heart/mind to receive revelation knowledge from the throne of the universe.

GOD IS MY STRONGHOLD

God is a stronghold in the time of trouble. God takes care of those who take refuge in Him.

"I, Adonai your God, say to you, as I hold your right hand with my right hand.
Do not be afraid! Because I am with you.
Do not fear! Because I am your God.
Do not be distressed! Because I give you help.
I support you always with My victorious right hand. I say to you, Have no fear!"

Even though Isaiah 41:8-10 13-14 is God's message to the Hebrew nation, it expresses His heart to each one of us and the Body of Christ.

Visualize Jesus before you, extending His right hand. You take His hand and He steps behind you, still holding your right hand with His right hand. As Jesus's arms embrace you from around your shoulders, you feel so secure. If you lean against Him, you feel His heart beat, strong and steady. . .not fearful. If you need to hear a word of encouragement or direction, your ears are close enough to hear His whisper.

Now visualize Jesus melting into your body, filling the space you call you.

This is my reality. And it is your reality if you believe that you are in Christ and He is in you. Union Oneness

Lord, You are my hiding place
my resting place
my laughing place where joy abounds with You.

THE WORKS AND CHARACTER OF CHRIST

"Whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do. Yes indeed! Whoever trusts me will go greater works, because I am going to the Father." John 14:10-14

Jesus, am I doing SOME of the works You did? My authenticity as a disciple rests on me releasing You in me to continue your life and works.

You loved people unconditionally. You looked beyond their faults and saw their needs. And you did something about their need. Shouldn't I be able to do the same as you did, since You are in me? "I am in the Father, and you are in Me, and I am in you." John 14:20

You interceeded for those who were enemies. "Father forgive them. They know not what they do." You told us followers that whose sins we remit, they would be remitted. My emotions & judgments sure do get in the way of that. I choose not to lean on my understanding of any thing, but look to You. Unfortunately, too often the church wants to call fire down on those who don't walk in line with us. You reminded the disciples, "You do not know of what spirit that desire is."

You took authority over the elements when needed. Multiplying food to feed a multitude was part of the disciple's training for "reigning in life by Christ". How often You rebuked the discipes for fear and helplessness in the face of a presenting problem. Would I have climbed out of the boat as Peter did at Your invitation to defy gravity and walk on water? You were so pleased with peter's response; unlike the rebuke earlier of fear, victim mentality, and helplessness.

You moved in authority over the works of the devil in the souls of men. You healed the sick, raised the dead, brought freedom to the captives, and You expected the disciples to do so. You were training them to continue the works that You did to bring glory to the Father and advance the Kingdom.

I am learning to express God's heart of love and compassion toward those who are not like me. I want to move away from legalism that causes a spirit of criticism and judgment. I want to live in limitless power in union with You, Jesus. I can release your peace into a place of conflict and agitation so that calmness reigns again. I can release anything Jesus was and did because He is in me being who He is. I am learning to stand firm against all the works of the devil by declaring the superior works of God. Greater is God whose works are life, peace, joy and truth; than the enemy's works of death and destruction, deception and accusation. I will continue to contend for "greater works" Jesus promised.

Lord, I give you permission to do whatever is needed in me to make me an open Heaven. Thy Kingdom come (at my core heart level)so that Father's will can be done in my enviornment as it is in Heaven.

What grace, that God would allow us, even insists that we be part of the transformation of what we have all but destroyed. We do not have to be defeated by our fleshly passions. I have agonized over why the Church is in such a weakened state. Why is it so hard to move into the WORKS AND CHARACTER of Jesus Christ? I do not think that each individual saint will do all the works Jesus did, but we have the ability because of Christ in us. We are all in different places in our journey, but collectively the Church ought to be a healing, nourishing place, where each can grow up into Christ, being real about our struggles. We ought to be able to minister in power to those in need the same way Jesus modled, seeing measurable results. Everyone does not have to flow in all the gifts, but people ought to be able to find help for any problem in a healthy family of Believers. We preach transformation of life, power, peace and joy because of our union with Christ, but what does the world usually experience when they enteract with the traditional evangelical church?

And what are the greater works we should be doing? Stop and think about it.

INCARNATIONAL REALITY

Jesus said, "Whoever has seen me has seen the Fahter." "I am united with the Father and the Father is united with me. What I say and do is not my own initiative. The Father living in me is doing His own works. Trust me, that I am ONE with the Father, but if you can't because I tell you so, trust because of the works themselves."

Jesus seems to be saying that the works he does should validate who he says he is.

Then comes the shocker:
"Yes indeed! I tell you that whoever trust in me will also do the works I do."

This has always disturbed me. Why do so many American Christians believe that the time of signs and wonders, miracles of healing and the authority to confront the darkness is over? When miracles do happen, we are never sure of the source of the miracle. We are very skeptical that it even happened as reported. Yet, Jesus expected the people to trust him based on the works He did.

Much of the Church today assigns the miraculous to be the works of the devil, when once they were the very things Jesus said affirmed the authenticity of one who was united to the Father.

Jesus was the incarnation of the Father. He represented Him perfectly and his works represented the heart of the Father flowing through Jesus. He has called us and commissioned us to do the same things he did. Jesus is in us, ready to live the same way he did in his human body.

Isn't the New Testament clear that the redeemed "whosoevers" are to be the incarnation of Jesus Christ the Son?

Is it reasonable to think that, for the first time in history, God would strip His followers of power and the tools to face the darkness that is increasing in these End Times?

Shouldn't the world say about us, "if we don't see the works Jesus did, then maybe you are not authentic." Think about it.

OH TO LOVE LIKE GOD LOVES

God's love is so extravagant that most of us have trouble receiving it freely. We may know better on the conscious level, but we feel strongly that our wrong choices, our weaknesses, our failures must hinder God's love and more certainly, our usefullness in Kingdom building.

God's grace also gives us a problem. How can it be true that God would take on Himself the judgement and condemnation we deserve, inorder to gain our love, inorder that He might restore us to Himself and to our original assignment.

Grace to me means that God's love covers all my defects, lack, wrong motivations, self-serving empulses, mixed motives of service, my easy fear, anger and hurt feelings. . . .you get the idea.

And His love whispers to my shame, "No condemnation. I forgive you. Go share My love and grace."



God's grace treats me with tenderness and compassion. So why do I find myself so easily moved to impatience and irritation with my husband? Why do I expect more out of him than I myself can give. Why do I find it so easy to endulge in self-pity and worse, to justify my negative attitude and hurt feelings? Grow up Liz! Grow into His love and grace.

Why do we separate from one another when we disagree in opinions, doctrine, ways of worship? God's grace does not treat me differently when I fail to interpret Scriptures correctly. I am still learning and changing in my understanding of God and His ways. God sees that my heart longs for truth and to know His heart. This should guide me as I respond to those who see things differently and are in another place of pilgrimage. We are all God's work in progress.

I am learning to lift to the Lord those I strongly disagree with or fear or those I feel disgust for. My ego wants to glow with pride that I am not where they are. I may be in a better place, but I see the seeds of deception in me and the potential for me is the same.

As the Spirit of love and mercy prompts me, I now see me stand in their place and I meditate and pray, expanding four short statements.
I am so sorry.
Forgive me.
Thank You Father.
I love You Lord.

I believe this honors the Lord who stood in for me and asked the Father to forgive me, for I know not what I am doing, nor understand as I ought.

SPINACH-CHICKPEA SALAD W/WARM BACON DRESSING

This is a Dinner Salad, meaning that it is all you need, unless you are a big eater. A baked Sweet Potato and Fresh Applesauce would be good. Tal and I just needed the salad. We ate a little Applesauce later in the evening.

SPINACH-CHICKPEAS SALAD WITH WARM BACON DRESSING

4 - 6 slices Bacon (Fry and crumble when cool)
1 15 oz can Chickpeas (rinse and drain) Cook your own for a bit healthier choice.
Fresh Spinach (I fill my salad bowl with what I think we will eat.
Sliced Red or Sweet Onion
Crumbled Blue Cheese
6 to 8 dried Figs, stemmed and sliced. Fresh would be better.

2 TBS Cider Vinegar or Fig Vinegar made with dried figs and Balsamic
1 TBS Dijon Mustard
1 TBS Olive OIl

After your bacon is browned, pour off the drippings. Add back 1 TBS and saute the Chickpeas until lightly browned. About 7 to 10 minutes.

In the bowl of Greens, add the Chickpeas, Onion, Bacon, and Figs.

Make dressing in the warm skillet, adding the remaining Bacon drippings, Vinegar, Dijon and Olive Oil. Cool a bit.

Pour slightly cooled dressing over the Salad and toss.

You could use a mixture of Spring Greens and Spinach. This salad must be eaten immediately.

PALE GREEN SMOOTHIE

How about a recipe? I haven't posted a new one for some time now, but I have several to share now.

As I have said before, I think Green smoothies are an excellent way to get children and grands to enjoy green vegetables, as well as having the advantage of getting the enzymes from raw food. This is so important in reproducing another healthy cell.

Did you know that in 7 years you will have a brand new body? Every cell dies off and is replaced by another. Will your new body be healthier or more diseased? You can do something about it, however I realize that this demands a learning curve that will demand persistence on your part. Any changes you can make will be worth the effort, if nothing more than refusing to go with the flow. Do what you can with what you know to be right and then don't worry about the rest. Remember too, that health is not just a matter of what you put in your body on a physical level. You are also soul and spirit in a perishable body. Your pursuit of intimacy with God is primary. "Guard your heart with all diligence, for out of it flow the issues of life." Determine to live in inner tranquality that is produced by enjoying God's presence and surrendering every negative emotion & thought to His love.

I hope someone will try this health giving drink and let me know what you think? You may be skeptical about using Spinach and Kale in this drink, but I am confident that you will be surprised how tasty it can be. This makes a great lunch or breakfast. To make your first green smoothie, we will start with very little greens.

IN A BLENDER:
A small handfull of fresh Spinach. If you are brave or trust me, add one leaf Kale. Kale and Spinach have mild flavor and blend well with the fruit. You can add more Spinach and Kale later.

1/2 frozen Banana. It doesn't have to be frozen. Banana makes for a smooth consistency. Remove the peeling and collect real ripe bananas in a plastic bag and freeze.

Small chunk of English Cucumber.

1/2 Apple, peeled.

1/2 Lime or Lemon Juice. Fresh squeezed, not pasturized bottled juice.

Enough Orange Juice to liquify. It is harder to find good tasting oranges, so use fresh squeezed, pasturized juice, not concentrated.


NOTE: Drink this meal slowly. Don't flood you stomach. "Chew" your Smoothie to activate saliva in your mouth to help digestion. You should not have chunks of fruit or vegetables in the finished product if your blender is strong enough to liquify the contents.

OTHER ADDITIONS: Flax Meal, Grapes, Kiwi, Pear

Enjoy!

JESUS WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT WHAT?

What was Jesus passionate about? The following is out of John 17.

1.Jesus wanted the Father to be glorified in the Son: "I have brought you glory on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began." (1-5) The work was giving eternal life to all those who would receive.

2.He requested all disciples would be protected by the power of His name: "I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. Protect them by the power of your name - the name you gave me. Also for those who will believe in me through their message. (11 & 20)

3.That followers would be one with God: "that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one. I in them and you in me. (21-22)

4.Jesus wanted followers to have his joy in them: "so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them." or "so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves." (13)

5.Jesus is asking for a unity that would let the world know of his radical love: "May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (23) This one breaks my heart.

6.Jesus wants us with him where He is: "Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am and to see my glory." (24) This starts now.

7.He ends this prayer: "Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you. . I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known, in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them."

My heart breaks from personal conviction as I pray these seven passions of Christ. Our culture does not look at Christians and say, "WOW, how they love." but "Boy how they fight, so contentious and disagreeable." They ought to say, "Those Christians have such inner peace and joy! I wonder if the One they worship would accept me?"


Read over these 7 passionate desires from the heart of Jesus as he faces the agonies of the rejection, loneliness, physical abuse unto death. Jesus paid a high price to redeem my soul from the preoccupation of self-focus. The way I read it, Jesus died to bring us into a community of lovers just like Jesus. Jesus was so one with the Father that he did and said only what He heard and saw from the Father. (John 5:19&30, 12:50) That would require intense intimacy of communion. I think this is were American Christianity is missing it. We are content with knowing about God but not knowing Him. We have substituted knowledge of the mind for enjoying a heart relationship. Our church life revolves around being taught and doing religious activities. We don't emphasis hearing directly from God because we do not believe He relates to us the same way He did in Scripture. How terribly we have been deceived!

I believe this relationship shift is why our hearts are malnourished and sick. God gave us a new heart and made us complete in Christ, but we insist on living out of the old heart that has been wrongly programmed from infancy. Unhealed wounds, unresolved issues, and unrealistic expectations are creating such pressure and torment of soul. Jesus continues to invite us, urge us to come to Him and find REST. Come to Him in the same kind of passionate love and fellowship that Jesus demonstrated toward the Father.

Would Jesus say to religious life in America?
"You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life." John 5:37-40

Scripture truth is not encoded in the heart because we give mental agreement and call it truth. Truth is written on our heart by hearing Jesus speak the truth to our heart as we commune with Him. We are connected to God by hearing His call. That is spirit birth. We then walk in the Spirit by hearing and enjoying His presence on a daily basis. This is transformation.

THE BRIDE MADE READY

What is the next season of redemptive history? Could it be the Bride of Christ made ready? Several years ago I asked the Holy Spirit, "What was Jesus passionate about? I want to enter into agreement with the passion of His heart." John 17 came to mind and I spent 6 weeks reading and re-reading, writing out and praying the Heart of Jesus in our behalf.

Jesus said that the Father loves us as much, yes as much, as He loves the Son. Can you believe it? I also noticed that from John 13 through 16 Jesus related these truths to the disciples, preparing them for His departure. For instance, Jesus said in John 14:20 "On that day, you will realize that I am in the Father, and you are in me, and I am in you." This is how He could say that we would do the same things He had done and even greater things. Jesus expected His disciples to enjoy the same fellowship, oneness and privileges that He had enjoyed with the Father. He knew that if we stayed connected to the Father as He demonstrated for us, nothing would be impossible for us. So why aren't Christians the most loving, powerful people on the planet? Why is there such a victim mentality? Why are we so sin conscious rather than righteous conscious? Why aren't we spiritually growing up to look and act like Jesus? Paul said that the saints were to reign in the earth by Christ Jesus, so I am looking for a whole generation to rise up, throw off conformity to the culture and be to the world what Jesus was to His world.

It would appear that Jesus was passionate about drawing us new creation saints into the circle of divine fellowship, of oneness that He enjoyed with the Father. This has not become a reality for the Church as yet, so I am praying with Jesus that before He returns He will have a passionate Bride in agreement with every Word He speaks in personal dialogue. "May they also be in us so that the world may believe that You have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one." (John 17)

I don't think Jesus was referring to one denominational voice of doctrine, but oneness of passion for communion with the Triune God. It is not agreeing intellectually with any doctrinal position that sets me free, brings me peace, joy and victory. It is intimacy with Jesus on the heart level where I connect with Him and enjoy His conscious presence. Much of our discipling has been aimed at teaching information rather than leading people to experience God Himself. Imagine how different our corporate worship would be if our worship leaders expected Jesus to reveal His presence, drawing all into the silence of awe in beholding Him. I have experienced this. Out of the silence came a soft weeping from most of us as we responded to His presence among us. Difficult to describe in words. I am pursuaded that many Christians are longing for holy visitations.

We can believe right doctrine, but if the heart is not changed we have no power to live what we say we believe. When we hear Jesus speak to the heart, (rhema) it will always carry with it the grace that transforms. (The definitation of grace here means the power and desire to do it God's way.) Imagine how exciting our discipleship groups would be if the teacher planned for encounters with Jesus so that each person experienced the burning in their heart and new places in the heart came alive to resurrection glory. I long for this in our worship gatherings and prayer meetings.

Could this be what we are being pressed into? It is almost impossible to change our worship traditions. Desperation will do it.

A BIT OF PERSONAL STORY

I ended my last blog post by saying that I feel God is doing a new thing among His people. I will share what I think that new thing is, but first some personal history.

About 35 years ago I became very troubled about the lack of transformation in the Body of Christ. The Apostle Paul warned us in Romans 12, "Don't be conformed to this world system, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds." The common understanding of that verse seems to be, teach proper doctrine and train the converts in proper spiritual habits and they will become proper Christians. No so. I have been immersed in church life now for 69 years and we are a mess of contradictions. We can't seem to live up to what we preach and certainly what Jesus promised to those who follow Him. I was devastated by my first church split and sense then constant conflict in the churches of our association and denomination.

If ever there was a "miss goodie two shoes" I qualified for the title. I don't remember a time that I didn't love Jesus. I seriously followed all the rules of my church and the laws of God as I saw them. I became legalistic, careful who I spent my time with, wouldn't think of stepping outside the accepted box. I had conformed nicely to the fear-based theology of my culture. I was in bondage to my own developed righteousness and probably no spiritual good to anyone, except that I loved Jesus. The Lord graciously brought me to the end of myself because He heard my heart cry, "Lord, I want to know you. I want to know the power of Your resurrection in me, no matter where it takes me." Phil.3:9-10 became my life verse.

In my 20s I read a mission study book by Bertha Smith entitled Go Home And Tell. Miss Bertha told story after story revealing that God still related to His children as the Biblical account states. He spoke to her directly and miracles happened continually in China. That is not what my spiritual upbringing believed could happen in these modern days. I so wanted her to be right. So, taking her cue, I asked God who was right. I was desperate to know. My question went something like this: "Abraham was Your friend and You talked to Him conversationally. Do you offer that same kind of friendship with us today? Can I relate to You like Abraham did?" I was a bit surprised when He answered a very solid "YES". The scriptures came alive to me as I started asking Jesus to talk to me about what I had just read. I would have a question and He would answer. I was in the class of the Holy Spirit. I was teaching a class of teenage girls and Sunday after Sunday, one of them would ask the same question I had received an answer about the week or two before. I realized that Jesus was developing a new kind of friendship with me that was very exciting and compelling. What I was hearing in my secret place visits with Jesus was so much more interesting than the Sunday School material written for every teacher of all ages to teach each Sunday. (I do not mean to be offensive)

IF Jesus said I will do the same things He did and even greater things, I wanted to know why the church as I knew it was not doing even the things Jesus did, not to mention the greater things. If Jesus said, the finished work of Christ is enough to set people free from fear & addictions and make us act like Jesus, where was the evidence of that? If Jesus said He was giving to us His peace and removing fear, why was my heart so fearful? Why are our cabinets so full of drugs to help us cope with life and our Christian leaders in bondage to the very things we preach against? Why is the Body of Christ so dis-jointed, so fragmented, so suspicious of each other, so judgemental? I could go on and on, and these were the questions I kept agonizing over.

My hunger for closer encounters with God through Jesus Christ has continued to move me past my fear-based relationship that imposed all kinds of limits and taboos, into a love-based relationship without limits. The past 10 years have brought answers to my most troubling question: Why are we not being transformed into the image of Christ?

This writing has become longer than I think most will read, but if no one else reads it, perhaps it serves a purpose for me. Thank you for reading. I welcome your prayers on my behalf. I pray for each of you.

A CRY FOR MORE

I have presented the idea that there is romance at the center of the universe. We know that God is love and that God so radically loved the world that He gave His Son to rescue us from self destruction. We still have a hard time getting close to this God. Our brokenness gets in our way of intimacy. We can identify with the Hebrew people when they told Moses, "You go up and meet with this God. We are too afraid that He will kill us." The people saw God's acts but Moses discovered His ways.

Moses and Joshua longed to get close to God and God was very accomodating. He took them as far as they could go in their season before the Messiah ratified the New Covenant to bring us even closer. If God was so accomodating under the Old Covenant ratified in animal blood, how much more likely does He plan to draw us into intimacy and show us the realm of the spirit so we can function on the earth as partners?

There are those in the evengelical church that do not expect God to speak directly to his people as He did with Moses and Daniel, nor appear in visible form as He has done to many Muslims and others in our day. Without visitation we do not sustain our walk with God. From the beginning, His heart has been to enjoy intimacy without shame and to share His glory with us. In John 17 we feel the passionate heart of God as Jesus prays to the Father. And now we see that for this season, God has made those who love Him one spirit with Him and made us His permanent dwelling place.

Peter says in his second letter (1:3) "God's power has given us everything we need for life and godliness, through our knowing the One who called us to His own glory and goodness." We don't have to labour to get something we already have. This is hard for us to stay on track with. For instance, if I say to you, "LET THE JOY SEEP THROUGH." In your mind, which way do you see the joy seeking to get through? From the inside filling your soul, or from the outside trying to get in to your soul? Answer should be "from the inside." Christ is already in us being joyful. We feel so incomplete and our behavior is often much less than what Jesus demonstrated for us. The secret place dweller will connect with Christ in her heart and joy begins to flow out. If Christ is in you, then He is being peaceful and loving, strong and forgiving, victorious and anything you need for life and godliness.

You see, God is a heart God, not a law God. The law was given to the Hebrew people under Moses to prepare them to be a people of high living standards and represent the holiness of God. Messiah was to be born to this culture group. God also gave the law to prove to Jew and Gentile alike that it is impossible to please God though law-keeping. He desires the intimate heart to heart fellowship. He has made our hearts long to know our Creator. The Law is good but can't bring us to God.

We need a Savior to bring us into His presence without fear. Your church experience probably will not satisfy this desire the Holy Spirit has created in your heart. I hope you do not misunderstand me, but most of our gatherings take place only in the intellectual level of our mind and never reach the heart level.

I feel that God is again doing a new thing. I will talk more about that next blog.

SEASONS 8 Secret Place Dwellers

"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High will abide under the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1 KJV "You who live in the shelter of Elyon, who spend your nights in the shadow of Shaddai. . ." (a Jewish translation)

Does your heart burn for a more concrete expression of this hidding place? If it does, it is probably because the heart of the Most High God burns for the same thing. Think about it. Where would that desire come from if not from Him? He is the one who is drawing you and creating the desire for close encounters with Him.

There are many things that I think contribute to the distance we may feel. It is perception on our part, because God has promised to never leave us, never abandon us. I do not think that the senior season of my life has increased my longing for conscious awareness. I have always wanted more and more of God, but I do enjoy more time to sit in His presence and visit than I did in my busier seasons. For me, the secret place of God is an awareness of His presence where I can focus my attention and my affection on Him. Make time at least once a day, no matter what season you are in.

Those born of the Spirit of God are called by the apostle Paul, new creations saints. We are a "new breed" on earth because we have become a dwelling place for the Spirit of God. God can not get any closer. However, our hearts long to have all the limitations and barriers of our old selves (our false-self) to be removed. We long to see Him face to face. Refer to John 16:5-24 The disciples were struggling to understand the season Jesus was preparing them to enter next. They did not want Jesus to physically be taken from them.

We, as new creation saints, can function in two realms; the physical and the spiritual. As we learn to walk in the spiritual realm with Jesus, we should be learning the ways of the Kingdom and how to effect the physical as Jesus did. Jesus taught us to pray for the Kingdom to begin to manifest in the earth as it did in Heaven. This has become my passion; to enjoy a love relationship with Jesus like what He enjoyed with the Father, and to feel confidence to do the "same works Jesus did" as He lets me know what He wants to do through me. I expect it to change me from the inside out.

One of the reasons for doing this series was to show the progressive revelation of God's redemptive plan. Everything is building to a grand ending. We can be encouraged that what we are experiencing now is securely in God's hand. If men did great exploits for God under an inferior, incompleted covenant, think what the new creation saint can do under the superior, completed covenant? What Daniel, Moses, Joshua, etc. did with the Anointing on them, we can do more with the Anointing in us. What David did, we can double. Jesus said, ". . and the things I have done, you will do also and greater, because I am going to the Father and I am sending you My Spirit to be in you."

You are indwelt by God. The resurrected Christ, with resurrection power, is one spirit with you. I Cor.6:17 If you are stuck in the Season of the Law that brings condemnation, throw it off. If you are exhausted from the "treadmill of performance"? Heed the invitation.

The Spirit of the Bride says, "Come away with Me. Come dance with Me. Let Me tell you who you are to Me. I paid for the right to enjoy your affection. Let's do life together. I will prepare you to be all you need to be in this season of your life."

SEASON 7 A SUMMARY

It seems reasonable that what God designed and purposed in the beginning, He will secure in reality at the end. So I am praying toward and expecting a triumphant Church to appear out of the chaos around us.

Think back over the last 6 seasons of God's history in the earth. we saw a progression of God setting up each season to move closer to His special creation, man. He longs for union and fellowship with His creation.

1.The Garden of Eden - He established a Lordship/love relationship with Adam and Eve. He lost it when they dis-connected through rebellion. The judgement for rebellion was carried symbolically through animal blood. God re-establishes the relationship.

2.Abrahamic Covenant - The everlasting covenant of grace was made with Abraham, Father of the Hebrew people and our faith. Gal.3:26-29 God pledged that He Himself would pay the penalty for rebellion and do for us what we could never do. Animal blood was still the substitute for man's life.

3.Tabernacle Worship - Moses was given God's laws for righteousness. This was never intended to make us righteous in God's sight. It has always been by God's grace that man has a relationship with his creator. The Law was given to prove to the people that man can never bring himself or society to meet God's requirements. God Himself is the only hope for man experiencing what he was created to enjoy - love, peace and happiness expressed in a love relationship with a sovereign Creator.

God also gave Moses a highly developed and symbolic system of worship with strict measures to protect the rebellions people from the holy God who is passionate about moving closer to those He loves. God moved into the midst of their encampment. It has become clear that animal sacrifice pictures a better sacrifice to come. They were headed for the land of Caanan to become a nation, under the government of David and God in partnership, in Jerusalem, City of Peace. We are to reign in life by Christ Jesus.

4.Davidic worship - David enjoyed an intimacy of friendship with this holy God that was rare up until then. I think God was demonstrating with David what He longs to enjoy from every spirit-born individual. He longs for our attention and our affection, not our duty and our performance. Those things will flow out of a healthy relationship with Jesus. We were created to draw our greatest pleasure from Him. The Psalms reflect David's heart and how he played life openly before God. Our hearts long for intimacy without shame. We must find the Secret Place of the Most High God as David did.

5.Jesus, as God come in flesh, launches the Kingdom of God and a new closeness to His human creation. After bearing our grief and debt in His own body on the cross, He moves right in to the midst of each individual who will open their heart to Him and love Him with gratitude. He removes the shame that causes us to hide, opens our heart so we can become a new breed of humanity on the earth. (New Creations in Christ)

6.The Church, the Redeemed of God, learning to walk in step with the Spirit of God. We are indwelt by God Himself! WOW! Can you believe it? Can God get any closer? Christ was the incarnation of God. Each lover of God is an incarnation of Christ.

Listen to what Jesus told the disciples just before He left them to carry on with all He had trained them to do:

"Don't you believe that I am united with the Father, and the Father united with Me? What I am telling you I am not saying on my own initiative. The Father living in me is doing His own works. Because I live, you too will live. When that day comes, you will know that I am united with my Father, and you with me, and I with you. Yes, indeed whoever trusts in me will also do the works I do! Indeed, he will do greater ones, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask for in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son." John 14

Ponder this in your heart.

Raw Kale Salad #2

Here is another way to prepare raw Kale and it is full of flavor. I tried it with Karen T. and she loved it too. So I decided to share it with my bloger friends.

RAW KALE SALAD #2

Wash well and remove from the tough stem. You can tear the Kale from the stem and then place in water to wash.

For two people, one bunch is enough. Tear into bite size pieces. Place in bowl.

Drizzle with Olive Oil and sprinkle with Sea Salt.

Squeeze lemon Juice over the Kale. Half may be enough for you, depends on how much
you are preparing.

1 Avocado - remove seed and add the meat of the Avocado in the salad.

Now, massage the Avocado into the Kale with your hands. This becomes like a dressing. Allow to rest about 1 hour to soften the Kale and over night it is still fresh tasting.


I was going to add Sun-dried Tomatoes and small slices of Sweet Onion. Tal tasted it and said, "Oh, that is really good just like it is." I went ahead and added them and we both liked it.



I think English Cucumber and raw sunflower seeds, soaked and sprouted overnight, would complement the flavor if you wanted. But the basic combination is outstanding.

If any of you try this, I would like to know your opinion.

SEASONS 6 Season of Fulfillment

How close does God's heart long to draw you? I encourage you to ask your heavenly Father that question. Why not ask Him right now, before reading further. He may surprise you and/or affirm this truth as you read.

If you want some really good clues, read through the Gospel of John. Ask the Spirit of Jesus, the Spirit of Burning, to point out the emotions of Jesus and what He was passionate about. Chapter 14 & 17 should be meditated on.

John 14:20 17:20-26 You will find He is passionate about revealing the Father. He wants us to be connected heart to heart. He wants us to be where He is. From the life and teachings of Christ, I understand that there is romance at the center of the universe. Our creator God is a LOVER. Also the giver of good gifts, happy, joyous, and celebrative.
"You will know that I am united with my Father, and you with me, and I with you."
"I am giving you My Spirit and My peace to be in you forever. I will not leave you alone or orphaned."

God's incarnation in Christ is the Season of Fulfillment. "In the fulness of time" is a phrase Scripture uses to indicate that history is moving according to God's time. We today are still in the season of the Covenant of Grace fulfilled. The Old Covenant that God made with Abraham has been completed in Christ's blood, not the blood of animal sacrifice. So when Christ said, "It is finished", He was referring to the redemption of the Bride that would flow from His side. This was pictured in the first season of redemptive history in the Garden, as the Creator took from Adam's side a rib to form Adam's bride. She was bone of his bone and flesh of his flesh and they were one flesh. Look through the seasons of progressive revelation and read again John 14 & 17 or at least the few verses given above. Do you get a sense of the passion in Jesus's voice. He is preparing the disciples for His departure after the resurrection. Connect with the emotion of Jesus here and when He talked to the Samaritan woman in John 4.

Here is my suggestion:
Read through John 13 - 17.

Read through the second time underlining with pensil everything that impressses you.

Read through the third time, taking notice of possible emotions of Jesus. Ask the Spirit to make you aware.

See yourself as one of the disciples listning to Jesus. You have the Counselor with you.

Ask the Spirit to give you more than theological insight. You want a heart impartation that will shift you out of the 20th and 21st century Christianity into the new Season on God's calendar. We are already in this new season.

Samuel was grieving that the nation wanted a king like all the nations around them. He saw them rejecting God's authority. Many of us see the same thing has happened in America. God told Samuel to stop grieving. "I am doing a new thing. Get yourself ready to do your part. Go anoint David and launch this new season of redemptive history.

SEASONS 5

The next Season of Redemptive history brings us to David and his son Solomon. Both of these men had their weaknesses and made wrong decisions, but their heart was open to God. They brought in the best days of the nation of Israel. After Solomon's reign of peace and prosperity, the kingdom was divided and most of the kings were corrupt, ending this season of 500 years with silence from God.

It seems that God was most pleased that David's heart was so passionate toward Him. It appears that David enjoyed many privileges that were to be reserved for New Covenant Christians, because he hungered and thirsted for the Living Waters that Jesus would bring in the next Season. David enjoyed a love relationship with God of the Old Covenant that embarrasses many Christians today. Mike Bickle says that David introduced the Bridal Paradigm that Jesus would further develop in His Kingdom teaching. Remember that Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, "The Father is LONGING for worshipers who know Him in spirit and truth."

The life of David is so rich in spiritual realities that the saints are supposed to be enjoying today. Think with me: David demonstrated the supernatural powers of God in defending his father's sheep and later the giant that threatened the nation. As a youth He took advantage of the solitude from distractions and enjoyed intimacy of fellowship that set his relationship with God for the rest of his life. God allowed him to eat the holy bread that only the priests were to eat. David went through hard times as a fugitive that developed character and prepared him to reign as king because he heard from God personally in all he faced in life. He danced before the Lord in abandonment and joy. As king, he developed musical worship leaders and helped write much of the praise music. These priests led the people in corporate worship, while worship was going on 24/7.

David was very spontaneous and authentic in his relationship with God. He expressed his feelings of adoration and awe of God as well as his feelings of lonliness, anguish of confusion and suffering, bitterness. In this he gave us a pattern of authentic love relationship with God that was not common for David's season. Jesus comes next in redemptive history to clarify and reveal more deeply the passionate heart of God.

In summary, David enjoyed great intimacy outside of the office of the priesthood. That was not for his season. He lived beyond his time and demonstrated the relationship with God that Jesus would reveal. The prophets and priests were to represent God to the people and the people to God. David was an exception in his day and modeled what would be available to every Christian. I believe that God was pleased with his passionate pursuit. "David is a man after My own heart." God provided a preview in David and Solomon's reign for the Kingodm Jesus has in mind for every individual and every nation.

Our next visitation will be the coming of Messiah. How close does God plan to go with this progression from season to season? As close as your very breath.

SEASONS 4

There are far too many worshipers in our churches who see God as a demanding, unapproachable God. Yet Moses and Joshua were as close as any to Him and they found Him to be most fascinating, awe-inspiring and welcoming. Joshua often stayed in the Tent of Meetings for hours and hours in the presence of the Lord.

When God called Moses to the mountain, Moses asked to see His face. God was very accomodating. He showed him His glory and then declared His name. The Lord passed before Moses and proclaimed: "Adonai is God, merciful and compassionate, slow to anger, rich in grace and truth, showing grace to the thousandth generaqtion, forgiving offenses, crimes and sins; yet not exonerating the guilty ......" This indicated His plan to be the substitute for our guilt. Exodus 33:11-23, 34:5-9.

Moses was convinced that man needs God to go with them, to be their personal God. He told God that if He would not go with the people into Canaan, "don't make us go on from here. For how else is it to be known that I have found favor in your sight, I and Your people, other than by your going with us? That is what distinguishes us from all the other peoples on earth." WOW Think about it.

Stop and think about that last statement. Our God goes with us and makes His presence known, and communicates with us. He hasn't gone silent just because we have the Scripture in our hands. "Lord, give us ears to hear You and the determination to be in a place of hearing."

God made a covenant to bring the whole nation into their inheritance. After He safely delivered them from slavery in Egypt, He gave Moses the Law that would govern the nation and create a unique people group out of which He would present to the world a savior/redeemer. The other thing Moses received from God was instructions for constructing a place of worship and the safe way to live that close to a holy God. In this season of redemptive history, this arrangement allowed the longing heart of God to move into the midst of the camp in the wilderness journey to their permanent home. They were given visible evidence of God's presence by the cloud over the Tabernacle and so many more things changed in this season to bring God closer to His people and make them aware of Him.

In this more developed pattern, the people actually enacted the plan of redemption that He Himself would experience in the fullness of time. I hope each of you reading this are familiar with covenant and Tabernacle. It is so very rich with meaning for us Gentiles and especially the Jews who acknowledge Jesus Christ as the Messiah. They were looking forward in time to Messiah's redemption and we look back in time to this event. It is by grace we are re-connected to His heart, both under the Old Covenant and under the New Covenant.

Do you see the progression of God moving closer and closer to humanity, the apple of His eye? Various heroes like Daniel, Joshua, Job, Joseph had special relationships that are to teach us about God's character, faithfulness and loving heart and to what lengths He has been willing to go in pursuit of us.

But He has another move to make and we will talk about that in the next post.

SEASONS 3

Jesus came with a passion to reveal the Father. In our self-focus, each age has mis-interpreted the relationship God has initiated with man. Even today, we tend to see God as harsh, demanding, impossible to please, unapproachable. We want His help but we don't want to get too close. We feel more comfortable with Jesus, however, Jesus clearly taught that to know Him was to know the Father. John 14:8-11

In John 4 Jesus makes a statement something like this. "The Father has longed for this time in history. He has been looking forward to the time when man would be able to worship Him in spirit and in truth." This makes me think that the triune God had a plan that was to unfold through out history. This redemptive plan was to bring a rebellious, blind, self-centered humanity back into intimate love relationship as He had origionally planned in the Garden.

God gave the plan in a nutshell when He came looking for the naked couple hidding from Him, yet desperately needing to re-connect with His loving heart. We still hide and He still comes looking for us. Let's look at the major seasons of human history that show how God methodically planned and progressively revealed His longing heart.

God told Adam to kill an animal and cloth themselves with the skins, thus the first season in redemptive history was animal blood as a substitute. God gave specific directions and a more full understanding what it would cost Him to cover their nakedness. Who would ever think that the Creator would take on flesh to become man's sin-bearer Himself. Authentic Christianity is the only religion that believes God Himself took our guilt and judgment so we could escape the penalty of our own mess.

Enoch walked with God in such intimacy that God took him without seeing death. This pictures the relationship God longs for. (Evidently Enoch did not find God harsh, demanding, hard to please and unapproachable.)

Noah, in a season of extreme wickedness, obeys God and builds a boat when no one had ever seen enough water to float a boat. God instructs him to go inside, God shuts the door and they ride out the wrath of God's judgment. A picture of being in Christ. Noah probably did not know the longing in God's heart for such intimacy and it could not be so until Jesus came. Now we are in Christ and Christ is in us. Rejoice.

The next important season of redemptive history was when God visited Abram. So much happened during that visitation of grace. God changed his and Sarah's name when He made covenant with him. That covenant is rich with meaning and this is the covenant that Christ fulfilled, not the covenant of works He made with Moses. Isaac is a type of Christ as Abraham obeys God and takes His son to Mount Moriah to offer him as sacrifice. God stops him and says, "God Himself will provide a lamb as a sacrifice." God actually revealed to Abraham that 2000 years later He would take a body. As Jesus of Nazareth, in that same location, He would die instead of Isaac and His death would cover all who would come to him. (John 8:56)

I am going to stop here, mainly because I want to keep it a readable length. We will pick up with Moses and Joshua. I hope you are beginning to see that God's heart longs for man to love Him for who He is. He goes to great lengths to draw us into Himself.

SEASONS 2

One July 24 I started a series of postings that I entitled, SEASONS OF LIFE. I sense that the Church (Body of Christ) is moving into the final SEASON of Redemptive History. If this is true I am looking for mature sons of God to be revealed. I want to be one of them. To me this means that authentic Christians will begin to live up to their name in character and demonstrate the Kingdom power that Jesus talked about in John 13-17. Jesus came teaching about the Kingdom and His life and death brought it into existence. He told us to pray for it to manifest in the earth. "Thy Kingdom come and will be done, hallowed Father, on earth as it is in Heaven." However, we can not seem to move past our Self-focus, our victim mentality, our helplessness; even though Pentecost was to empower us to live like Jesus. Many like me, are reluctant to move into our inheritance as mature image bearers due to pride issues. We know we are hiding many unresolved issues that have not yet bowed the knee to Christ.

How obvious it is to me that all humanity suffers from the same effects as our original parent's dis-connect from the Creator. The following are descriptive phrases for the results of this disconnect:
"nakedness"
"falling into ourselves"
extreme "me-ism"
narsistic lens through which we view and interpret life events and relate to God.

Would it be too harsh to say that our fear of nakedness sets us up to take on a victim mentality? Everything wrong is someone elses fault. Self-pity and anger rule us. Yet we continue to look within ourselves for ways to "even the score", maintain the control we need to protect and pursue our slice of life. We want God to garuntee pleasure on our terms. This unresolved stress is being stored in our physical body and its pain is constantly crying out distress signals. We deal with their agony with anti-depressent, anti-anxiety drugs and sleep aids. Cancer, diabetes, bi-polar disorder, high blood pressure, are as common to Christians as those who know not the Prince of Peace.

For us in America in the 21st century, we have about maxed out the American Dream. What will we have when all of this collapses? Will our gracious God come looking for us in the winter season of our life and our nation's life and ask us the same question:

"Who told you that you are naked? Yes, your misery is real because this life is not your final home and you have spent too much focus and energy on temporal things. I am still covering you, still loving you, still holding you in covenant. Come into the Secret Place with Me. I will give you a different perspective on your nakedness. No condemnation and no shame. I took that into Myself. Let My life flow through you. Soar with Me on the wings of Spirit energy. My love with bring wholeness to your body and soul."

God created us to be lovers.
Greatness lies within us.
We are beautiful and awesome in our design.
We are healers, builders and extremely creative in vision.
But we can't move in the flow of who we are, because we are not being nourished and affirmed by the I AM who made us in His image.

We ought to be moving from glory to glory and doing exploits of Kingdom dimensions.
We ought to be restoring our society and rebuilding the waste places.
We are sick, life has us defeated and we don't have answers to give. Something is terribly wrong with this picture of the church of Jesus Christ. Have we settled for a ticket to Heaven when we die? This greatly disturbs me. I guess you can tell. Right?

I have just run a "rabbit trail". Hope I haven't lost you.

I will bring this posting to a conclusion and bring us back on track. This posting has focused our attention on the final Season of Redemptive History which I see as the Bride of Christ being made ready for the return of Christ the King. In this season, the people of God will focus on hearing the sounds from the throne room and seeing what it looks like as the Kingdom manifests on earth through the Redeemed community. We must throw off all that restrains and distractions and press on to know the Lord.

Next blog I hope to fill in the Seasons God has brought us through. This may give us a better perspective for the present season. We are the Bride and He will make us ready.
In each season of redemptive history, we have seen God's people do exploits. Think of Joseph, Joshua, Moses, Daniel, David and many more. Their heroic lives are examples of what a whole generation will look like before Christ returns.

I don't know how the rest of this is going to be presented, since this seems to be coming spontaneously, but then perhaps that is how a blog can be useful. I am vulnerable to your response, for this is not all thought out manuscript, so be kind and give me allowance if you disagree.