Reflections

In order to reflect, water must be still. The more still it is - the more exact will be the reflection. In order to be a more exact reflection of God's nature and glory, we need to be still...very still before Him. I also saw in this picture the verse where Jesus said "greater works shall you do" as the light that is reflected off the water is actually brighter than the visible sun in the sky. This is a season where those who have prepared themselves in stillness will find that they are reflecting a greater light because of the increase that He is bringing. He desires greater works from us more than we desire it, but He can not do it with those who are tossed to and fro with every wind, but can only use those who are willing to stand in quietness before Him and allow His glory to be reflected. They must also enlarge their borders so that the trees by the shore will not obscure the sun from finding it's reflection. So all the things in life that would want to grow up around us and block His light have to have their distance and we must be large enough to accommodate their need for water without draining us and making us too small to reflect the light.

Rivers are a glorious thing and needful, but sometimes God wants us to be lakes of tranquility. There is still water, there are still rocks and trees and life inside, but a different purpose and different setting. Sometimes it's about diving in and sometimes it's about floating. We can go from the river to the lake in the same day depending on the need. Sometimes even within the same hour. But both places are needful in our life. Some people stay too long at one when God is telling them to move to the other.

Blessed is he who comes in the Name...

One of the banners I saw hanging in a church in Israel said "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the L-rd". I began to ponder the meaning of that verse. The full context of that verse is Matthew 23:37-39 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing. Look, your house is left to you desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say; Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord." These words were spoken by Jesus. At first I believed that He we referring to Himself as one who comes in the name of the Lord, but I do not believe that is what He was saying. He does not have to come in the name of the Lord - He IS the name of the Lord.
I believe this is speaking of Jews accepting Christians. One of the definitions of the word "Lord" is "Messiah". Christians not only come in His name, but are called by the name of Messiah - "Christ". They were first called Christians in Antioch according to the scripture. I believe that He cannot return until the Jews proclaim a blessing over the Christians.
In this present day of so much renewed hate of Jews and Israel, it is the Christians that are standing with them. I believe it is a very prophetic hour of solidarity that will usher in the acceptance, the blessing, and the unity of both faiths. This will put into motion the opening of the door for the Messiah, Jesus, to return.
Come quickly Lord Jesus.

Hem of His Garment

"I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple." -Isaiah 6:1. The train is the hem of the garment. Isaiah saw it fill the temple. Further, he Bible also states in I Cornithians 6:19 "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?" God still wants to fill the temple with the hem of His garment. We are now the temple and therefore the hem of His garment is in us. In Matthew 14:35 it says that "people brought all their sick to him and begged Him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak and all who touched him were healed."
If that same hem of the garment is on the inside of us, then when people touch the hem that is in us, they should receive healing as they did when they touched the hem of Jesus' clothing. We need to have the faith that the power of God resides on the inside of us and willing to let as many touch that power as have faith to do so.
It's time to touch others with His healing power and let them touch us to receive it. Freely we have received...freely give.

Sunflowers

Sunflowers are not what one considers to be a dainty flower. They often grow to be 3 meters in height and are more a cluster than a single flower. Sunflowers need fertile, moist and well-drained soil just as a Christian can only grow in soil that is fertile - infused with life giving resources - and not dry, but saturated with the water of the Word, which needs to be fresh and not stagnant.

Most of the sunflower heads are turned toward the east, which is where the sun rises from. Flowers that are immature and in the bud stage will follow the sun as it crosses the sky and at night return to the direction of the east to await a sunrise. The flower grows the best in full sunlight. These are things that Christians must do to grow - keep their face to the son and stay in direct sonlight.

As the flowers mature and reach the blooming stage, though, they cease to follow the sun across the sky. The stem stiffens and freezes the flower in the Eastern direction. In this state the flower becomes loaded with seeds. The seeds are used as fruit and also can be changed into oil. This is quite a parallel to what Christ desires of us. To have fruit and be ready to be changed into oil. Often as Christians reach this place, they get set in their ways and perhaps a bit "stiff necked" toward God, just as the flower does. There are 2 types of sunflowers. One will continue to keeps it's head turned to the sky, but the other will lose it's stiffness and bow it's face toward the ground. Gardeners prefer the kind that "looks nice", but the farmer prefers the one that bows as it reduces the damage caused by the birds and the loss from disease.

Transition

Cloud by day. Fire by night. What would it be like at the time of transition - the changing of day to night and night to day? I do not think that one would leave and the other one come. That would create a void. God does not like voids. So one must think that there would be an overlap of the two - a simultaneous presence of both. This could be a fearful time and not at all what one would be accustomed to during the day or during the night.
In the seasons of our lives when God is shifting us from the night season to the day season (or the other way around) it can seem like a confusing and conflicting time with much going on around us. We need to learn to not be shaken during these times, but trust that it is just a time of progressing from one state to another. If we allow ourselves to be shaken by this display of seeming opposites converging we may be tempted to retreat back into the season that God is calling us to leave. Keep pressing through. It will not always be this volatile. The transition will take you to the cloud or fire by itself, but there will always be a presence.

Enough Virga Rain

Far too long now the body of Christ has been content with virga rain. We send prayers into the Heavens and when the rain of the Spirit comes we settle for virga instead of a downpour. Virga is rain that does not reach the earth. It makes a spectacular view and the clouds are certainly promising of something big, but it remains in the Heavens and does not reach where it was sent to. We send prayers up, but don't pull the answers all the way down. We give up before the moment of contact.
We are often content with the show of God's power, but not wanting to see the full demonstration of it. We want to look good, more than we want to see results. The upper levels of Heaven are doing there part, but the lower Heavens are not charging the atmosphere to pull the rain to the earth. It is no longer enough to have virga rain, we need to pull down a saturation of Heaven for the miracles and signs and wonders...answers to our prayers.

What will it take to pull down the power? Love. Love sent from the earth to the Heavens to pull down the love from Heaven. Loving enough to pull results from Heaven, not just enjoying a show. The earth is dry and crying out for a rain of His presence.

Faces of Israel

The faces of Israel...each has a story. Some are just beginning, some have many chapters. The faces of the children as they take in the mysteries of the moment. Do they wonder about their future? Do they have a hope and an expectancy? Will fear take root in their hearts?

The faces of the women as they go about their daily routines. Do they know that God hears their prayers? Do they know joy...or only the travail in the desire for peace?

The faces of the men as they carry the burden for the nation. Does the heart of the Father beat in theirs? Do they know the strength that He would gladly give them?

May the rest of their stories be bathed in peace and joy and fulfill all that God has destined for them. May they come to know the One who has life more abundantly and gives freely of His grace and mercy.

Life Out of Death

This unassuming picture from Israel doesn't seem like much at a first. It looks like a pile of rocks. In reality it is the ruins of what once was a prosperous area. This is all that is left of the walls that used to contain people and the vibrancy of life.

Long ago it was crushed and destroyed by the hands of men who's only desire was to bring death. Every person within the city perished.

As one looks at these rocks the destruction is evident. Without hardly being notice, though, are the green bushes that have pushed their way through the rubble to seek the sun for new life. They are a hope of a fresh tomorrow, of new life and new hope. It doesn't matter how solid the rocks on this earth are, the green plants always press their way to the surface.

In our lives when we experience times of destruction and death of dreams and futures, God will always bring forth new sprouts of life that are colorful, beautiful and vibrant. Out of every death He will always bring life...and that more abundantly.