Yesterday my wife came to me during our fellowship service and she had seen three items. She saw a woven basket, a microphone and an old school. Before she came over to me she looked up the words “old school” and she found that part of the descriptive is “form lacking substance.”
Let me start with the old school. We do not need more of the same. The “same” may have had value, may have had a season of awesomeness, but the idea that something without substance will carry us forward is not correct. Continue reading A Microphone, A Basket & An Old School August 19th 2013→
Yesterday I wrote of the widow Elisha went to, her two sons and the story of the vessels being filled. This is the story of the woman (2 Kings 4:8) who wanted and went to Elisha. This woman was well of, married. She lived in Shunem, a place meaning “uneven.” Previous mentions in scripture indicate this was under the allotment given to the tribe of Issachar. It is also the site of the gathering of the Philistine army against Saul, where he was so frightened he turned to the witch of Endor. It was a farming community through which Elisha passed often. There is a divine “yes” here as the Lord shows you the “have” and the “have not”, the barren and the fruitful, one gave-one received, the married and the widow.
Why is this background important one might ask. The Bible is laden with hidden truths, layers of revelations. Think about it. Not a woman of need, but barren, having no children. Come on! If this was not a set up for God, in a place of unevenness, I do not know what is. A place where the “sons of Issachar” A place where the “sons of Issachar” (Their name means “there is recompense.” Wow!) had been given their reward. The same tribe that God said “And of the sons of Issachar, men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their kinsmen were at their command.” 1 Chronicles 12:32 (By the way did you see that “all their kinsmen” statement? Huge!) A place that fear had struck. Continue reading The Woman Who Wanted – Constraining The Prophet→
This morning I woke, coming out to the living room and sat here for a moment. A quick rehash of what might be accomplished today was on my radar screen. And then I looked at the floor. Four very empty children’s chairs. A part of me sees the prophetic in the picture. That if you “build” it they will come. The chairs had been moved from our destroyed home in Springfield. My wife and I had cleaned them up and put them on the floor. The first thing my grandchildren did upon arriving last night was go to sit in them excitedly.
There is something about the preparation for a child or children that excites me. These four empty chairs and a table suggested my love for them, hospitality towards them. I never look at those chairs or the pictures of my children without thinking of my love for them. Without uttering a prayer. (There is a large piece here for people. Do children feel welcome?)
For those in New England there is nothing cooler that sitting on a front porch (Not a deck, but a covered porch.) watching the seasons change or enjoying a summer thunderstorm. The front porch meant exactly that. It was the place where you sat and had family times. It was the place of cool summer drinks and times with friends. Many of the front porches I have had over the years, not only kept the weather off, but provided a respite from the heat of the home in summer. A place to watch the river across the street meander by. New England porches usually were close enough to the road in front to wave to strolling neighbors. Often a neighbor would climb the stairs and sit down with you.
At 3AM I heard this statement, “When in Rome do as the Romans do. When in heaven do as the heavenly do.” Wow! Where are you seated? And even as I say it out loud, I wonder is there something to “do as the heavenly dew.”
I am a word person. Not just from a biblical or faith perspective, but from a “what does it mean” perspective. Words have meaning and they have power. It is not about semantics (Now there is a Greek word. It deals with understanding based on historical or psychological emphasis.) but more importantly, the reality, getting the full flavor out of a word or it’s understanding. Continue reading When In Rome Do As The Romans Do – When In Heaven…→
Are you going through the mill? (Do you feel flatter than a pancake?)
Last night as we gathered to pray for needs, encouragement, people far and near, I saw and began to describe the “victory” party I saw. In my spirit I felt this was a time of celebration. (A while later my wife saw three images; a stack of rings, confetti and a butterfly net, and what struck me was that she saw confetti falling out of the sky and a “butterfly” net to capture it.) If there is victory in heaven then there is victory in our lives, and just as the celebration of God and His goodness is in heavenly places, so ought we to consider the same in the earth. CELEBRATION!
So many are going through the mill that I have been drawn to pray for lately, seeking an answer. Why is my question. Where is the victory? And last night as I was praying, I began to see the following. (I was praying I think for one, but felt over the night it was more widespread as I received revelation.) Continue reading Going Through The Mill – Flour In The Making→
First let me clarify, I have had a sense that many were feeling the ill effects of circumstances and situations. Two friends followed up with me to ask for prayer.
I have watched good people getting the stuffing knocked out of them. In particular the workplace has been getting harder for some. The heat is on. (All I can hear is that song “The Heat Is On” by Glenn Frey! Yesterday I wrote of the heat and what it does to Mexican Jumping Beans.) My wife as well as my friends are working hard to be the witness they are called to be in the workplace. So, as I prayed for those in the workplace I saw this. Continue reading Praying For Those In The Middle August 14th 2013→
Pretty much each and every morning I come to the table with nothing but a blank page. I sit at my computer and I look at white, empty space. Life is like that on a daily basis. Each day we have the option of filling that page with the most creative, positive thoughts and ideas or we can allow it to be filled with our disappointments and discouragements. We can even hand the “pen” to another and let them write our story. We can allow others to control us. To deride us and to distract us.
I often think of my life and my day as that blank page. Stark white and empty, it can either hold promise or fear. If this is the only page of my life, would my children know that I love them? Would my wife? My friends? Who will read it? Continue reading A Blank Page – Are You The Ready Writer?→
For since the message spoken through angels was binding, and every violation and disobedience received its just punishment, 3 how shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?
If all Disobedience was paid for… What if there is no escape from salvation? Other than “no”?
When I was young everyone knew or had seen Mexican jumping beans. They were seed pods that had been occupied by the larva of a little moth. The bean would begin to jump as the bean was heated, because the larva would spasm in response to the heat, attempting to move the bean to a cooler place to avoid dehydration and possible death. Just holding the seeds or beans in your hand would cause them to heat up and jump.
One day I brought some to school and put them in our teacher’s drawer. As she came in she told me to “sit down…Now!” I told her I was looking for my snake. Needless to say when the beans jumped in the drawer…. Continue reading Mexican Jumping Beans – Turning Up The Heat→
