A donkey brings the truth…

 A donkey brings the Truth…

I was reading early this morning about a donkey who carried bundles of Bibles over the border into a restricted country…the owner couldn’t cross the border with the donkey and its boxes…so the owner took the donkey to a place out of sight of the patrol and set the donkey free with its “cargo”. It went over the border to a place that it had been before and received a treat…carrying its precious cargo of much desired Bibles….

Donkeys  were counted amongst the wealth of various men in ancient times and were mentioned numerous times throughout the Word…they are still valued today in various countries…

The article brought to my mind two very specific scenes about Donkeys…

1.

Balaam got up in the morning, saddled his donkey and went with the Moabite officials. 

But God was very angry when he went, and the angel of the Lord stood in the road to oppose him. 

Balaam was riding on his donkey, and his two servants were with him. 

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, it turned off the road into a field. Balaam beat it to get it back on the road. 

Then the angel of the Lord stood in a narrow path through the vineyards, with walls on both sides. 

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it pressed close to the wall, crushing Balaam’s foot against it. 

So he beat the donkey again. Then the angel of the Lord moved on ahead and stood in a narrow place where there was no room to turn, either to the right or to the left. 

When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it lay down under Balaam, and he was angry and beat it with his staff. 

Then the Lord opened the donkey’s mouth, and it said to Balaam, “What have I done to you to make you beat me these three times? ” 

Balaam answered the donkey, “You have made a fool of me! If only I had a sword in my hand, I would kill you right now. ” 

The donkey said to Balaam, “Am I not your own donkey, which you have always ridden, to this day? Have I been in the habit of doing this to you?” 

“No,” he said. 

Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with his sword drawn. 

So he bowed low and fell facedown. The angel of the Lord asked him, “Why have you beaten your donkey these three times? I have come here to oppose you because your path is a reckless one before me. The donkey saw me and turned away from me these three times. If it had not turned away, I would certainly have killed you by now, but I would have spared it.”

Numbers 22:21-33

2.

They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.

Matthew 21:7 

Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.”

John 12:14-15

In the first, the donkey was the one who saw who was in its path…and spoke truth…

In the second, the donkey carried the King…  the Truth…

In the restricted country , the people are hungry for the truth and a Donkey is carrying it to them…

In this season, we see multiple portrayals of a donkey carrying Mary to Jesus’ birthplace…although the Word really doesn’t say anything about that…it was a mode of transportation at the time…but what a picture…a donkey carrying the unborn King at the beginning of his life and carrying Him near the end of that earthly life…

If God can use donkeys to carry truth…He can use anything….or anyone…thank YOU….

Well, it is time…humanly speaking…

 Well, it is time, humanly speaking….

I awoke with this conversation on my mind early this morning…not trying to be sacrilegious or anything…

Just thinking of  the season we humans are celebrating…

The Father and the Son are discussing the time…

“Well, Son, it is time…we have promised this time for human centuries…from the book of Genesis until now…we know the beginning and the end of the story…

And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”

Genesis 3:15 

We have given them specific descriptions of Your  birth…your mother, your birthplace…your character…

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

Isaiah 7:14

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from of old, from ancient times.”

Micah 5:2 

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 

We have given them “pictures” through out the Word …from the colors of cloth used in the tabernacle, the serpent standard of the Moses in the desert, the Kinsman-redeemer of Boaz, the Lamb and the Shepherd, the time of the Passover… The Whole Word points to Us…nothing in the Word is wasted…

So it is time to leave this heavenly place and become a man for awhile…it won’t be long, our time isn’t theirs…I have chosen a young woman to give you birth …I will watch you in Mary’s Womb …I will move the world so that you can be born in the prophesied town…the angels will rejoice over You and tell the shepherds….wisemen will seek you…kings Will try to murder you…but as promised I will keep you safe…You have an assignment as we know…we desire that all should come to us…believing…You bring salvation…through your awful death , but glorious resurrection….

You bring light to those who live in darkness…you bring the promise of the Holy Spirit who will teach them about you after you return here…

You will walk among the people we created…you will love them and show compassion and judgment as well…you will have friends who will walk with you…an earthly father who will teach you his trade until you start to astound people with your teaching…you will  make the Word come alive in their hearts, speaking with authority…

You will pray with them and for them, knowing their stature…You will show them the way…because You are the way, the Truth and the Light…

Oh, there will be days that are be rough, you will know the temptations of man, but will use the Word to walk away…You will have victory and You are victory…you won’t have a place to lay your head to rest…you will weep with them as well as rejoice…

Then you return and sit at my right hand, preparing a place for all believers to finally come home…

You know Me and will do my bidding among the people…oh, how I Love You…you are my only Son, but the 

World needs You so much and I promised to send a Savior that they might have eternal life…so I am sending You…

Now, go fulfill all that we have promised…”

Thank YOU for bringing this to mind…Your eternal preparation, your eternal promises…

Anticipatory joy…

 Anticipatory joy….

“Essential Meaning of anticipation

: a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen

: the act of preparing for something

: the act of looking forward”

Merriam Webster 

After my husband was diagnosed with cancer, our family, really without realizing it or even knowing what it was, started going through “anticipatory grief”…it wasn’t an excitement of what was to come, both more of a preparation and use of as much time as we had left…it was family and friend time times 10…it was wondering what the next steps we needed to take…(there are websites about the subject which are really helpful)…

But, I was thinking about “joy” instead of “grief” in the nighttime watches last night…

That joy that comes from the excitement of things to come…things we look forward to…

Like family times, the birth of a child, something fun, birthdays, wedding…a word of encouragement, serving others, giving…whatever brings joy to your heart or others…

I looked forward to the birth of all my children…even though it brought more work, sleeplessness nights, each was met with joyful anticipation….now as adults, they still bring joy in their own unique ways…

I looked forward to marriage, with its highs and lows, it brought joy and fulfillment…

I wouldn’t trade marriage and motherhood for anything…they were and are a joy…

What brought these thoughts about? Christmas and it’s anticipatory joy…

I thought of Mary and Joseph…their anticipatory joy…parenting a Gift directly from God…marriage that was planned…trusting their lives to the Father…

The Jewish people waiting in anticipation for a Messiah…a king…not sure they appreciated Him coming as a tiny baby and not as a King…

But, going further back into history, life after life waiting in anticipatory joy…for one thing or another…

Moving forward…we wait in anticipation of the returning King…of heaven….or even  the Christmas season…

May each be met with joy…we, being ready….thank YOU….

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived” — the things God has prepared for those who love him— For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.

1 Corinthians 2:9,11

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.”

John 14:1-4

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Revelation 21:1-4

Zeal…

 

Zeal…

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. 

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 ESV

For to us a Child shall be born, to us a Son shall be given; 

And the government shall be upon His shoulder, And His name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

There shall be no end to the increase of His government and of peace, [He shall rule] on the throne of David and over his kingdom, To establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness From that time forward and forevermore. 

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 AMP

“Zeal

: a strong feeling of interest and enthusiasm that makes someone very eager or determined to do something..

: eagerness and ardent interest in pursuit of something : FERVOR

ZEAL implies energetic and unflagging pursuit of an aim or devotion to a cause.”

Merriam Webster 

A simple four-letter word, zeal, packs a huge punch…is it not a passive or behind-the-scenes word…it is out there, moving …active…for humans…just think how it must be for God…it is used for wars, judgements, love, fulfilling prophecy…

When you look at the statement, “the zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this”…you know He means business…this will be no matter what…nothing stopping Him…

Then I read the following in Romans…”never lacking zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord”…He wants that same zeal to characterize my life as well…moving, action, not passive…

Thank YOU ….

Love must be sincere. 

Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 

Be devoted to one another in love. 

Honor one another above yourselves. 

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. 

Practice hospitality. 

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. 

Live in harmony with one another. 

Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with people of low position. 

Do not be conceited. 

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. 

Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. 

On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. 

In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” 

Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Romans 12:9-21

Lights again..,

 Lights again…

Our town had it annual light parade again last night…trucks, trailers, cars, people, floats of all shapes and sizes rolled down the crowed streets one by one for over an hour…participants throwing handfuls of candy…children oohing and aahing at the sights and lights…both secular and religious themes showed their brilliant displays…

We also have a downtown display along the creek, with a fire-breathing dragon, a fishing Santa, with thousands of  lights strung through the trees and bridges…a skating rink surrounded by lights as well…

Along the streets, multitudes of homes are set up with their displays as well, even a driver’s guide for the best lighting displays to see….

So we are back to lights again…we use the artificial ones to bring light to our world…but God spoke the original plan into being with infinite creativity…can you imagine being there to see that “light parade” amongst the heavens? It must have been more than amazing…

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 

And God saw that the light was good. 

And God separated the light from the darkness. God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. 

And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 

And God said, “Let there be lights in the expanse of the heavens to separate the day from the night. 

And let them be for signs and for seasons, and for days and years, and let them be lights in the expanse of the heavens to give light upon the earth.” 

And it was so. 

And God made the two great lights—the greater light to rule the day and the lesser light to rule the night—and the stars. 

And God set them in the expanse of the heavens to give light on the earth, to rule over the day and over the night, and to separate the light from the darkness. 

And God saw that it was good.

Genesis 1:3-5,14-18 

Another lighted place I thought of, was the lamp stand of pure gold in the tabernacle…it’s brilliance reflecting the burning oil in a room lighting the way to the Holy of Holies…turning darkness into light…

You shall make seven lamps for it. And the lamps shall be set up so as to give light on the space in front of it. Its tongs and their trays shall be of pure gold.

Exodus 25:37-38

David speaks of “light” over and over again..moving from lighting the darkness to equating the “Word” as light…

For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness.

Psalm 18:28 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119:105 

The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.

Psalm 119:130 

Isaiah speaks of darkness  and light…finding light after living in darkness…

The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone.

Isaiah 9:2

Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. 

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. 

And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. 

Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the Lord will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended.

Isaiah 60:1-3,19-20 

And Jesus’ words of light..from the Word who dwelt amongst the people…

14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Matthew 5:14-16

 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

John 8:12

46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.

John 12:46 

 Paul further speaks of the light…

For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:6

for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true),

Ephesians 5:8-9p

John…

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.

1 John 1:5,7

 And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. 

By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it, And night will be no more. 

They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Revelation 21:23-24,22:5

I just gives my goosebumps…from the beginning of God creating light, seeing it was good…to Jesus being the light to the world…to no need for created light because God was the light…

Thank YOU…

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas_lights

Songs of the heart…

 https://youtu.be/ifCWN5pJGIE

Songs of the heart….

My mom would stand/sit in the wood shed as a child and sing or direct the make-believe  choir or orchestra. She sang in choirs her growing years and on into college…so it was no wonder that music was part of my childhood as well…my dad played the harmonica well…at Christmas time we had family sing-alongs with every gathering…

Mom led choirs in the churches we attended, it was just part of life…I remember the first song we sang together, “Jesus Loves me” in front of a small town church in Lemon Cove, California…there we sang the doxology every week…there I found my all time favorite, “Holy, Holy, Holy”….(I walked down the aisle on  my wedding day to this song)…

I carried on with singing as well through school and beyond…choirs, worships groups, solo work…and when I finally had to quit because of continual esophagitis, it was a huge loss along with others at the time(my mom and dad both being treated for cancer, church split, etc)…and as I have said in past blogs, “songs in the night” kept me moving forward as my husband was dying…God  would recall to mind songs that spoke to my heart each day…

music still speaks to my soul…I see my grandchildren love music now as well as my children…a variety of styles, genres…but speaking to their souls as well…I am so glad when I listen to each of their favorites, the messages that speak to their hearts…

Christmas brings out the nostalgia of music…the songs of Christ’s birth…even the secular ones of family or fun times…the radio or tv dedicate channels to Christmastime…

Scripture has songs from the beginning to the end…

The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father's God, and I will exalt him.

Exodus 15:2 

The Lord is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.

Psalm 118:14

The song of Mary…

And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. 

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts; he has brought down the mighty from their thrones and exalted those of humble estate; 

he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Luke 1:46-55

And they sing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, “Great and amazing are your deeds, O Lord God the Almighty! Just and true are your ways, O King of the nations!

Revelation 15:3

Thank YOU…

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:16

Thank YOU…

Swaddling cloths…

 

Swaddling clothes…

I inherited a box of linen toweling from one of my grandmothers…some old towels, some “new” fabric to make more towels, extra scraps…a “variety pack”. I have added to the box from various estate sales over the past few years and had even bought some new tea towels to use. I finally went through it all, kept some, and “regifted “ some, painted on some for gifts…

But, each time I handled this bounty I thought of Mary and her swaddling cloths which she had for her newborn…how when my children were born, I had prepared a new outfit to take them home from the hospital, a new blanket, all the accruements for my newborn babies…

Mary and Joseph weren’t rich, even though they received the most valuable gift of all…I am sure she lovingly prepared her cloths with as much love and care and maybe more so as excited new mothers do…

Those cloths, clean and ready to hold this tiny baby, the King of the Jews, the Counselor, the heir of all things…Creator…the Lamb of God…

Reading about swaddling cloths was interesting…some say that it was a symbol of the death linens which Jesus was later wrapped in after his crucifixion…

Other authors/commentators write about how the lambs taken care of for sacrifices were wrapped/swaddled, laid in mangers so that there would be no blemishes and kept perfect for the sacrifices…the shepherds would have seen this symbolism when they arrived to view the Christ child  after being told by the Angels heralding His birth…

I love this picture…this simple thought, a simple piece of cloth used to teach, to point to the Lamb of God…we use these cloths to clean…to wrap around…to hold…now we can further think of them as part of Jesus’ story…

Thank YOU….

and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

Luke 2:7 niv

And this will be a sign for you [by which you will recognize Him]: you will find a Baby wrapped in [swaddling] cloths and lying in a manger.”

Luke 2:12 amp

And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in swaddling cloths and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

Luke 2:7 esv 

https://messiahsmandate.org/secret-surrounding-the-birth-of-messiah/

https://ingrace.us/what-are-swaddling-clothes-dr-james-a-scudder/

https://messiahsmandate.org/unlocking-the-tower-of-the-flock-mystery/

“WOW! What imagery! They are looking for lambs to be birthed, when right under their nose, Mary  was giving birth to the Lamb of God. Jonathan Cahn goes further and teaches that Yeshua was born on Nissan 1. Nissan is the first month of the year, a time for new beginnings. But it would not be a time of pilgrimage or in the dead of the cold, wet winter. Cahn makes the case that every other major event in Yeshua’s life and kingdom coincides with a Jewish feast day:

• Passover > His death

• First Fruit Offering is brought  (Lev. 23) > His resurrection

• Shavuot (Lev. 23) > Birth of the church (Acts 2)

• Rosh Hashanah > the Second Coming

• Yom Kippur > End time forgiveness (Zech. 13:1)

• Feast of Tabernacles > Wedding Supper of the Lamb (Is. 25, Rev. 19, Zech. 14)”