God Desires Psalm 51

Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;
Build the walls of Jerusalem.
Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar.   (Psalm 51:18-19)

Therefore the Lord said:

“Inasmuch as these people draw near with their mouths
And honor Me with their lips,
But have removed their hearts far from Me,
And their fear toward Me is taught by the commandment of men..."   (Isaiah 29:13)

God revealed an amazingly abrupt message to me while I was reading Psalm 51 a couple mornings ago.  I'm sorry if this comes across awkwardly; it was hard to express what exploded in my heart at the time when I read it.

Psalm 51 is one of the more well-known and frequently-cited psalms.  It was penned by King David, the "man after God's own heart"  (1 Samuel 13:14; Acts 13:22), soon after he had both committed adultery with Bathsheeba and set her husband up to be killed on the front lines of battle (2 Samuel 11:2-5, 14-27).  Devastated by the realization of the sinfulness of these acts and how much they separated him from the holiness of God, David cries out to be forgiven, restored, and renewed.  In fact all of Psalm 51 echoes with these heart-cries (Psalm 51:1-15)...until one reaches verses 18 and 19 (above).  But what is curious is right before these two verses, David reveals something that seems to completely contradict them: 

For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering.   (Psalm 51:16)

But wait.  Verse 16 says that God does NOT want sacrifices and burnt offerings, but then verses 18-19 proclaim that God will be "PLEASED with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole offering..."   So which is it?!  

What God showed me as it applies to what He sees going on these days with "Christians" and "the church"  I think is the answer, and it falls in between these two seemingly contradictory messages:

Verse 17:  The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart—

These, O God, You will not despise.

Verse 18:  Do good in Your good pleasure to Zion;

Build the walls of Jerusalem...

(and THEN)...You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;    Verse 19 (parentheses mine)

I believe what God is trying to say is that as we are now, He cannot accept any type of "sacrifice" or "offering" because they are coming from vessels that have either knowingly or unknowingly turned away from Him to go after our own "Bathsheebas" (lusts of the flesh, of they eyes, the pride of life:  1 John 2:15-17) or kill our own "Uriahs" in whatever form that slaughter takes (back-biting, gossip, slander, impatience, wrong thoughts towards others...and the list goes on).  But unlike David, who saw his sin and mourned over how it separated him from God (Psalm 51:3-4), either we are so deceived that we think things are o.k. as they are, or so numb that we may sense that something is not right between God and us, but we have a hard time caring...so in either state, we just continue "honoring God with our lips, with our hearts becoming farther, and farther, and farther from Him" and our "sacrifices and offerings" are like those described in Isaiah 1:11-15, esp. v. 12. 

And this can be seen in the way "Christians" treat one another; how they treat others; the lack of love in what is supposed to be the Body of Christ; and the twisting of the Gospel in churches by those who call themselves pastors, but who take God's Word and use it to stir up their "audiences" for whatever agenda they may have -- and the "Christians" go right along with it!   Neither checking their Bibles for whether what they are hearing is the truth (Acts 17:11) nor giving much thought to the fact that in the long run, satan and the demonic realm are getting a victory by having many fed on what are ultimately lies mixed with truth, truth mixed with lies:  a little leaven leavens the whole lump (Galatians 5:7-9). 

Broken vessels, but no broken and contrite spirit...

(Be astonished, O heavens, at this, And be horribly afraid; Be very desolate,” says the Lord.

“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,
And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.)      (Jeremiah 2:12-13; see also, Luke 5:37-39)

...BUT, God wants to "do good to Zion"...to "Build the walls of Jerusalem," which I believe means that we come to Him NOW in repentance (as David did, with a broken and contrite spirit), aware of the distance we have created between Him and us; to petition Him for restoration - to be re-connected with Him AND with other brothers and sisters in Christ; and to expect the renewal of our souls and spirits if our requests to Him are sincere.  To confess our love of the things of this world; the tainted (or non-existent) love in our hearts for Him and others; and the laziness of seeking after spiritual things (Colossians 3:1-4), which makes us that much more vulnerable to the "wolves in sheep's clothing" who are NOT speaking the Truth to us...and to satan and the demonic realm's inevitable attacks (1 Peter 5:8).  

And through our confession and surrendering, He will graciously and mercifully build us (the Spirit of Christ within us) up as the "old man" withers and dies (Galatians 2:20):

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.   (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.  But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.   (2 Corinthians 3:17-18)

But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.  Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.  (Colossians 3:1-17, vv. 3-11 here). 

AND THEN...whatever "sacrifices" and "offerings" come from us will be being presented to Him from hearts that are fully and solely surrendered to Him...being transformed into the image of His Son...AND THEN...He can be pleased.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit,

A broken and a contrite heart—
These, O God, You will not despise.

Then You shall be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,
With burnt offering and whole burnt offering;
Then they shall offer bulls on Your altar. 

And immediately, coming up from the water, He saw the heavens parting and the Spirit descending upon Him like a dove.  Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”  (Mark 1:10-11)

Thank you God for  You, for Your Son, and for the Holy Spirit.  May You come soon.  And may we be made ready. 

In His Love,  ❤ 

Terri 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtSmHCVzyGk

Lauren Daigle Come Alive Dry Bones with lyrics www.youtube.com revised May 31 2016

The God Who Is

"Serial position effect is the tendency of a person to recall the first and last items in a series best, and the middle items worst" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_position_effect

And God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And He said, “Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”  (Exodus 3:14)

"Who was and is and is to come..." 

I was listening to a song on Christian radio the other day (can't remember which song, but I think this "mis-ordering" occurs in many of them) and heard the lyrics above: Who WAS and IS and IS TO COME.   Somehow (and I also cannot recall how this leap happened) I was shown that this commonly-sung and recited verse from the Bible (Revelation 1:8, 11:17) is actually not announced that way.  Now some may say that this is too fine of a line to lay out there...or that I am "splitting hairs"...but when it states that His Word is "God-breathed"  (2 Timothy 3:16), I take that seriously, meaning that God had and has a very critical and Love-enveloped reason for why He says everything He says, and (I believe) in what order He places it. 

But because there is also some scientific-investigator in me, I recalled from the little brain research I have perused that the order in which things are observed and then processed matters.  So in addition to the serial position effect mentioned above, there are also two related phenomena called the "primacy effect" and the "recency effect":  the former revealing that our brains most potently remember those events and elements of a sequence that come first, and the latter stating that we also tend to best recall the last item presented to us.  Here is a link that defines these and connects them with relationships.  This is more about the primacy effect (though the recency effect and how it applies to this verse is also both thought-provoking and incredibly significant...).

So how DOES God proclaim, or order, his Amazing Existence...?

He begins with what He declared to Moses from the burning bush:  "I AM" (Exodus 3:1-4, 14) and, in nearly all (or probably all; I just haven't looked in all) of the versions of His Word:

 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who IS, and who WAS, and who IS TO COME, the Almighty.” (Revelation 1:8)

I don't know about you, but when I thoughtfully read that, it is true that whatever comes first is what "cries out" loudest in my mind.  It's not that, according to the many extra-biblical writings and Christian songs that are out there, He WAS (and is and is to come).  It is, according to God's inspiration to the writers, that He IS (and was and is to come).  Is this really important...?  I believe, in the heavenly/spiritual realm, it is.  And if it dovetails with the natural-realm brain/memory/processing research - that whether we realize it or not, we tend to focus more powerfully on the first element or event in a sequence - then even more so is it something I believe we need to be made aware of.  AND, if in the natural realm (and God knows what we are taught about sequence: past, present, future) it really "should" be "was, is, is to come," then why would He put it any other way...unless He had a reason...

And God said to Moses, “I AM...”

“Very truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “before Abraham was born, I AM!”  (John 8:58; emphasis mine)

Immanuel: "Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, "God WITH us.” (Matthew 1:23; Isaiah 7:14; emphasis mine)

AND...  "And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."  (John 17:3)  -  so how much more intimate it is to get to know the God who foremost in our minds IS than the God who first and foremost WAS...? 

I believe not just to Moses, but to us all, God yearns to communicate to us that He IS, that He is STILL WITH US, and that He wants us to KNOW HIM NOW as our Creator; God; and for those who return to Him through Jesus, our Father (John 1:12-13, 10:3-4, 14:6). 

Don't be deceived, the order does make a difference.  His Word shows it and our brains know it. 

The God Who IS...and who was, and who is to come...”

HE IS.

HE IS with us. 

I AM. 

Praise you God.

In His (Present) Love,

Terri 

(Another ordering that is often mis-quoted and that I believe also matters tremendously is John 10:10, this time applied to satan, our ultimate enemy.  Many state that he comes to "kill, steal, and destroy," whereas God's Word tells us that he comes to "STEAL, kill, and DESTROY".  I believe that if we were more strategically [and correctly] focused on satan's goal to first steal from us, then we might then be oh-so-much better informed about what he comes to steal [steal peace, steal joy, steal health, steal rationality, steal morality, steal sanity...]; thereby made better aware of what was going on when we experience some of the "fiery trials" we do; and as a result be better equipped to fight the battles we, as Christians, are meant to fight against him [and to warn others of the same].  This all so that we can more powerfully overcome here on earth, so that we can then more freely and victoriously proclaim the Victory and Presence of Jesus Christ...here)    (1 Peter 4:12-14; James 1:2-4; Luke 22:31-32).   

Thank you God.  Amen...  

Beautiful Garments

Good morning!

Oh, if I had only been able to write this while I was experiencing it! 

It's not surprising that the title "Beautiful Garments" came to mind as I felt God with me early one morning last week.  And it was probably during a time when I was again asking "Why Lord?" about having to experience the same old tiredness and familiar unable-to-be-satisfied longing to go back to bed!  Even that can be painful and can lead to either a turning to God for hope (and motivation) or a sense of frustration and hopelessness (that it will never change), which actually can then drain the energy needed to go forward in the day. 

But thankfully, this was a morning in which I didn't want to turn away from the Lord and complain, but instead just started talking with Him about how I was feeling, even kind of joking about the drowsiness, and suddenly the most wonderful thing happened...

It felt like I was being clothed with "something"...something beautiful...like a wonderful garment of...something (oh, how I wish I could be right in the midst of it now so I could describe it better!)...it was beautiful, and lavish, and joy-bringing, and hope-giving, and it made me feel lovely (yes, even at six o'clock in the morning!); and the "coolest" thing of all was that it actually caused me to be grateful for the weariness because it was that very thing that made me turn to God.  And so I thanked God for the beautiful garments which helped make the day go so much more...beautifully.  Perfectly?  Absolutely not (there is nothing perfect down here)...but definitely better due to the early morning encounter with our Wonderful God.   

"Beautiful Garments" is not a surprising title because God's Word itself illustrates being in His Presence involving being clothed by Him.  Exodus 28 details the apparel that an individual would be given that would set him apart ("consecrate") and enable him to serve God (vv. 3-4).  In Zechariah 3, it is the High Priest (again, someone who stands in God's Presence...hmmm, do we see a pattern here?!) about whom the Angel of the Lord (in the Old Testament thought to be Jesus Himself) says to have his dirty clothes removed, and to be given "rich robes" to wear and a "clean turban" to place on his head (vv. 1-5).  (And it is VERY important here to add that this priest's filthy garments - not just dirty, but filthy! - were  equated with his still-existing Sin which was to be removed, and also that this whole covering in clean clothing occurred in the midst of Jesus protecting him from satan's accusations!).  In yet another passage, one is described as being "clothed with the garments of salvation" and "with the robe of righteousness," which is likened to a bride and her groom each putting on the most exquisite apparel in excited anticipation of their wedding day (Isaiah 61:10).  And after God's earthly appearance, crucifixion, and resurrection, we are told we can actually "put on the Lord Jesus Christ", which is in the same passage as being counseled to put on an "armor of light" that will protect one from the utter darkness of these times and prepare those who wear it for the coming of our own Bridegroom (Romans 13:11-14; see also, Ephesians 6:10-20; Ephesians 4:20-24, Colossians 3:8-10; Revelation 22:1-5). 

But if this weren't enough, it was also the realization that for those amazing morning moments last week, the fatigue that I so often dread and complain about suddenly became several of the glowing threads of that garment God was putting on me.  What do I mean?  Once again, God's Word (as ALWAYS) gives the answer.  Second Corinthians 4 explains that "even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man (who is probably the one experiencing the miraculous outfitting) is being renewed day by day.  For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory..." (vv. 16-18; parentheses mine), and James advises to "count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience (and) let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (James 1:2-4; parentheses mine).  Of course neither of these - seeing our struggles as blessings and being joyful in the midst of suffering - can we do by ourselves!  Absolutely not.  It takes God's supernatural putting-on-of-the-sparkling clothing to enable us to see things from an entirely new - and heaven-provided - perspective.  For me that morning, it was the transformation of a heavy cloak of seemingly never-ending tiredness into a life-giving wedding gown of hope and joy that God Is Who He Says He Is and that He will "never leave or forsake" the one who holds fast (even if it's sometimes just with the little tips of one's fingers...) to this Truth (Hebrews 13:5). 

Praise God that He will do that for us if we ask Him.

In His Love, 
Terri 

 

At the Right Place...At the Right Time...Forever

Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.   (John 6:21)

Such a simple sentence with such a profound meaning...that is what I thought this morning after reading it. 

Jesus had just fed thousands of people on five loaves of bread and two small (mind you, small) fish with the help of his disciples (John 6:1-11).  Because of this miracle, the masses, as supernaturally perceived by Jesus, wanted to forcibly make him their king - apparently due to having their bellies amply satisfied (6:15, 6:26).  Knowing this was not His time yet to be King (and certainly not in this way), Jesus withdrew Himself to a nearby mountain and later met back up with His crew of disciples by literally walking on the water to join them in their boat; and of course they were scared...(6:16-19)

...What should they do?!  Who was this man that he could even walk on water?  What would happen if they touched Him and then drew Him into the boat???!!!

Not that these were the actual thoughts of any or all of the men who walked closely with Jesus during his "reign" here on earth (what would you think?!).   But regardless, the Son of God knew that they were afraid; and so He comforted them (6:20), and they then accepted Him into their midst.  And immediately after receiving Him, the boat was at the land where they were going...they were immediately and precisely where they needed to be. 

Ever heard of being "at the right place at the right time"?  Or ever have that sense that "all is right with the world" (or at least your own corner of it) and that you wouldn't want to be anywhere else for that moment - or moments - in time?  Aren't those states of mind/being...nice, wonderful, euphoric...? 

...but oh...so fleeting. 

That's because we were never meant to have a state of mind based on our external (or even internal) circumstances as our basis for that kind of peace, euphoria, joy, satisfaction.  It's impossible.  Because just like that state of mind/being, the circumstances that feed it are also just as temporary.  

But what if there was a way to be at the right place at the right time, or to be able to affirm that ALL was well with your soul ALL of the time (or at least for much of the time while still here on earth)? 

There is.  His Name is Jesus. 

"...But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”  (Luke 10:38-42)

...and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going. 

When someone receives Jesus into his or her vessel (themselves), he/she is exactly where he or she needs to be: in His Presence.  And because of His Amazing Presence, no matter what happens internally or externally, there is a profound sense of things being o.k....even if everyone else (and sometimes even you!) thinks it should be otherwise.  As soon as the disciples received Jesus into the boat, it was exactly where it needed to be...immediately...

...likewise with us.  When we reconnect with our Creator, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, through His Son Jesus Christ, we no longer have to long for those "heavenly" seconds in time when things finally seem to be at peace...and then it's gone.  No.  When we receive Jesus into our vessel, we too are exactly where we need to be...immediately...because we have the One Who Loves us the most living inside of us; and just like Jesus told Mary, it...He...will never be taken away from the one who has received Him.

God bless you all!

Love,

Terri 

You and You

To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:

 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you all with joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing...

...that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ...  (Philippians 1:1-6)

For those of us who both give and receive encouragement from God's Word, this last verse: that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it... has probably been heard time and again to refer to the INDIVIDUAL WORK that God is doing in every Believer by the Power of His Holy Spirit.  The transformation that is taking place in each Christ-follower amazingly declared in 2 Corinthians 3:17-18 and the Final Fabulous Work of Art that is revealed when each one who has "fought the good fight of faith" (Matthew 10:21-22; 2 Timothy 4:7-8) fully embodies the beauty and likeness of Jesus Himself (1 John 3:2)...Wow!

But it occurred to me that this hope-filled reminder may not have been originally meant to embolden and give heart to separate people like it is typically used for today; but it was given by the Apostle Paul to a BODY of Believers who, in this case, were living together in Philippi:  that He who has begun a good work in YOU (the GROUP of Believers, operating together as One, as Jesus prayed for in John 17:20-23) will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ. 

So why is this important?

Several reasons. 

First, although this verse is definitely a tremendous encouragement to an individual Believer, especially when he or she is weary, or feeling hopeless, or wondering if things are ever going to get better (the good work will be completed); the fact that it is used these days almost exclusively for that reason instead of being taken into consideration for the Church (entire Body of Believers) as a whole I believe actually tragically reflects the individualism and isolation that has been sneakily spreading through the Church (thanks to the world, flesh, and satan) for many years.  The demonically-narrowed focus that It's all about YOU: what YOU can get from Jesus, what YOU can give (individually) to others and the (institutional) church, YOU, YOU, YOU.  This earth-bound frame of mind can tempt the still-existing old (selfish) nature in a Believer to think mainly about him or herself and contributes to a sense of disconnectedness that I believe (too) many people in the Body are experiencing these days (what Body?  what Family?).  Another prime example of a verse that was not originally intended for an "individual you"-focused, audience-of-one is Jeremiah 29:11:  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.   No doubt this is a WONDERFUL declaration to an individual Believer, particularly when things in his or her life aren't quite making sense, seem random, out of place...BUT, the fact of the matter is that in context, this statement by God was being directed to a group of His People who had been taken captive and were now living away from home in Babylon (Jeremiah 29:1, 4-11): the plans He had for them together.   

For the second reason why this distinction between the "you" (individual) versus "you" (entire Body of Believers) is incredibly important (1 Corinthians 12:12-14), one just needs to go back and read Jesus's prayer in John 17; the part that talks about those who follow Him being "One" (v. 20-23):  

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. and the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

But now look at the RESULTS of that glorifying Oneness, once it becomes a Reality: 

I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. and the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.

Although one Believer can certainly be enlivened by the Holy Spirit to offer Life-giving words to an unbelieving individual, to then cause them to  "see" Jesus through him or her, it was never intended that an individual-you be the PRIMARY source of the Holy Spirit's Presence to a lost, exponentially decaying world.  According to Jesus's prayer (as well as the majority of times that Paul's "you" was meant for the Holy-Spirit united Church and not any one particular individual within it), it apparently was meant that the BODY of Believers, as a WHOLE (and the Love of Christ reflected through that union:  John 13:34-35) would be the Living Megaphone of God's Presence with us, and of the urgent, eternal decision of whether to accept His Son's Reality and Rescue...or not (Isaiah 61:1-3; John 3:16-18).  What an AWESOME responsibility and assignment...

...but the question is...

...is that actually happening...?

...or is it at this point a bunch of individual "you's,"  (and I'm as guilty as the next; perhaps more so at times due to my draw toward solitude) coming together in a building called "church," yet each trying in his or her own power (and often unsuccessfully) to draw people to the Love of God, while all along there is very little (if any) of God's Love and Oneness amongst all of the individual "you's" within?  If that's the case...  

It won't work.  It's not working...

"...A new commandment I (Jesus) give to you, that you (plural, the Body of Believers) love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

By THIS all will know that you are My disciples...if you have love for one another...

(Perhaps THIS is at least a part of the "good work" in Philippians 1:6 above that God hopes to complete in US/His Body, cultivating that Love, before the Amazing Return of His Son).  I hope so. 

God bless you (individually or together). 

Terri