A Cloud of Witnesses

This morning I was reading Hebrews 11, the faith chapter.  I saw something that I never saw before.  The Word is like that…always revealing itself in truth and love.    I love reading God’s hall of fame, and there is much that I have missed prior to this reading.  

He starts the chapter by defining faith…the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  “For by it the elders obtained a good testimony” Hebrews 11:2.  This is so important, and I never really saw it before.  There is a standard of faith.  “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth” Luke 18:8?  Have you ever wondered what God really wants of His people?  Here it is.  What God needs is our witness.  Have you ever thought of this that God NEEDS something from us.  He needs for us to support Him.  He needs for us to cast our vote on Him.

The next thing that Hebrews shows us in Hebrews 11:3 is an acknowledgement of creation…the world was framed by the word of God so that the things which are not seen were not made of things which are visible.   This is amazing to me.  He is saying in verse 3 a repeat of verse 1 in a different sort of way.  He is saying that at creation the earth was without form and void, His spirit moved over this, and He spoke the Word of God.   This is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  We all stand at a place of creating the unknown whether it be a relationship that is developed or destroyed by our words, whether it is an idea (thought / energy) that becomes reality like writing a book, building a business, making a garden…the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.  This is so amazing.  In the journey of faith that God invites us into, He is saying that the principles of creation are ours to use.  

In today’s world, we call this a manifestation principle.  Another way of putting this is “as a man thinks, so is he.”  Proverbs 4:23: :Keep thy heart with all diligence, for out of the heart flow the issues of life.”  The substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.  The power of life and death are in the tongue says Proverb 18:21.  By the power of our tongue, we create…for good or bad.

Hebrews 11:4 tells us that Abel obtained a witness that he was righteous…God testifying of his gifts.  “…and through it, he being dead still speaks.”  His righteous act still speaks and testifies to God of righteousness.  God needs our testimony / witness.  “Know ye not that to whomever ye yield yourselves as servants to obey, his servants ye become whom ye obey, whether of sin which leads unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? Romans 6:16”

As I read through the faith chapter, the sweetness that I see from what is said by Paul about those listed causes me to see God’s heart of love towards His people.   Paul ends the list of those we know and continues with the acts of faith that was credited to others and says of this group listed in the hall of fame “of whom the world was not worthy” Hebrews 11:38.  God says that the world was not worthy of having these people in it.  Does that touch your heart?  It does mine.  

I believe that we are each invited to call out of nothing God’s original intent for our lives.  He gives us an amazing definition and shows us how He did it.  He gives us the list of witnesses so we know it can be done and what it might cost.  In Hebrews 12:1-2 it says: “Therefore we ask, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

We have been rescued from the camp of evil.  He has shown us how to create (not the things of the world), but the things of heaven.  Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all that you need will be added (Matthew 6:33).  The synergy of this calls forth the greatest creation of self and God’s kingdom.  Praise God.

The Blessings of the Christ Child

This morning as I thought about the Christ child and what He means to us, the word redemption came to me in a different sort of way.  We are used to thinking about Him being the redeemer.  I am so very glad for our beautiful Savior.  But this morning I was reminded that redemption comes in different ways.

Redemption may come in the form of a new revelation of truth.  This may be truth about ourselves or truth that we discover in the Scripture.  Sometimes a Scripture that we have read over and over takes on a new meaning and offers redemption in some part of our life.  Sometimes redemption happens through the words of others…our souls are in need of healing and a word from  someone else redeems us.  It is beautiful.

Redemption may come in the most unlikely packages…a baby…the Christ child.  Only a few welcomed Him.  They welcomed Him as a king.  The redemption He brought, however, was not redemption from Rome.  It was redemption from Evil who is the master manipulator of our Rome.  We wrestle not against flesh but against powers.  Redemption is in this truth.  We keep beating our heads against flesh and blood.  This is true on all levels.  For instance, we have the Scripture that says, “He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions” Psalm 107:20.  Unless we are developing spiritual eyesight, we will miss the redemption that comes in the message that is being given when we struggle with physical issues.  Healing is so much more than physical.  Over 90% of our physical distresses are triggered by emotional and spiritual things.

Redemption comes in unlikely processes.  A child is born.  Thirty years of living happens.  Thirty years of getting to know this man called Jesus.  Can any good things come from Nazareth?  Walking side by side daily, they did not recognize that their redemption was here.  Here was a process that took time.  It was a process that modeled he that is the least shall be great.  It is a process that was full of paradoxes…it still is.  In what looked like complete failure, there was complete victory.  

Redemption comes in many, many little triumphs of doing the loving thing.  “He who does good is of God…” Third John 11.  Sometimes the doing good just seems like a little thing.   Jesus said that we have done it unto Him if we have done it unto anyone.  One of those beautiful paradoxes we get to experience.   

We have been given the gift of redemption.  That means that we have been rescued from the enemies camp.  When we were not ready for the truth.  When we were not ready for the package.  When we were not ready for the process.  God fractured the Godhead and poured out a Son from heaven!  This love is still redeeming us in so many ways each day.  The modeling of this love is teaching us to look for this redemption and to be about the Father’s business of extending to others redemption in whatever good that we are called to do.  Redemption…if we have done it to others, we have done it to/for Him. 

May the blessings of the Christ child fill you with joy and enhanced spiritual eyesight as we behold and celebrate Him.  

  

The Love Song of Heaven

The shepherds heard the angels sing…peace on earth, good will to men.  Here is the love song of heaven.  If you want to know how much the Father loves us, listen to the song of heaven.  What do you hear?  What do you learn?  What is the message about the Father?  

I often have people say to me that they can embrace the sweet Jesus, but the Father they fear.  What does John 14:8-11 say?  “Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and it is enough for us.”  Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you so long, and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’?  Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else believe on account of the works themselves.

This verse is a foundational truth about God.  It does not say that if we have seen Jesus we have an incomplete and inaccurate view of the Father. All that we can understand about the Father is clearly seen in Jesus.

Jesus is the Father’s revelation of himself…“if you have seen me, you have seen the Father.”

I often talk about our identity in Christ.  It has occurred to me after so many that have issues with the Father’s identity that we need to hear the truth about God.  He is not the bad guy of heaven who needs the Son to stand between us and the Father.  This is such a distortion of the image of God and the Son…for you see, they are one.

Not reading and understanding scripture is where we get these distortions.  I am amazed at how we keep passing on to generation after generation of God’s children this dreadful lie.  It speaks of our lack of personal Bible study and how willing we are to accept and pass on the lies.  Scripture is truth that sets us free.  Free from the identity crises of God, Christ, and mankind.  

For GOD so loved the world that He gave His only son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.  We could and will spend an eternity basking in this love and truth.  

In this time of beholding the Christ child…the sweet, lovely Jesus…let us see that in all that He reveals, it is a revelation of the Father.  If, as scripture says, Jesus did not come to condemn us, then you can be sure the love song of heaven has no words of condemnation either.  There is only one accuser of the brethren…the devil. If the Son pleads His blood, it is to stand between God and the Devil...the accuser.  This is the Biblical law of "witnesses."  There has to be two or three witnesses for something to be so.  We have the Father, the Son, and the accuser.  

If a scripture seems to be talking about God’s condemnation, read it again.  The devil is the one who condemns us…read the story of the woman caught in adultery.  Jesus (and God) do not condemn.  The real bad guy is the devil.  He has a charge against us and against God for not immediately destroying us when we were deceived in the garden…like the woman caught in adultery which is a visual aid of what happened in the garden of Eden.

Peace on earth, good will to men.  The love song of heaven.  The greatest Christmas gift we can give God this Christmas is to understand this love song and see that if you are seeing  the Son, you have seen the Father.  The scripture says that a house divided against itself cannot stand.  What many people have received as truth about the Godhead is actually a doctrine of a false god.  Celebrate the truth of the holiday...that is the love song of heaven…peace on earth, good will to men.  Praise God.

God's Children Out of Bondage

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:” 1 Peter 2:9.  

This verse has something exquisite to share with us.   It starts with WHO we are in Christ Jesus.  It is in knowing this and embracing this identity that God gives us, that the rest of the verse has potential.  

Over the last several years, I have been impressed with this thought: Unless we know who we are in God, we do not get the whole, amazing story.  Add to that this thought: Unless we believe the truth about who God is, who we are in Christ will make little difference.  What you believe about God will effect either positively or negatively what we believe about ourselves.  

I am not the only Christian who was raised with a false god…a God of hellfire and damnation, angry with me, distant because I had been bad.  All of this is a lie.  First of all, I never did anything bad that God should hold me so accountable for things over which I had no control.  From the first of our religious instruction as children, many are taught that “Jesus doesn’t love bad boys or girls.”  How horrific that God’s image is so distorted to a precious mind of a child.  How terrible to do this to a child’s image of self.

For a long time, I have been giving God permission to reveal the truth about Himself and me in relationship to Him.  It has been a sweet journey of freedom.  I love the Lord.  Given that, I have struggled with much of what I was taught as a child and adult about God and me.  How sweet that God encourages my questioning of all this.  He wants me to get to the truth because then I am free and so is He.  We are in this together.  If I am held captive by lies about my image in Him, He is held captive, too.

When I get it that I am chosen, royal, holy, and special (significant, safe, supported, secure), I have something to praise Him about…being called out of the darkness of the lie into the glorious light of truth.  

Many Christians are not comfortable with this identity because it is not what they have been taught.  Our first reaction is to put up a defense the same as defending our state of being selfish sinners.  Someone recently questioned me about the idea of self-improvement work…isn’t that being selfish focusing on self?  Yet, Jesus invites us to love ourselves as we love others.  And the truth is that unless we love ourselves and realize our correct identity in God, we cannot extend to others that vision of grace.

The more I see of Divinity, the more I see His plan for me.  His words that I have the fullness of the Godhead and the mind of Christ are a part of His original intent for us.  If you study the story of Israel being removed from Egypt in the deliverance, you will see that the first thing God did was to establish an identity for them…in tribes and within the context of tribes, a chosen people.  He gave them all that they needed to know their significance and to feel secure.  He surrounded them with all that a learning, growing child needs in order to become physically and emotionally healthy people.  This is a beautiful story and gives us much wisdom in training up a child.  We need to remember that Israel was not much more than animals when delivered from Egypt…four hundred years of slavery can do that.  These are great lessons for us as we continue to be in slavery in our own personal Egypt.  

“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light:” 1 Peter 2:9. 

Praise is a love response.  That is so much different than another tick on a To Do list.  It is something that comes from within because you know you are chosen, royal, holy, and special.  It changes every thing.  Thank you, Father God.

The Bethlehem Story

“Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? For we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him’” (Matt. 2:1,2 KJV). 

The story of the Wise Men has delighted us for years.  Children, portraying these gift-bearers in yearly Christmas pageants, try to capture the awe and magic of the story of the journey to find and worship a new king.  In our world today where things seem to happen instantly, we do not stop to think about a journey that took months on slow-moving camels.  This trip took time, money, and commitment.

Part of the beauty of Bible reading is that it continues to unfold new ideas, new truths.  One day while reading the Bethlehem story again, I discovered something new, something that until this time had not revealed itself to me.  It was simply a question about the star that led the Wise Men to Jerusalem.

The star!  Why did the star take the Wise Men to Jerusalem?  Think about it for a moment.  God knew where Jesus was in Bethlehem.  Why Jerusalem?  Jerusalem, the city of learned religious teachers and scholars, was a gathering place of Israel—the center of worship.  Was it to announce to the Jerusalemites the birth of Jesus?  Perhaps.  This answer, too, has resounding implications.

Think about a few of the consequences of this Jerusalem stop.  King Herod was made aware of the birth of a competitor for his throne when the Wise Men inquired as to the location of the Baby.  King Herod summoned the priests and scribes, and they stood before him and told him where the Baby was to be born—amazing!  A heathen king made them aware of something they should have known.  Were not the Jews praying for and looking for their Deliverer?   Another consequence—all the male children two years of age and under in Bethlehem were killed by the king’s decree.  All these things occurred because the Wise Men stopped in Jerusalem.

Parallels…Why didn’t the star take the Wise Men straight to Bethlehem?  Perhaps we can only guess, but what really seems important is this thought.  Jerusalem, the center of all the hubbub and activity of the Jews, is not where Jesus was found.  Can we find an application to our day, to our churches?  They, too, are the center for religious activity, for learning, doing, and being.  This is all well and good; we need our churches for this and other reasons, too.  But where is Jesus?

As important as all this is, there is another factor to be considered.  It is the trip from Jerusalem to Bethlehem to find Jesus.  This trip requires more than just being a part of the action in a religious institution.  It requires effort, time, and commitment to follow the star a bit further to a spiritual awareness of Jesus.  It means being quiet enough to hear Him speak.  It means letting go of feelings that limit ourselves and others.  Pride, selfishness, bigotry, prejudice, and all those other feelings, which are nothing more than our own personal fears working against the spiritual and emotional growth of ourselves and others.

Standing before Herod, the Wise Men announced that they had come to worship the King.  Worship was the reason they were in Jerusalem.  There was a great deal of worship happening in Jerusalem, but most of it did not include the worship of Jesus.  Our weekly attendance at church says to our neighbors, friends, family, and fellow church members that our intention is to worship the King.  However, if we stop and stay in Jerusalem, if we do not continue to follow the star, we will not find the King and worship Him, but will be worshiping at a shrine of our own making.

Wise Gifts…”When they had heard the king, they departed; and, lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.  When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy…They…worshipped him: and…presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh” (Matt. 2:9, KJV).  The extra journey to Bethlehem requires that we come away from the hub of activity and go a few more miles to find the King, worship, and give.  Amazing—the Wise Men got it right, and they got it in the right order!  Keeping their eyes on the star, they followed the star, they found the King, they worshiped Him, and they gave their gifts.  This kind of giving truly is the spirit of Christmas. 

The Elegant Model

Recently, I decided that I wanted a holiday dinner to be an opportunity for a return to elegance. It seemed to me that it had been way too long since I had set an elegant table. The last several years we’ve been more about busy and convenience than anything else. As I analyzed the hectic holiday activity, my heart’s desire was to model elegance once again to my children. And I realized that my grandchildren were not seeing elegance modeled in their homes.

Today, it seems that families think they are too busy to participate in moments of elegance. I don’t want this for my grandchildren. Because children spill and drop things, it seems allowable to dismiss elegance for convenience. The use of paper plates keeps clean up simple...we reason.

Children are not learning how to put a napkin in their laps. Children are not learning to respect the fine china. And they are not getting to experience the awe of seeing a beautiful table set for a special event. Nor or they learning to sit at the table and converse after the meal is finished. They eat, hop up and go play. After dinner conversation is another opportunity for elegance. Too many meals are being eaten in front of the television.

Elegance is defined as the quality of being elegant; dignified richness and grace, as of design (polished) refined grace as in manners. Elegant is defined as luxurious and opulent in a refined, tasteful manner. 

The most important aspect of these definitions is “the quality of being”. The beauty of elegance is that luxuriousness and opulence can come via simplicity. While money can purchase many beautiful things that may or may not be elegant, elegance is not dependent on money.

Elegance is more than money or style. Elegance in living is a state of being…a manifestation of an inner spirit of beauty, balance and grace. Elegance often looks like it just happened. Not so. It requires a plan and effort, and a commitment to doing whatever is required to live in elegance. And it’s worth it. Elegance treats the home, heart, person, spirit, moments, events, and holidays like royal guests…like angels from heaven.

Elegance starts with the awareness that we are called into elegance by our God. We are created for elegance…look at the description of heaven. The description of the tabernacle is full of elegance. God said that the world would know about Him because His people were rich, lived elegant lives and worshipped in a beautiful sanctuary. Living lives of richness and elegance was to be the witness of a powerful God. It was to cause others to consider that they, too, might have this type of relationship with the God of Heaven. It was meant to draw others into the beauty of relationship living with God and man. 

This week, give some thought about how you can bring elegance into your life. It can be as simple as a special dinner served with candlelight and music on a blanket on the floor. Initiate conversation about ideas…not people or problems. Draw your children into the process by asking them about their day. Model gratitude…show them how to say, I’m thankful for… Do this with a joyful heart even if it’s been a long day. That also is a model of elegance. 

The Elegance of Living Life on Purpose

Life can either happen to you or you can engage spiritual principles and live life on purpose. There is elegance to a person and their life when the life is being lived from a standard of truth. There are many spiritual laws and taking time to study these will richly bless the life. Here are two laws of great significance: 

• The law of reciprocity: Give and it shall be given unto you.

• The law of self-determination: Whatsoever you sew, you reap.

 You can either be master of these laws or they will master you. For instance, the law of reciprocity is about giving and receiving. Some people turn this into a business transaction or a place for getting noticed…again buying something rather than giving. We are to freely give and, if possible, give in secret. 

In order to give with a cheerful spirit, one must develop the attitude of abundance. Let’s use tithing as an example. Most people approach tithing from a scarcity mentality: 100% - 10% = 90%. A tither who gives from the spirit of abundance understands it this way: 100% X 10% = 1,000%. This is the math of Heaven and models the abundance of Heaven….give and it shall be given.

It takes courage – an elegant courage to discipline and govern the self. Understand that you either live within these laws and are blessed, or you live in conflict with these principles and find that “That which I fear comes upon me; and that which I dread comes upon me.” Job 3:25. This is another spiritual principle that once understood empowers a person to proactively deal with not only fear issues but other emotions that need to be processed.   

The law of self-determination, or sewing and reaping, is basically the law of attraction. An elegant person “sews” courtesy, forgiveness, patience….all those fruits of the spirit. More often than not, these graces will be returned to you. Always? Probably not. Given that, living life “on purpose” and “with purpose” turns a challenge into a learning experience rather than a blame game. Life, then, becomes an educational opportunity. 

What do you believe about living life? Is it being pursued proactively or is it on default mode so that everyone around you has to pick up the pieces? No one is put here to make everything wonderful for you.  No one is put here to pick up your responsibility. No one is put here to be your dumping ground for all your problems. My lack of planning does not mean that someone else is responsible for that which is my responsibility. 

“He that refuseth instruction despiseth his own soul: but he that heareth reproof getteth understanding. The fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom; and before honor is humility.” Proverbs 15:32,33. The best place for instruction is from the Word of God. Humility is the starting place for learning to live the elegant, purposeful life. Asking for help…asking for mentoring…having a spiritual accountability partner…being wise in the Word…these are proactive approaches that help create an elegant life.

Living life on purpose is something you plan.  How am I going to serve others today?  What am I going to do to proactively say to people that they are loved?  What am I going to do that is a living out of the golden rule?  Do I live life on purpose in a way that includes self-care?  You cannot give away what you do not have...not for long anyway.  

This world seems to be full of entitlement mentality.  Give me, give me, give me.  As a man thinks in his heart, so is he.  Living life on purpose tears down that selfishness.  We can all be selfish.  It takes some thoughtful planning to see beyond our own needs and wants.  Maybe this is the first step to living life on purpose and being this kind of elegant person.

The Elegance of Positivity

An elegant person builds up those in their sphere of influence...doing no harm ever to another's mind, body, or spirit.  An elegant person has learned to be silent when there is nothing positive to be said.  They understand the power of words -- the power of the tongue.  Knowing that words can create, they are careful in choosing their words.  This carefulness models to others the elegance of positivity. 

 An elegant person continues the practice of deliberately stopping negative and critical thinking and negative and critical programming. One way to do this is the rubber band tool—wear it around the wrist and each time a negative or critical though is recognized, the band is popped and the arm experiences pain. Within a month, negative/critical thoughts will begin to disappear. In this way, mastery of self is gained, and that is another quality of elegance. We are told to take every thought captive into the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5). This is an active way of making an application of this particular counsel. 

An elegant person moves in the spirit of gratitude and happiness. These are not attributes that someone gives you. These are decisions you make. These are commitments you make. Someone has said that most people are about as happy as they decide to be. This is true.

Since most of us have spent too much of our lives waiting for someone or something to MAKE us happy, we need to reconsider our thinking. Happiness is not about that which is outside of us. It comes from deciding to be happy and grateful no matter what. Start each day with this commitment: I am happy and grateful to be in this day and for all the opportunities that God is bringing my way today. You might even give some thought to what kind of opportunities you would like to come into your life. For instance, say there is a challenge at work or in the family. Then your affirmation might go like this: I am happy and grateful for the answer coming to me about…

Living life deliberately changes everything. The elegance of positivity can become a covering, a protective sheltering place, through which God’s law of giving and receiving is more quickly played out in your life…give and it shall be given.

What keeps us from being positive? Fear, anger, grief, shame, blame, being critical…all of these emotions have such a low frequency. Why do we get stuck there? Sometimes it’s because we do not know who we are in Christ. Not understanding the truth about our relationship with Christ means that we are living under the shadow of lies about who we are and what we are supposed to be and do. Sometimes we are stuck in these negative patterns because we’ve been raised in that energy. Sometimes we just need to decide to change it all. Sometimes we need help. Sometimes the most positive thing we can do is to admit that we need help. There are all kinds of help available to those who know that they need help. When you are ready the answer will be there.

Living in the elegance of positivity is about trust. Sometimes when times are difficult, we move into survival mode. From that place, we are very alone. It is frightening. This is where the victim lives. How we respond to the trials that come our way is a mirror showing us what we really believe about God. Do we trust Him with every part of our lives? By this, I do not mean that we are to deny our feelings. Grief, anger, fear...these are a part of the human experience that have the potential of helping us move away from man-centered living to God-centered living. Do we really believe that God is taking care of us? Do we really believe that God has answers for us that do not fall into the realm of this physical experience that we are having here in Earth School?

The elegance of positivity is a spiritual discipline that will create miracles in our lives. There is a divine science to it all, and it is full of the blessings of God. God help us take our challenges and turn them into opportunities for learning something about ourselves and something more about God.

A Touch of Elegance

A touch of elegance is needed in life. We can surround ourselves with beauty and order – this is good. But we need a touch of elegance from above.

In the wilderness, a most unattractive place…a place where want was all around…God erected a sanctuary so He could dwell with His people. No matter where we are, He is willing to come down and be with us.

In the desolate place, God gave instructions for a tabernacle that was beautiful in fabrics and furnishings and purpose and meaning. The work of that place was not physically attractive, however. It was full of death and blood. We so often want the elegance without the work.

The ugly part was a visual aid of life on this earth—our situation. The beauty of Heaven came down to sin and death…all this, to usher us to a better place—the throne room.

One lesson from the tabernacle—a place of hope—is the promise in the process. The tabernacle experience was God’s people practicing the promise. It was the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. Jesus did the hard work, the ugly work to usher me into the throne room—a place of elegance.

We need a touch of elegance daily. The worship experience fills this need. The tabernacle service is a visual aid for a worship experience that allows the fullness of the Godhead to work out its pleasure in our lives…this is not something we really understand. This is not something we work up or get from God. It is something God works out or does in us. It can happen because I’m in the presence of God listening to His word that will become flesh in my life.

A touch of elegance is needed in life. I must pursue this elegance even when I’m in the desert of life surrounded by want and need. I must pursue this elegance even when I think that I’ll never find way way out of the desert. I must pursue this elegance when all that I see in myself is sin and the need for the blood of Jesus.

The work of Heaven is a science that will be forever studied. The power of beholding, the life in the blood, the inside out change…these are energetic sciences that are just now being studied with slight understanding. 

A touch of elegance is needed in life, and it is found in the most unlikely places….you and me. Now, we are tabernacles for the indwelling of Heaven. This indwelling creates an elegant life that witnesses to the power and glory of God…elegance imparted, elegance received, elegance shared.

Thank you, Father God!

Participating in the Messiah's Healing

When Jesus was baptized, John the baptist knew he was the Messiah.  Yet, when John was in prison, he sent his disciples to Him to ask if He was the One or should they look for another.  Jesus let the disciples of John watch Him work for a while, and then He told them to go tell John what they had seen.  In Matthew11:4-6 we are told what they saw.  Verse 5 tells us: The blind see and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.

This has some amazing lessons for us.  

Inappropriate expectations based on what is in it for me.  

Because we are selfish, we approach the messiahs in our life from a what is in it for me point of reference.  We get involved with the programs and planning for the new kingdom that we think the messiah will bring.  Like the disciples who were looking for a military messiah, we can start planning how the new kingdom on earth is going to be.  This misses the point of Jesus’ life completely.  We can be in the church and be building an earthly kingdom.  That is exampled in the Bible by the conflict in the various churches regarding people teaching another gospel other than Christ’s.  

I did not expect to end up in prison.  

Usually, our expectations have to be laid in the dust before we are willing to consider a different perspective.  It was the same with Peter when he heard the cock crowing three times.  These are life changing events.  When we see ourselves more clearly, we are more likely to see the truth of what Jesus has been trying to tell us all along.  

Truth encounter — taking another look at Messiah.  

Jesus gave John’s disciples a look at what He was really doing as Messiah.  The blind see and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, the dead are resurrected, the poor have the gospel preached to them.  These were literal works that the disciples saw.  However, they have profound implications then and now for the overall picture of what the Messiah does.  

We can be spiritually blind.  We can be emotionally and spiritually unable to walk correctly.  The lepers can be anyone who is the outcast…who has been barred from communion with the group.  We are all prone to deafness when we are resistant to truth that we do not want to deal with!  We are the walking dead needing a resurrection…a new creation.  

The poor hear the gospel preached

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for their’s is the kingdom of heaven.  This is interesting that Jesus includes this in the list of healing works.  I think that He may be saying to John who is questioning “kingdom” issues that the real kingdom is what He has been teaching and doing…the red words in the Bible. This kingdom will be given to those who recognize their need for a Messiah…not a kingdom on earth.  The real kingdom is all wrapped up in relationship with Him and our fellows.  

The dying of self  

Literally, John was killed.  Like John, we must die to the lies into which we have bought.

John went to his death knowing the truth about the Messiah and trusting in the resurrection.  I bet he was one of those resurrected at Jesus’ resurrection and ascended on high when He went to heaven.  I cannot prove that, but my heart wants to believe it.

Are we ready for the truth that is in this scripture?  Are we ready to participate in the Messiah’s healing?  It will probably take you to places you did not expect.  

Thankfulness

The opportunities for meeting wonderful people at Lea's Natural Health are just amazing.  We get to know the extremes in health, hope, courage, gratitude, and the inquisitive.  We are so blessed that most people who come to see us really want to learn, and they are willing to consider the holistic truths of mind, body, and spirit.  

As I think about the great people who use our services, I am brought to a place of thankfulness and gratitude.  We consider these wonderful folks to be journey companions.  Many of you are fellow students...always learning and sharing what you know.  What a wonderful opportunity for each of us.  Many of you are prayer partners.  This is not taken lightly.  Many of you encourage us by thanking us for being where we are doing what we are doing.  This has, more than once, lifted us and affirmed that we are doing what we are supposed to be doing this moment in time.  

The friends of Lea's NHS has taught us much.  It was because of your encouragement that I actually endeavored and wrote the book that so many had been asking for..."Linda, do you have a book or something that teaches what you share in our sessions?"  I did not!  It took a lot of courage to get that book written, and this year it happened.   It has been a great experience, and I have so many of the good folks at Lea's NHS to thank.  The following link is a video trailer about the book and I hope you enjoy this introduction to the book:  http://youtu.be/9RCTAYmoPv0

We have had our challenges the last couple of years, and I appreciate the encouragement and friendship that so many of you have shared with us.  They say you teach what you need to know, and in the writing of this book, we have discovered truths that help set us free from the burdens of so many relationship issues.  I laugh at myself when I remember that the Lord spoke these words to me about fifteen years ago: Linda, if you can get over yourself, no one else will bother you.  Every day, I find out more and more how true this is.

As Thanksgiving is fast approaching, I wanted to say "thanks" to all of you who have journeyed with us in the eleven or so years that we have been at Campbell  Station Road.  Sometimes we think it is just about business.  For Overton and me, it is about so much more than that.  We want you to experience the physical, emotional, and spiritual healing that we know God has for each of us.  It may not be in the way that we first thought it would happen, but God does have our answers.

When I look back at my own story...being so very sick in my forties...and realize the precious people that God put in place to help me get my life back, I am filled with gratitude.  Even last year when I had a bump in the road with my health,  so many of you held me up in prayer and your words and deeds encouraged me.  I thank you!

We live in challenging times.  As we approach another year, let us all be encouraged by the truth that God's ways are not man's ways.  This is good news because there are not many of man's ways that are working.  The Bible tells us to seek first the kingdom of God and everything we need will be taken care of.  This is more than just an admonition, it is cosmic law/principle that will work itself out in our lives if we cooperate with it.  I have found that this is an amazing journey...and as someone this week told me, it gives you such peace.  Even  when we have those trouble spots, the peace that is available is not of this world...in this world we will have trouble, but be of good cheer Jesus has overcome the world.  This is earthly reality balanced with Heaven's reality.  Let us each commit to live from the heavenly perspective of "be of good cheer, He has overcome the world."  God bless!  

Healing The Centurion's Servant

As a Christian Natural Heath Professional, the study of health and healing is important to me.  From the standpoint of a Biblical foundation for healing via natural means, the stories in the Bible give us an opportunity to watch Divinity.  atthew and Luke both tell us the story of Jesus' healing of the Centurion's servant when Jesus was in Capernaum.   In Luke 7:2, we find these precious words: A Centurion’s servant, who was dear to him, was sick and ready to die. A Centurion – a Roman solider – had a servant (slave) who was dear to him. Most often, the master/slave relationship is one of abuse and harshness. This story is particularly sweet because the players rose above their situation and roles. So much of the story is untold but implied in the words, “servant, who was dear to him…” What created this relationship?  What else do we know about this Centurion? The elders of the Jews had a high regard for this Centurion for he “loves our nation and has built us a synagogue.” Again, just a few words that only hint at a beautiful story. Here is a Roman soldier who in some way has become connected not only with Israel but with Israel’s worship. And because he sought out the help of Jesus through the elders of the Jews, we can assume that he had heard of Jesus and had a great deal of faith in Him. It seems that he did not know of the great divide between Jesus and the elders of Israel. This is an interesting dynamic that is full of instruction for the elders of Israel…how different the story might have been had they just taken advantage of the opportunity to discover their own Messiah. The Centurion acknowledges that he understands the process in the chain of authority…as he is also a man under authority. He understood not only having authority but being under authority. That was part of the reason he went through the elders.  I find it interesting that the elders of the Jews appealed to Jesus on behalf of this “worthy” man. They measured his worthiness based on his relationship with the people and the fact that he had built them a synagogue. Jesus went with the elders – intending to go to the centurion’s home. The centurion, however, sent friends to Jesus saying to Him, “Lord do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy that You should enter under my roof. Therefore, I did not even think myself worthy to come to You. But say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Wow! This part of the story is an amazing revealing of the character of the Centurion. The Jewish elders counted him worthy of help because of his “doing”. He, however, did not measure himself in this manner. The beautiful truth here is that his “doing” had come from a place of integrity. He had not turned his “doing” into a business transaction that bought him anything…this is legalism. Something in his spirit responded to the nation of Israel and Israel’s God. Loving the people and building a synagogue was a correct response to the truths that came to him. He did not use his power position as a Centurion to demand the presence of Jesus. He respectfully made his request through the appropriate chain of authority. For the Centurion, authority was not something to resist or resent. It was something through which you worked to accomplish good. Just as he used his power for good -- building a synagogue and developing positive relationships – so he used authority and respected its process. “For I ALSO am a man placed under authority…” (Vs. 8). To me, the word “also’ suggests that he understood that Jesus was under authority to the Jewish elders and possibly even the God of Israel. And the “also” suggests a type of equality with Jesus. It’s a respect of positions with responsibility. This man understood speaking a word and having that word obeyed. He did not doubt the power of Jesus because Jesus was under authority and even sickness and death obeyed this authority. He acknowledged this and much more when he entreated the Jewish elders on behalf of his servant. I think he also understood how damaging it can be to any cause when you have someone trying to work around or outside of authority. It would have jeopardized the work of Jesus by creating conflict with the Jewish elders.  When Jesus heard these things, He marveled at him and said…”I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel.” (Vs. 9). Faith – this is what Jesus sees in the Centurion. And it’s not faith in the healing. It’s faith in the position and authority of Jesus – a man also under authority. Faith, then, is the recognition of God as a benevolent Ruler who is willing to supply all our needs – even healing. Faith is submitting to the authority that is over us and never doubting that the word spoken is already fulfilled. Faith is seeing Jesus as a man ALSO under authority…the authority of divine love.  Faith is not what I work up. It’s a response to something absolutely correct…the position and power of Jesus Christ. Faith is not about my worthiness or lack of worthiness. God is worthy. That settles it. Even though the Jewish elders counted the centurion as worthy, he did not measure himself as such. Yet he was willing to trust in the power and position of someone else also under authority. This story amazes me, and I think it is an incredible visual aid for the truth that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen. (Heb. 11:1). Are we trying to buy with our “doing” what God is ready, willing, and able to give? Can I, like the Centurion, rest confidently in the power and position of Jesus Christ…a man also under authority? Wow…this story amazes me.

Stages...are you ready for peace?

Someone asked me recently how I felt about teaching a class that I was planning to teach.  I thought it was a wonderful question, and as I did not have a ready answer, I knew that maybe I should think about a bit.  And that is what I have done for several days.  I have decided that the way I feel is peaceful.  How great is that?  I have decided that the entire experience of learning and teaching is really a metaphor of how we live life.  

I have spent my life teaching in one way or another.  It is just in me.  You know, they say you teach what you need to know.  I have needed to know a great deal on my journey.  I had to refine what I thought I knew from childhood up.  Just about the time you think you have something figured out, life happens.  In the past, this frustrated me.   Now, I think that it is very interesting.  Rather than seeing things right or wrong (the A+ and the F), I see that for this level of my experience, it is what it is!!  

It is kind of like the parable of the sower.  He sowed seed everywhere.  We would say He was indiscriminate in His sowing.  We would have been so much more careful with the seed.  I see Him having a good time with the seed.  He is saying, “Oh there might be someplace that the seed will grow in the rocks and shallow places.”  I see Him sowing with abandon, fun, faith, and hope.  

At this stage of teaching, I understand this type of abandon.  I used to be so concerned with the stuff that man is concerned with in teaching…the presentation of MY information.   Now, not so much.  I am delighted to be sowing with abandon HIs seed, His truth, His thoughts, His love.  

The different stages of life make a difference in our teaching.  I see those stages as:

• Here is the information…questions make us uncomfortable.

• Questions are welcome and answers are subject to skepticism.

• Q&A is too rigid.  Observations are friendlier.  There is room for all the participate no matter what level of understanding…the seed will not take in all ground unless it is their time.

The peace that comes from knowing that you are not in charge of the “taking root and growing” is wonderful.  I think that perhaps one of the things this parable was doing was to manage the expectations on the disciples.  If we took this lesson to heart, we could have so much peace.  We would also have an easier time at each stage of life wherein we find others.   Relating at the third stage to a first stage person is a challenge if either person is overly invested in opinion or outcome.  

I recently was talking to a growing saint and she said that she no longer felt compelled to have an answer or to express answers.  She is learning to be content while others search for their own answers.  This is great.  It brings to mind the scripture that says to be ready always to give an answer TO THOSE WHO ASK about the hope that is within you.  This is where we get into trouble.  I have discovered that when a person is sharing their opinion, they are not usually open to hearing yours.  WAIT.  I think that they are refining their beliefs.  They are not in Q&A mode yet.  Maybe something they share will help you refine your beliefs.  That is probably the most you can hope for at this point. I find all of this to be a relief.  I wish someone had shared this stuff with me when I was younger.  I wonder if you can understand when younger?  At least we could take it as a heads up.

I see this as a “peace on earth, good will to men” experience.  We are earth…made of earth.  Another metaphor.  When you have peace in your heart, you are no longer invested in battling with other men.  You are no longer trying to prove your way, have you way, invested in outcome, or have any secondary motives with others.  THEN your peace in your part of the earth will have true good will towards men.   

Hear the Messages, Learn the Lessons

Jesus walked among the people.  He healed the physically sick.  He knew that in that sickness is another condition that is often unspoken but very much felt.  We so often are concerned about the physical.  He is full of grace also for the condition that is often unspoken.  Sometimes, we do not have words that explain the condition of spiritual starvation.  Does God care about even me?  Why is this happening to me?  What do I do with this?  Will I ever be well again?

Jesus was addressing this when He asked the man at the pool of Bethesda, “Do you want to be whole?”  The man responded in his hopeless dilemma of not having any help.  He had no physical help.  He had no help that was of this world.  Do you sometime feel that way?  In all our “answers” that are available, there does not seem to be one that works.

We are so often looking for the physical answer.  We need to be as vigilant in finding the emotional and spiritual answers.  What is our condition trying to tell us?  What have I been holding on to?  What is the invitation in this situation?  

I make no judgment because more and more I understand that we have not been taught to ask these questions from a spiritual dimension.  We are having to learn how to do this part of the journey, too.  I see people who really do not want to be well because of what it will cost them…not financially, but in terms of relationships…themselves and others.  It is not always good news to them to know that they need to make some decisions.  It is easier to be sick and keep seeking a cure.  

Sometimes this sickness is teaching you something…sometimes it is taking you somewhere…sometimes it is helping you release something, sometimes it is cultivating grace of some sort.  For these reasons we can praise God for this instructor.  Be open to hearing and learning the message of these situations.  Be open to hearing the hunger in your own experience.  God knows and He cares.  

The more that I work with people the more understanding I have of the “gray” areas of life.  Everything is not black and white.  Everything is not either/or.  Everything is not good or bad.  What will healing cost me?  What have I been selling myself for in this sickness?  Who or what am I financing with the sickness.  What do I want to escape?  What am I just too tired to keep at?  From what am I being rescued or excused? What truths have I been hearing that I am refusing to honor?  What needless guilt am I carrying?  What unresolved anger?  Am I needing down time to be with God, and this is the way I am getting it?

Jesus healed the man at the pool of Bethesda even though he could not see any help.  In spite of this, the man remained in the hope of healing.  Sometimes verbalizing that there is no hope in the material world is the day break awareness that moves us to the spiritual and emotional answers where there is healing.  Praise God that He knows exactly where we are and in His time, the answer comes…and it may mean physical healing, too.  Sometimes, we are healed quickly.  Sometimes, we are healed as we go into greater awareness.  Sometimes we are healed as we go and sin (dysfunctional behavior) no more.  Be compassionate to others and to self.  Bethesda is just where you are right now…not forever.  Praise God!

Building On the Truth of Love

I had an interesting experience recently.  Someone asked me a question…how do you balance being on the path of spiritual growth and maturity and the other side of the situation that we are a bunch of miserable sinners.  I thought that this was an amazing question, and it zones in on what so many Christians deal with…their identity in Christ.  

My answer to this wonderful lady was this.  It depends on where your story starts.  Does it start in Genesis 1 where God made all things, including people (you and me) and pronounced it good?  Or does it start in Genesis 3 after the fall?  I prefer to start my story in Genesis 1 and believe that God’s original intent will be completed in me.  He will complete what He has started.  I thought she was going to cry.  She said that not in her entire life had she been told this…and it is right in the Bible.  

I also shared with her that in Christ’s time and the early church, it was understood that we were born saved and only could be lost if we chose that path.  During Augustine’s time, he initiated the doctrine of original sin…that we are born lost and have to work really hard and convince God that we are worth saving.  It isn’t in the Bible.  It came from a man.  When I learned this, I finally understood why I felt that there was such discrepancy between God’s word and what I heard from the pulpit at church.  All of Christianity has chosen to follow and teach something that came from man. 

Why does it matter?  It matters because of what it says about God.  Is He for us?  Or against us?  God didn’t have to be convinced to save us.  Jesus is the Lamb slain from the foundation of the earth.  For God so loved that He gave His only begotten Son.  Knowing the truth about this makes Scripture make sense.  It is this type of deceit that has done huge damage to the image of God and made the Scriptures seem incongruent.  

I was raised with a get-you god.  He has you under his finger just ready to squash you.  Lots of people have the same hopelessness about themselves that this lady had.  Her question was honest.  Why would I want to go on a journey of spiritual maturity and emotional healing just to find a mad, vengeful God at the end of that journey.  And another part of the scenario is this idea that we are hopeless and beyond redemption…we just never seem to get it right.  I met someone one time who used to visit with me on Monday mornings.  It was a real challenge.  She had been to church the day before, and each Monday she came in spiritually beaten up.  God’s name and identity had suffered a severe blow at her church.  She never could get to the truth of who she is in Christ because she never heard the truth about God.

I have said it before, and it is worth repeating the story of the woman caught in adultery.  Her story is ours.  She was set up and deceived…trapped in a plot that would be used to trap Jesus.  When her pre-planned exposure gave her accusers the opportunity of throwing her at the feet of Jesus and demanding her death by the law, Jesus/God stepped in.  Jesus stooped down and started writing the sins of the accusers in the sand.  He that is without sin cast the first stone.  Their sins had been revealed.  They had no right to accuse.  This story is our story in the Garden of Eden.  We were  set up, deceived, and tossed at the feet of God.  He stepped in and made a way for us to come out from under the condemnation of the Accuser of the brethren.  Then we have an opportunity for “go and sin no more.”  Every day we have opportunities for do-overs.  It is when we get stuck in these lies that we are unloved by God and hopeless that we just are not able  to have the courage for trying again.  

In the example of Jesus on the earth, we have a visual aid of “on earth as is in heaven.”  He is bringing us a walking, talking, living, breathing, loving example of Heaven’s love for us.  Go to the Red Words in the Bible and start finding the truth about God/Jesus.  Jesus said that if you have seen Him, you have seen the father.  Any perception that is not of this is a distortion of men creating God in their own image.  God is love.   Sometimes our own experiences of familial abuse at home and spiritual abuse from the church has given us an experience of being caught and tossed at the feet of a vengeful  god.  Sometimes I hear people say: I must not be living right because such and such bad thing is happening.  This is another distortion of truth that turns the relationship with God into a business transaction.  This is western man’s way of sorting things out..not God’s character at all.  

The gospel is called the good news.  The meaning of “gospel” is that "the enemy is defeated and a new king is in charge."  That is the message.  Not a bunch of doctrine.  We are to go and teach others that a new King is in charge…the Kingdom has been taken back.  Praise God.

Rejection and People Pleasing

I am watching the sun sprinkle through the trees.  It spills like diamonds on the multicolored leaves.  It is very happy looking.  I love trees.  I am energized by the sunlight.  God is painting Fall masterpieces, and it is giving us a glorious cathedral.  This morning I woke with a knowing.  God’s early morning tug at my heart was speaking to me about overcoming.  This issue was rejection.

Do you ever struggle with that?  It can trigger feelings of defensiveness.  It can call out every fear and anxiety that we have.  I have done a lot of work around this issue of rejection.  We give away so much power to others as a consequence.  You might say we prostitute ourselves trying to avoid rejection.

As I talked to the Lord about this, I realized that even though I have done work all around the issue, I had not gotten to the core…a family inheritance.  Some would call this a sin of the father that has come down in the family.  I am OK with that.  It had to start somewhere.  We have a physical, emotional, and spiritual inheritance that we receive from birth.  I believe it is this that is the foundation of “sand” upon which we build this earthly house.  

At some point, we have to rebuild on the “rock” foundation with is the Truth in Jesus Christ.  This morning the sand of rejection  was replaced with the Spirit’s courage.  With that courage, I will be able to speak the Truth in love and never offer any of it for sale based on another’s opinion.  The Truth is about the love of God towards each of us.  

Do you ever find yourself a bit timid about talking about the love of God because someone might think you are a bit strange?  You have just sold yourself.  What we have to remember is that our Truth of the love of God may touch hearts.  It is when we move into the realm of man’s opinions about this or that…theology, doctrine, prophecy, etc. that we start arguing about the traditions of man.  

Jesus said that we can make of no effect the law of God by making it self-serving.  This is interesting.   It seems they knew how to manipulate the law even then.  This manipulation distorted God’s original intent in the law of love…love to man and to God.  God’s law is made manifest in giving the Beatitudes.  It is about His character.  It is about us taking on His image.  When Christ presented this information to the people, it was turning over many traditions of men that had replaced these principles.  These are the landmarks of character development.  

We have such a legalistic view of law.  These principles free us from that.  Only when we dress up our legalism in the righteous garb of the Pharisees, do we begin the use the “law” as something which becomes the traditions of men.  

How does rejection develop?  It is an energy that we become acquainted with when we did or said something someone else did not like, therefore, they labeled it and/or us as something unacceptable.  It can be full of shame,  It can create defensiveness.  There you have the stuff of life on this planet.  You see, if we left off the legalism of the traditions of men and focused on being people of love, this would disappear.  That is the ideal and far from the reality that we have in this world.  In the meantime, we have to learn the Truth that is based in the Rock…in Christ Jesus I am signification, secure, supported.  It does not include rejection.  Learning to walk in that truth is to turn away from people pleasing.  It is to understand that we are not going to make everyone happy.  We were not put on the earth for that.  We are to be one with Christ, and the oneness that is possible with others comes from others being one with Christ, and, therefore , we are all one with Him.  It is all about God!  What freedom we are offered.  Thank you, Lord.  

What Programming Are You Running?

I was listening to a presentation by Dr. Bruce Lipton, renowned cellular biologist, and he said that 75% of our thoughts are negative.  Wow!  He also said that only 5% of our consciousness is running our life; 95% of our programming is from the subconscious.  This is the stuff we were programmed with in childhood and received as programs from our parents.  This is why it can be so hard to overcome things that we have recognized as dysfunctional and harmful…they are actually automatic programs…we can also call them habits.

I had been struggling with something and did not really know what to call it.  The Lord used Dr. Lipton's words to give me greater insight into the situation as well as gave me some vivid pictures of where I picked up this programming.  I prayed about it and claimed God’s promises for release and redemption.  It made a great difference in me within minutes.  I realized that a type of weariness that I have been struggling with was coming from that.  I love it that God can so quickly set us free!

I am grateful, too, that what seemed like a random presentation was actually a divine appointment for freedom.  I had not realized that this thing had become not only a habit but was affecting my thoughts and beliefs.  I did not like this part of me, and I am sure my self-talk was doing me no good.  These self-destructive habits can make you feel physically weary and worthless.  

The Scripture says that a house divided against itself cannot stand.  Negative thoughts and habits very much create a house divided against itself.  We are a temple for the most high God.  Sometimes, He needs to step in and cleanse our temples because dysfunctional programming has created a den of thieves.  It is stealing our happiness.  That happiness glorifies God.  So, it is also stealing from God.

Let me encourage you to review habits, self-talk, behaviors that disappoint you, and any place that you just cannot put your finger on but you know if just does not feel right.  Take it to the Lord and ask Him to show you what is going on.  Listen.  Be ready for some truth encounters.  Be ready to receive freedom.

Rationalizing the places of dysfunctional habits is to live in delusion.  This is not a happy place to live no matter how we have justified it.  It is a place of bondage…a place of being created in the image of man instead of the image of God.  A house divided against itself is not a place of victory.  I am so grateful for God’s intervention in our lives on a daily basis.  This is the dying daily that Paul talks about.  It is all about transformation…being that new creature.  Praise God for that grace that pursues us so that He can complete that which He started in us.