A New Beginning!

 

By Hazel Holland

Before each one of us stretches a new year.  The old year is almost over and the new is about to begin.  So I would invite you to join me in choosing to let go of all the things that keep you trapped in the past... like regrets and resentments and self-righteous attitudes that prevent others from getting close to you.  I would invite you to offer apologizes where necessary, and to make amends so that relationships can be restored.

So how will you choose to live this new year?  Will you accept God's gift of forgiveness that He extends to you with an open hand, and then offer this same gift to others?  Will you acknowledge God's gift of righteousness that is already yours by faith in His finished work, and then share it with those who don't know? 

As you choose God's way of living life in this new year, He has promised to fill you with His Spirit so that you will choose to love others as He has loved you.  As you humbly admit your own weaknesses, He will be your tower of strength and lift you up in your time of need.  As you look to the cross you will be reminded that God reached down and took a hold of your hand before you ever reached out to Him.  He gave  you the greatest gift of all--Himself!

So let's begin living this new year with the brand new heart God has given us.  Let's remember that we are daily being changed into His likeness.  So that means there is always room for growth.  Although we may rest in the assurance that our sins have been forgiven that does not release us from being accountable to one another for our behavior.  Being reconciled to one another is a beautiful thing that happens to us as a result of God's gift of repentance.

So how are you and I going to live life in this new year?  In the light of His presence?  Forever grateful to God for His ultimate gift of love to us--Himself?  Yes!  And forever thankful for new beginnings!♥

Active Participants of Grace ♥

By Hazel Holland

Is there anything more contrary to the Christian spirit than having an unforgiving heart?  You know the scenario... when we choose to hold on to a grudge, or refuse to speak to another Christian unless they make the first move. 

The truth is... if we say that we have forgiven the person who offended or hurt us, we cannot at the same time continue to behave coldly towards them.  When we display cold love we deny the One whose name we profess to know.

As the old year ends and the new year is ushered in, why don't we determine in our hearts to let go of all vestiges of resentment, and all our attempts to get even.  Instead, let's hold up others before God in prayer that he might restore both them and us to His grace.  Let's allow the Holy Spirit to enable us to be active participants of God's grace and forgiveness.♥

Choose Love

By Hazel Holland

 

Whenever a terrible tragedy like this happens immediately the issue of gun control laws comes up.  And it should.  But isn't what happened yesterday at Sandy Hook Elementary School bigger than banning the right for innocent people to buy and own guns?

Shouldn't it be more about limiting the types of firearms that can be legally purchased in our society?  Most importantly, shouldn't we be making sure that people who suffer from mental health problems are prevented from ever gaining access to guns?  Shouldn't  this be at the top of our list?

Clearly the whole mental health issue needs to be addressed by our health care system and our local governments because it's not working.  For the last few years far too many people who have mental illnesses are falling through the cracks.  Far too many people who need professional help are hurting others in horrific ways.

Isn't it way past time for us to humbly admit that we don't have easy answers?  Doesn't our society need to set up better boundaries to prevent mentally disturbed people from hurting others?  Isn't it way past time for us to come together as a people and place everything on the table as we search for solutions and ways to protect the lives of the innocent?  Especially our precious children! 

Since God has given each one of us the right to free will, this means that we each have an opportunity to hurt or love others.  Although we can't reverse the unimaginable heartache that people are experiencing right now, we each have an opportunity to improve the daily lives of those around us by choosing to show love to them.

Let's decide right now that by God's grace we will choose to improve the lives of those around us by never using our free will to hurt other people.  Instead, we will choose love.♥

The Way of His Kingdom

By Hazel Holland

 

It's easy for us to see the daily conflict that continues to escalate in the Middle East.  Each side accuses the other side of  being the bad guy... the one who started the most recent problem.  Numerous times a day we witness this rhetoric as news anchors relate the latest fallout to establishing any lasting peace in the Middle East.

Obviously the world's ways of trying to establish peace in the Middle East are not working.  That's because peace in this world does not come through violence but through sacrifice.  Peace does not come through taking sides, but through being on His side.  Peace does not come through picking up a sword, but by picking up a cross!  God's plan is not for one nation to be lifted up above another, but for all nations and all people to find their healing in the One who has already been lifted up.  

Having said that, I am reminded that it's far easier for us to recognize the daily conflict going on in the Middle East than it is to acknowledge the daily conflict present within our own lives.  We want our families to take our side.  We insist on pointing our fingers at one another as we hold on to unforgiveness and justifiable wounding.  We want those who have hurt us to pay...  We don't want to have to acknowledge our own failures or our own unloving and unforgiving attitudes.  We'd rather pick up a sword than a cross.

It's easy to see how the way of the world teaches us to take sides.  But the way of God's kingdom calls us to take the side of cross-shaped forgiveness.  Clearly the world does not have the answer that will bring peace and healing to the Middle East.  Neither does the world have the answer that will bring peace and healing to our families or our hearts.

The battles and wars that we fight in this world (whether real or imagined) only prolong the peace that we all earnestly seek.  So let's lay down our weapons, especially during this Christmas season, and seek to be reconciled to those we have hurt or offended within our own families.  Let's let the Prince of Peace bring His love and peace to our hearts as together we seek the way of His kingdom .♥

Anyone Thirsty?

By Hazel Holland

The Feast of Tabernacles, also called Booths, began on the 15th day of the 7th month, and was the last of the divinely appointed feasts of the Old Testament.  This was Israel’s Thanksgiving feast in which they acknowledged the fall harvest and God’s provision for them.  It was a celebration of great joy.

During this feast the Jews were required to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and were commanded to make  booths to dwell in for the week of the feast.  These temporary shelters were made out of branches and leaves that were woven together.  At night they could look up and see the stars through the spaces in the thatched roofs, and feel the wind blow through the spaces in the walls.  This was a reminder to them of how their fathers were exposed to the perils of the wilderness for forty years, and yet were miraculously preserved by God. 

During New Testament times, for each of the seven days of the feast, the priests would go down to the pool of Siloam in a religious procession with large water jugs.  They would fill the water jugs with water, and then walk up the many steps to the Temple mount commemorating the long expected anticipation of the promise given by the prophet Isaiah.  

“And in that day you will say: "O LORD, I will praise You; though You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, and You comfort me. Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; 'For YAH, the LORD, is my strength and song; He also has become my salvation.'" Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. And in that day you will say: "Praise the LORD, call upon His name; declare His deeds among the peoples, make mention that His name is exalted” (Isaiah 12:1-4).

As the priests approached with the water jugs the people would burst forth in singing the marvelous “Hallel Palms” (Psalm 113-118) which conclude with these verses:  “You… have become my salvation.  The Stone which the builders rejected has become the Chief Cornerstone.  This was the Lord’s doing.  It is marvelous in our eyes.  This is the day the Lord has made.  We will rejoice and be glad in it… Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord” (Psalm 118:21-26).

Then as the people were praising the Lord the priests would pour out the water from these jugs upon the pavement.  It was a reminder to them of how God miraculously provided water for their fathers in the wilderness out of the Rock, and that one day He would pour water from heaven upon their thirsty souls through the coming of the Messiah.  In Judaism water was always used as a symbol of that which “comes from above” and was identified with the coming of the Messiah.

However, on the eighth day, or last day of the feast which was called, “the great day of the feast”, the priests made no procession and poured no water.  This eighth day was a reminder to them that God had fulfilled the promise to their fathers by bringing them out of the wilderness.  They no longer needed the miraculous supply of water from the Rock, because God had brought them into a well-watered land flowing with milk and honey.

Imagine the people’s surprise on this eighth day, this last day of the Feast of Tabernacles when Jesus stood in their midst and cried out: "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:37-38).

Jesus was standing in their midst as they were performing this joyous ceremony, but their hearts didn’t recognize Him.  The Word who became flesh and dwelt (“tabernacled”) among them (John 1:14) for three and a half years WAS fulfilling the promise spoken through the prophet Isaiah, but their minds were blinded by tradition.  Many wouldn’t see that the Reality had replaced the shadow until the day of Pentecost when the Holy Spirit would be poured out.  On that day three thousand people would recognize their Messiah, acknowledge that they were thirsty, and the Lord would become their salvation.

The Lord wants to become your salvation, too.  Are you thirsty?  Then come and drink the Living Water.  If you believe in Jesus you will never thirst again.  For He has come to "tabernacle" in your heart through His Spirit so that out of your heart will flow rivers of living water.♥

Caught Up to "Meet" Him!

By Hazel Holland

Here are some thoughts I've been considering the last few days as the Spirit has been prompting me to look at these verses.

^"For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord" (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (NASB).

First of all I do not believe that when believers are caught up to meet the Lord in the air it means to be "raptured away"... an escapist mentality that Dispensationalist teachings promote in the "Left Behind" series.  In other words, I do not believe in a secret rapture where Christians all of a sudden disappear off the face of the earth.  For me that teaching does not have sound biblical support.

However, I think that being caught up to "meet" the Lord in the air has another possible meaning that many of us (including myself) have overlooked, perhaps because we haven't understood the normal usage of the Greek word "meet" that Paul was using here.

The same word "meet" that is used in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 is also used in Matthew 25:6 to describe the bridesmaids who go out to "meet" the bridegroom and then accompany him into the feast.  Furthermore, this same word "meet" is also used in Acts 28:15 to describe the Romans who go out to "meet" Paul as he arrives in their city, and then go back with him into their city.

The key factor with the normal usage of the Greek word "meet" in these instances is that the arriving dignitary: the bridegroom in Matthew 25, and Paul in Acts 28, didn't change directions and go back where he came from AFTER the people came to meet him! He continued with them into their house or city.  For me the implication here is huge and it blew me away!

So it seems to me that Paul's use of the word "meet" in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 might be talking about a similar kind of "meeting".  A "meeting" where believers who are alive and those who have been raised from the dead are caught up to "meet" Christ in the air on His way back to earth.  Yes, they will be with the Lord for evermore as the verse tells us, but it doesn't tell us that that He is going to turn around where He came from and take us back to heaven as I have always understood this verse to mean.

Rather it sounds like believers will be with the Lord as they accompany Him on His way back to earth as He "descends".  And yes, they will be with Him always.  There's no mention of being caught away and taken somewhere... like to heaven as I always have thought.

Furthermore, 1Thessalonians 3:13 says, "So that He may establish your hearts blameless...at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints."  He's coming with all His saints... not to turn around and go back to where He just came from.

The central theme is that every believer, whether dead or alive will be resurrected and caught up to greet Jesus in the clouds when He returns to earth.  What a glorious day that will be when we are caught up to meet him in the air and we return with Him... yes, in glorified bodies as part of his army, dressed in white linen, riding on white horses (Revelation 19:14).

As soon as I read this verse of Scripture I began to laugh out loud and rejoice in the Spirit...  When we are caught up to meet the Lord in the air we will be changed... in the twinkling of an eye at the last trump we will have our glorified bodies... and we will be with our God forever and ever!♥  

What are your thoughts?   

♥ Lamb Power ♥

By Hazel Holland

Today I was hit with a bolt of lightning from out of the blue.  The book of Revelation is about Lamb power—NOT Lion power!

Yes, the Lamb—Jesus Christ, who is pictured at the center of the throne in Revelation 5:6 looks almost incongruous.  But here at the very heart of the power of the universe stands Jesus Christ—God’s slain Lamb! And just like the Lamb, God's people are called to conquer—NOT by fighting, but by remaining faithful and testifying to God's victory of self-giving love!

Here at the beginning of the book of Revelation we are given a picture of the Lamb's non-violent power in contrast to the beast power that is shown later as being hell-bound on victory as he inflicts  pain, suffering and death on all who oppose him.

However, having said that, don't we much prefer images of Jesus Christ as the Lion of Judah rather than the Lamb of God?  We prefer images of strength rather than weakness, right?  But look at the Scriptures that tell us that God always chooses the weak things of this world to overcome the strong and powerful...

“For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21).

“But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong…” (1 Corinthians 1:27).

I know that many of us in the body of Christ have no problem seeing that Jesus came as a Lamb the first time…when he was born in a stable.  We will even concede that perhaps lambs were among the animals that watched His birth.  However, I believe that many of us have trouble seeing Jesus as Lamb in the book of Revelation, because we’ve been taught that when He comes the second time He will come as the Lion of Judah.  We have images in our minds of a conquering, roaring Lion.  

But is this the true picture that John paints for us in the book of Revelation?  Is the final Revelation of Jesus Christ given in Lamb-like or Lion-like imagery?  Although Jesus is the Lion of Judah, I want us to see that He is portrayed throughout the book Revelation as the Lamb who conquers through self-giving love!♥

The first picture we get of Jesus being portrayed in the imagery of a Lamb is in Revelation 5:6-13 where we see “a LAMB as though it had been slain…" and all heaven is falling down before Him and worshiping Him because He alone “is worthy to receive power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.”  Furthermore, this LAMB  is the "only One who is found worthy to open the scroll and read it, because He has redeemed us to God by His blood out of every tribe and nation and made us to be priests and kings to our God…”

So let’s continue to look at other verses in Revelation that use LAMB imagery.  Revelation 6 lets us know that it is the LAMB who opens the seven seals.  In Revelation 7:9-10 we see a great multitude... standing before the LAMB and saying, "Salvation belongs... to the LAMB!"  Then in verse 14, John tells us that these people are the ones that have "washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the LAMB", and in verse 17 we see the LAMB in the midst of the throne who shepherds and leads His people to living water, and wipes every tear from their eyes.

Here is a list of further verses that use this LAMB imagery right on through to the last chapter of  Revelation.

Revelation 12:11 "They overcame him by the blood of the LAMB and by the word of their testimony..."

Revelation 13:8 "And all who dwell on earth will worship it (the beast), everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the LAMB who was slain."

Revelation 13:9 "All who dwell on earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the LAMB, slain from the foundation of the world".

Revelation 14:1-4 "… a LAMB standing on Mount Zion and with Him 144,000, having His Father's name written on their foreheads... and they follow the LAMB wherever He goes..."

Revelation 15:3 “They sing the song of Moses... and the song of the LAMB."

Revelation 17:14 "These will make war with the LAMB and the LAMB will overcome them...for He is the Lord of lords, and King of kings..."

Revelation 19:7, 9 “…for the marriage of the LAMB has come… Blessed are those who are called to the marriage supper of the LAMB.”

Revelation 21:9 "Come and I will show you the bride, the "LAMB'S wife".

Revelation 21:14 "...on them (the walls of the city) were the names of the 12 apostles of the LAMB".

Revelation 21:22-23 "But I saw no temple in it (New Jerusalem), for the Lord God Almighty and the LAMB are its temple… and the LAMB is its light".

Revelation 21:27 “…only those who are written in the LAMB'S Book of Life” shall enter the New Jerusalem.

Revelation 22:1-3 "And He showed me a pure river of water of life proceeding from the throne of God and of the LAMB... and there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the LAMB shall be in it..."

Yes, today was the first time that I clearly saw Jesus Christ being portrayed in the beautiful imagery of a Lamb-like conqueror throughout the book of Revelation!   What an amazing God who surprises us with such wisdom.  Instead of seeing the LION we behold the LAMB—the LAMB of God who takes away the sin of the world!♥

See: The Lamb's Revelation (By  Ramone Romero)
        Follow The Lamb (By Ramone Romero)

God Knows Your Name

By Hazel Holland

About five years ago I had an experience that forever changed the way I look at giving.

It was the day after Thanksgiving. I was pouring a large pot of home-made chili into a couple of plastic containers to freeze for a later date.

Since students from the nearby college often showed up unannounced at my door, it was always good to have extra food on hand.

After filling up one large container, I was suddenly struck with the idea of giving the rest of this chili to a homeless person. The prompting was so strong I knew it was from God. So I heated up the rest of the chili, poured it into a large cottage cheese container, placed several portions of warm homemade cornbread in a zip-lock bag, added several plastic spoons, and headed for my car. I knew I wouldn’t have to drive far before running into homeless people.

But as I drove down the street and saw the first homeless person, I heard God say, “Not this one!”

“Why not, God?” I questioned.

Then I noticed several more homeless people nearby. “I have enough chili and cornbread in my sack to feed all of them” I reminded God. I hadn’t expected Him to want me to pass by homeless people like this…

As I continued to drive down the street I passed by several more homeless people in the same way. Each time God would say, “Not this one!” So I obeyed, and moved on.

When I finally came up to a major intersection and asked God which way to go, He immediately prompted me to turn right. Who was the person whom God had in mind for this food? I wondered.

Then the Spirit spoke to my heart again and said, “Look down the road!”

Off in the distance I saw someone standing on the narrow divider that separates traffic. From a distance I couldn’t tell if it was a man or a woman, because they were bundled up in an over-sized jacket with the hood pulled down over their head.

“Is that the person you want me to give this meal to?” I asked God.

“That’s the one!” He replied.

A tangible joy born of the Spirit began to rise up inside of me. I got in the left-hand lane as I neared the divider, hoping that the light would turn red so that I could stop for a moment, roll down my window, and hand this person their meal. But the light stayed green. So I drove on by planning to make a u-turn at the next green light.

The thrill of this adventure with God overwhelmed my spirit as I prepared to make a second attempt to deliver this food. This time when the light turned red I found myself opposite the stranger. As he lifted up his head I could see his unshaven face. Quickly I rolled down my window and thrust the paper sack of chili and cornbread towards Him.

“God wants you to know that He knows your name!” I called out.

Immediately he threw back the hood of his jacket and hurried towards me. His face looked worn, yet familiar.

“Remember me?” he asked as tears streamed down his face. “I’m Stephen. Two years ago you brought me and several other homeless people Thanksgiving dinner!”

“Yes…! I stammered as tears filled my eyes. I remembered how he had dropped to his knees, and with tears of gratitude raised his hands toward heaven and thanked God for the “feast” in front of him.

“This chili and cornbread is a gift from God to let you know how much He loves YOU! Hope it warms you up. It’s kind of cold outside today.”

He took the food gratefully and began thanking me profusely. “Don’t thank me I”, I responded. “God had me by-pass several other homeless people before I got to you, because He wants you to know that He knows your name! Stephen, God knows your name!”

Immediately he stopped thanking me, lifted his eyes toward heaven and began to pray. He was oblivious to the people in the cars watching him. So was I. “God knows your name” I repeated softly to myself as the light turned green. “It’s written on the palm of His hand!”

I don’t remember the drive home. It’s kind of a blur. But I do remember God’s joy flooding my heart and streaming down my face. Nothing could compare with the pure joy of seeing that homeless man enjoy his unexpected blessing! I couldn’t stop thanking God for a taste of His goodness and grace.

By obeying the Spirit’s leading, I discovered that blessing someone means giving something to them for their sake, not for my own. Could it be that God has always meant for us to share in the joy of blessing one another face to face like this? I believe that the body of Christ is strengthened and edified when we personally bless one another, and are blessed by one another.

In some small way through this experience I began to catch a glimpse of the pure agape love of God who willingly poured out His life for me.  Jesus said, “It is more blessed to give than receive”.  Now I know why. ♥

See: Blessing Others For Their Sake--Not Our Own

A New Creation!

By Hazel Holland

 

I am who I am as a result of my birth, NOT my behavior. Although the power of sin, the flesh and the devil explain why I sin, they can never explain who I am.  Who I am is a new creation in Christ Jesus.  How did this happen? 

The Bible tells me that I was in Christ when He died on the cross.  That means when He died for the sins of the world, He died for my sins so that my old life died also.  Because He was crucified for my sins, I now consider my flesh crucified, too. 

I was in Christ when He was raised from the dead.  That means when He was raised to life, I was raised into my new life in Him also.  That means I’ve been born again by the power of the Spirit.  What God did for me through Jesus Christ set me free from the condemnation of the law.  So His resurrection life now flows through my veins.  

Who I am is a new creation in Jesus Christ.  My old life explains my struggle with the power of sin, the flesh and the devil, but that life has passed away.  My new life I now live by the power of the Spirit.  Today, I am a new creation in Jesus Christ and I live my new life in the Spirit from a place of great delight.  

You may choose to have this new life in Him, too!♥

A Heart Like David ♥

By Hazel Holland

What is God seeking to teach us through David’s life?  I believe He's calling us to have a heart that forgives and refuses to take offense no matter how painful the rejection, and no matter how unjust the treatment we suffer.  We are being called to sow seeds of life—not death.  

Although we don't kill one another with swords today, we often destroy one another  with another kind of sword—the tongue.  “The tongue has the power of life and death…” (Proverbs 18:21). 

James, the brother of Jesus warns us, “Consider that a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.  The tongue also is a fire, a word of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire…  With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness.  Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.  My brothers this should not be.  Can both fresh water and bitter water flow from the same spring?” (James 3:5-6, 9-11).  The obvious answer is, “No!” The rocks and stones of bitterness and unforgiveness must first be removed in order for the fresh water to flow.

If we carry bitterness and unforgiveness in our own hearts more than likely we’ll find a place to unload our  resentments on those closest to us.  But the onslaught of our words used in anger against others only brings division between friends, within families and in the church.  Truth spoken without love is most certainly a clanging cymbal (1 Corinthians 13:1).  It stirs up dissension among brothers (Proverbs 6:16-19). 

As we look back on David’s life two things come to my mind that bare taking note of.  While God used David’s purity of heart to expose Saul’s sins, God also used Saul’s hardness of heart to teach David how to walk in obedience to the Spirit of God.  By refusing to respond with bitterness and unforgiveness in his heart, and remove himself from God’s will, David patiently endured rejection, hardship and betrayal at the hands of his father-in-law, Saul.  Because David was free from offense toward Saul, he chose to make an oath with the King and vowed not to cut off his descendants after Saul died (1 Samuel 24:21-22).  Notice how David fulfilled his promise to Saul after he became king.  

"Is there anyone still left in the house of Saul to whom I can show kindness for Jonathan’s sake?” David asked after he became king (2 Samuel 9:1).  We discover that Saul had a grandson named Mephibosheth who was crippled in both feet.  David brought this crippled man into his palace.  Not only did he restore to him all the land owned by his grandfather, Saul, but he also invited him to always eat at his own table.  Mephibosheth was treated like one of David’s own son’s, and he always ate at the king’s table. No wonder God says that David was a man after His own heart!

I believe the Holy Spirit is calling us to leave Lo Debar—the place of no pasture where Mephibosheth lived, also (See 2 Samuel 9:5), and come and rest in His green pastures (Psalm 23:1).  As we come out from hiding in our hovels, He will restore to us the glorious inheritance that is ours in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:13-14).  He will prepare a table before us so that we may feast on the abundance of His house and drink from His river of delights at all times (Psalm 36:8).  Surely His goodness and mercy will follow us all the days of our lives, and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23:6). 

King David broke the cycle of spiritual abuse in his family by offering unconditional mercy and love in the place of deserved judgment.  God is calling us to do the same with each other.  Just as God has forgiven you and I and has reconciled us to Himself, He is calling us to be reconciled with each other.  We are to continue to show forth His agape love even to our enemies because we were once his enemies, too!  Will you answer the call of the Spirit today and chose to have a heart filled with God's mercy like David? ♥

You Light Up My Life

By Hazel Holland

God gives us children and grandchildren as a blessing from Him.  How they light up our lives!  The Scriptures are very clear that God is present in the creation of every human life.  In Psalm 139:13-18 David gives us a very clear and beautiful picture of God’s hearts for us before we are even born. 

David understood that God had the details of his life planned out in eternity.  God knew the plans that He had for David and recorded them in His book, and the prophet Jeremiah confirms David’s thoughts with these words in Jeremiah 29:11:  “I know the plans I have towards you… to give you hope and a future”.  

Even when a parent or parents do not “feel” as though their child is a blessing from Him because of the circumstances under which the child was conceived, God has a plan and purpose for every child born regardless of how that birth came about.  I believe God intends for us to view every child as a blessing from Him as we see each child as God sees them.  When we look at each child through the eyes of the Father instead of through the eyes of sin, there is no question that every child is a blessing from Him!

As we look in the Scriptures we see that children are not always born under legitimate or even ideal circumstances.  But that does not exclude them from God’s love and care.  The most obvious example of this is seen in the lineage of Jesus Christ.  As we read the list of names in Matthew 1 we recognize those who were born of illegitimacy and sin, and we see others who failed in life in some way.  But their sins and weaknesses did not disrupt God’s plan to bring salvation to us through the birth of His Son!

Yes, children light up our lives.  Every child is a blessing from God.  Every child is intended by the Father to bring light and joy into this world so that people will ultimately be drawn to the light of His love—Jesus Christ—the true Light of this world! ♥

See also: I'll Love You Forever

Let Me Lift The Veil ♥

By Hazel Holland

 

♥ "My beloved bride... 
I will lift the old covenant veil that covers your eyes and heart
 so that you can see My face and know the heart of Your Lover!
  Then you will begin to see and know who you are. 
 You are... and will be forever... My first love!"♥

Several days ago I was getting ready for work in the bathroom.   I had just finished fixing my hair and was about to put on my make-up, when the new name of a Facebook group suddenly popped into my mind... "Praying Down the Veil".  Suddenly I became overwhelmed by the Lord’s presence.  Then quite unexpectedly He began to speak a word into my spirit.  "My beloved, let Me lift the veil from your eyes so that you can see My face and know My heart!"

Immediately I was totally undone.  The tears began rolling down my cheeks as I sensed the sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.  A picture came to my mind of Jesus lifting the veil from our eyes so that we can know Him face to face!  He wants us to look into His eyes with no veil between us so that we can see His heart.  He wants us to see the glory of God in His face!

As I talked with my friend, Ramone, about this word I received, he reminded me of Ephesians 1:17-18.  As His bride we so often see Him with the eyes of our head, but not always with the eyes of our heart!  We hear His words, but they don't wash us because we're afraid of being condemned by Him.

God gave me this word and this picture because some of us don't know how much He loves and cherishes us.  He washes us, not because He will reject us if He doesn't wash us, but because He wants to make us radiant in His love.  Some of us don't yet know that we are His priceless treasure!  That's why we keep trying to do what we think is necessary to become clean so He will accept us.  But He already accepts us.  He already has purchased us!  We belong to Him! 

Here's a good analogy that Ramone gave me the other day that fits perfectly.  It's like someone who loves restoring old cars from the junk yard.  They don't clean up a car so that they can buy it, but they buy it first and then clean it up because they love it!  If you know someone who loves cars, it's sooooooo true! 

Here's another analogy that ought to be very obvious.  If a husband is washing his bride, doesn't his actions reveal intimacy and love towards her?  Doesn't this mean that he has already accepted her?  No husband chooses his bride by first stripping her naked and then seeing if she will submit to be cleaned off first!

Another good illustration that shows how much God loves His bride are the words He uses to try and get us to understand the depth of His love for us.  I think sometimes we think He's just saying nice words, but they reveal His heart.  He sees us as forever His first love!  He will never change His mind about us, and there's nothing we can do to make Him change His mind about us, either. 

Here are words that He wants to wash you with right now as He draws you into His loving presence.  The tenderness God has in His heart towards you and I is profound! Listen as He speaks to your heart.  "My beloved bride...

"I have called you by name; you are Mine." (Isaiah 43:1)

"I am your Redeemer who formed you in the womb." (Isaiah 44:24)

"I have swept away your offenses like a cloud, your sins like the morning mist." (Isaiah 44:23)

"I have engraved you on the palms of my hands." (Isaiah 49:16)

"I have clothed you with garments of salvation, and arrayed you in a robe of righteousness." (Isaiah 61:10)

"I rejoice over you because you are My bride." (Isaiah 62:5)

"You are the praise of the earth." (Isaiah 62:7)

"You are a crown of splendor in My hands.  You are a royal diadem in the hand of Your God." (Isaiah 62:3)

"You are no longer called, 'Deserted,' for I delight in you. (Isaiah 62:4)

"I love you with an everlasting love." (Jeremiah 31:3)

"I have drawn you with loving kindness."  (Jeremiah 31:3)

"I will build you up again, and you will be rebuilt, O virgin bride!" (Jeremiah 31:3)

"I will restore you to health and heal your wounds." (Jeremiah 30:7)

"You will be rebuilt on your ruins." (Jeremiah 30:18)

"From your mouths will come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing." (Jeremiah 30:19)

"The water that I will give you will become a spring of water welling up inside of you to eternal life." (John 4:14)

"Your joy will be complete when you hear the Bridegroom's voice." (John 3:29)

"How beautiful you are, my darling. (Song of Songs 4:1)

"There is no flaw in you!" (Song of songs 4:7)

"You have stolen my heart." (Song of Songs 4:9)

"You are a garden locked up, My bride." (Song of Songs 4:12)

"Your lips drop sweetness as the honeycomb, My bride." (Song of Songs 4:11)

"Come with me to the banquet hall where I will raise My banner of love over you." (Song of Songs 2:4)

"My left arm is under your head and my right arm embraces you." (Song of Songs 2:6)

"Arise, My darling, My beautiful one, and come with Me." (Song of Songs 2:10)

"Show Me your face.  Your face is lovely."  "Let Me hear your voice.  Your voice is sweet." (Song of Songs 2:14)

 

"You are Mine." (Song of Songs 2:16)

"You are the one My heart loves." (Song of Songs 2:16)

"Yes, My beloved bride... I will lift the old covenant veil that covers your eyes and heart so that you can see My face and know the heart of Your Lover!  Then you will begin to see and know who you are.  You are... and will be forever... My first love!"♥

(Some of you who have know me for years may recognize that I am the "bride" in this chalk pastel that I did today.  The Spirit specifically directed me to use this picture of myself for this "painting" because it was taken at a time in my life when I was very broken.  In spite of my brokenness I was still His bride whom He cherished and held close to His heart!) ♥

For further reading:  Removing the Veil 
See also: Gently Broken

The Mark of the Beast

By Hazel Holland
 

I’ve been praying for discernment abut this subject for some time now as I see so many people on Facebook running scared and offering all kinds of possible scenarios as to how we will be forced into taking this dreaded mark of the beast—666.  The consensus of many is that this "mark of 666" will be some sort of computerized microchip implanted under the skin in the hand or forehead, and that if taken will consign people to hell!  On the other hand, people who refuse to take the “mark” will not be able to buy or sell, and will be eventually killed for refusing to submit and give their allegiance to this “beast” power.  Whatever our choice, the outcome doesn’t look good.

The other day as I was praying about this the Holy Spirit impressed me that in order for us to better understand the “mark of the beast”, we first needed to understand the meaning of the "seal of God".  So I wrote a post showing how the seal of God is the promised Holy Spirit.  If you haven't already read this post I would suggest that you read it first before you go any further because it helps lay a spiritual foundation of what is to follow.  

We need have no fear of the "mark of the beast" because God's perfect love casts out all fear!  Furthermore, our sins have been forgiven...past, present and future because we believe that Jesus Christ took our place on the cross.  In order that we may know that we have eternal life in Him, God has already given us new life through the promised Holy Spirit who guarantees our eternal redemption by His blood! 

Just as the "seal of God" is about God the Holy Spirit giving us a witness in our hearts and spirits that we are His children and have eternal life, I believe the "mark of the beast" is about another god and an "unholy spirit" who seeks to control and buy the souls of men for his kingdom of darkness.  To me the issues being discussed here are heart issues that revolve around which kingdom we will choose.  The Kingdom of God leads to eternal life, but the Kingdom of Darkness leads to eternal destruction.  Hopefully this will become clearer as we open up our hearts to the Spirit who has promised to lead us into all truth!♥

Solomon and 666

 

So let's take a look in the Old Testament and see what references we can find for this curious number of 666 that is mentioned in Revelation 13:18 as being the number “of a man”.  John says, "Here is wisdom.  Let him who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for the number is that of a man; and his number is six hundred and sixty-six".  The words ‘wisdom’ and ‘understanding’ refer us back to Solomon, a king who initially had much wisdom and understanding given him by God.  Unfortunately however, King Solomon eventually fell away into terrible apostasy and began worshiping false gods.

The number 666 is mentioned two times in reference to the same event in King Solomon’s life and is recorded in 1 Kings 10:14 and 2 Chronicles 9:13.  I found it interesting to note that both books mention that King Solomon collected 666 talents of gold in revenue yearly, and they both also employ many numbers in describing the reign of King Solomon and the opulence of his kingdom and possessions.  However, all the numbers greater than 100 referred to in these passages are rounded to the nearest one-hundreth or one-thousandth, or end in zero—all except the number 666.  This unusual number stands alone! 

Also the context of this number and the way it is used is very odd.  The annual income King Solomon received in terms of talents of gold “was 666 talents, not including the revenues from merchants and traders and from all the Arabian kings and the governors of the land.”  (2 Chronicles 9:13-14; 1 Kings 10:14-15).  Obviously from the text he had much greater revenues than 666 talents per year!  It would be like me expressing my hourly wage of $15.00 as $6.66 plus a whole lot more!  So why is this specific number given? 

A System of Bondage

To me it seems safe to say that God had a specific purpose in overseeing that the number 666 be written this way.  First of all it provides for us a symbolic connection with the number six representing the number of man.  It alerts us to the fact that although King Solomon commanded a prosperous and thriving economy, he chose to forget that God was the source of his riches.  Instead he used his position and power and wealth to enslave the people who had been entrusted to his care.  What was once a blessing from God turned into a system of bondage and slavery! 

"Behold...I have given you a wise and discerning heart, so that there has been no one like you before you, nor shall one like you arise after you.  I have also given you what you have not asked, both riches and honor, so that there will not be any among the kings like you all your days" (1 Kings 3:12-13).

 

Although God did deliver His promise to Solomon and bless him, we know that the king did not finish his life faithful to God.  Over time he allowed the blessings God had given him to corrupt His heart.  The more power, honor and influence he gained, the further he fell into apostasy and began to serve other gods.  

Two generations earlier the prophet Samuel had warned Israel about the dangers of being ruled by a king.  But they refused to listen because they wanted to be like the nations around them (1 Samuel 8:19-20).  Even Moses had laid down specific requirements should Israel ever want a king (Deuteronomy 17:16-20, but Solomon did as he pleased and paid no attention to Moses commands.  True to the prophecy of Samuel, the entire nation of Israel would end up being economically oppressed by their kings (1 Samuel 8:10-18).  

How true this proved to be in the case of King Solomon!  Because Solomon had raised a levy upon all Israel (1Kings 5:13), Jeroboam, appealing to King Rehoboam (Solomon’s son) said, "Your father put a heavy yoke on us, but now lighten the harsh labor and the heavy yoke he put on us” (2 Chronicles 10:4),   In the end, King Solomon's wealth and success turned him into an oppressor of his own people.  Extra-biblical sources indicate that the high levels of inflation that existed during the later stages of King Solomon’s reign caused the people to lose their individual freedom!

A Foreshadow of Things to Come 

I believe that King Solomon’s Golden Age provides a type or foreshadowing of another type of Golden Age that the world is hankering after today.  The mention of the number 666 in these passages of Scripture provide us with an example of what happens to people who forget that God is the source of their blessings.  It shows us that power and wealth is able to corrupt our hearts to such an extent that we mistreat and abuse the very people whom we once claimed to love, serve and care for.  

Over the years we have seen many outlandish levels of meaning being given to the number 666.  However, I believe the Bible provides a fairly clear and straightforward description.  Aren’t the “beast” and “man” together indicted in this Revelation passage?  Isn’t the number 666 representing man’s systems, beliefs and idolatry that have been hijacked by the Prince of this World?

I found it interesting to discover that the number 666 in Revelation 13:18 comes right after the verses that inform us that the false prophet will attempt to induce everyone to take the “mark”: “And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name” (Revelation 13:16-17).  

Obviously there is an economic and financial connection being indicated here where an idolatrous and man-made system of control is being predicted—a system that boasts of self-sufficiency and relies upon earthly materialism.  Nevertheless, man-made systems like this are destined for destruction or collapse as happened to Solomon’s kingdom.  In this sense, we may see that a common “unholy” and yet familiar spirit finds a connection between the later stages of Solomon’s reign, the number 666 and future prophetic events for this world.

Thoughts to Consider

For a number of years we have been told that globalization will lead us to another golden age for all mankind.  People thought that the American Dream was unstoppable.  But now with the world economy in shambles and the economic situation here in America looking very bleak, people are not so sure that they will ever recover from the loss of their jobs, their homes, or the losses they have taken in the stock market.  

  

All of a sudden our materialistic system and global economy seem powerless to help those who are in financial trouble.  The man-made systems that once thrived now seem impotent and we wonder how long this economic depression will last. People are out of work and can’t find employment.  They are worried about how they are going to feed their families or pay their next month's rent. 

We know that King Solomon’s rein of self-reliant commercialism and dependence upon a prosperous economy ended badly.  Is that the way our current materialistic world economy is headed, too?  Is this finally happening because our world economy has also been built upon an ungodly system that is ruled by a familiar spirit of greed and cold love?  Are we already beginning to see and experience the systemic rise of the unholy spirit behind the number 666 prophesied in Revelation 13?

So why is it that many within the body of Christ fail to see the familiar spirit of greed and cold love that is behind man’s self-sufficiency and materialism?  Why do they fail to see how this unholy spirit of abuse is not only at work in the world, but also at work within the church?  Why have many in the church become blinded by the golden promises of this materialistic age and unaware of the unholy spirit that is masquerading in the place of Christ?  

I believe that the systemic aspects of the beast and his mark of 666 are already operative in our world today within people's hearts.  People will either choose to believe God and receive His free gift of eternal life, or they will refuse His gracious offer of grace and receive eternal separation from Him.  I believe that the unholy spirit behind this “mark of the beast” is a spirit that is against anyone receiving the free gift of eternal life, because this spirit is against Jesus Christ, the Anointed One!  This unholy spirit rises up against agape love, and against all those who have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and have the Father’s name written in their foreheads.♥

See also: The Seal of the Living God
Gently Broken