The Army of the Lord

Here’s another term I have heard many times that I have to wonder about.  “The Army of the Lord”.  Do you know where this comes from?  The first place I found was in Joel chapter two.  It describes this great and terrible army of horse-like creatures whose very appearance causes even the strongest man to pale in terror. Yikes.  Then in 2 Kings chapter 6 we see the story of Elisha asking the Lord to open the eyes of his servant to see “those who are with us”. This army was a multitude of horses and chariots of fire.  

Many times God is referred to in the old testament as the Lord of Hosts.  I like to think about those hosts as described above and realize how great an army He commands!  Huge, terrifying, powerful, numerous, and kind of freaky looking.  

Let it sink in a little.  The Commander of the Hosts of Heaven is the lover of your soul.  

I think that if I was under some kind of attack the army of the United States would not likely come to my aid.  Of course if the whole country were under attack they would, its what they are there for.  But if it was just me - nope.  But that is because the power of even the US military is limited and they are hindered as well as empowered by their mission and purpose.

The mission and purpose of Heaven is another thing entirely.  If I am under attack and the enemy of His Love is invading, The Commander of Heaven rises to rescue and save me!  He is my defender and look at the arsenal at His disposal!! Wow.  And yes, he will come and rescue even if it is just little ol’ me because I am His beloved!  The Bride of Christ! And His heart is toward me.  

Contemplate this - this is the creator of the universe coming to your aid:

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried out to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

Then the earth shook and quaked; and the foundations of the mountains were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry.

Smoke went up out of His nostrils, and fire from His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it.

He bowed the heavens also and came down with thick darkness under His feet........

From the brightness before Him passed His thick clouds, hailstones and coals of fire.

The Lord thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered His voice.

He sent out His arrows, and scattered them, and in flashes in abundance, and routed them.

Then the channels of water appeared, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke Oh Lord, at the breath of your nostrils.

..He took me. He drew me up...He delivered me from my strong enemy.”

Psalm 18

And that’s just Him - didn’t even need the army for that one ;)

I think somewhere along the line we got this crazy idea in our head that we were His army.  I really don’t see it.  I know there is the whole analogy of wearing the armor of God and Paul talks about doing battle with spiritual weapons.  I believe that.  But I don’t want to forget that He has an army that I cannot see that is great and terrible and He is more than willing to wield it in my defense.  

I understand the whole - we have the authority on earth - principle and what He wants to be done here needs to be declared by us as the authority in this world.  but are we the army?  If so, I would imagine we are captains.  Captains are over the troops but under the commander.  Wait, you may say, there are an awful lot of us, how can we all be captains? If you let yourself think about that question for a  while you may begin to feel overwhelmed.

If one of us can put a thousand to flight - you’ve heard this - how many are under our command?  and if two of us increase the number exponentially, again, how many are under our command?  I have never heard of anyone’s battle being delayed because the Host of heaven was busy elsewhere so I am inclined to think that “host” is a bigger number than I can fathom.

So we can command the Host - but wait, we are under the Commander.  This means that we only do what He commands.  So we don’t go dreaming up battle plans and whipping out our epaulettes whenever we feel like it.  No, we submit ourselves to the Master and Commander and seek His directives.  We listen to hear what He is saying - and say that.  We watch and see what He is doing and follow. We wait. 

Who is the Army of the Lord? 

We are - and then there is the rest of the army.....

A City and a Bride?

The Bride of Christ.  Its a phrase we have heard many times - or perhaps very few depending on your circle of friends.  The most well known reference is probably the one in the book of Revelation. But today I read one in the book of Isaiah.  Yes, Isaiah.  I am one of those people who love to read the old prophets.  Don’t get me wrong, I bathe myself in the New Testament frequently but still I dip back into the old.  Its full of rich stuff and lots of promises - all of which Jesus came to fulfill.  Its constantly talking about Him and although the references can be hidden, He reveals Himself and His relationship with us to the seeking ones even in the old prophets.  Such was the case today.

“Never Again will you be called “The Forsaken City” or “The Desolate Land” Your new name will be “The City of God’s Delight” and “The Bride of God” for the Lord Delights in you and will claim you as His bride.  .... Then God will rejoice over you as a Bridegroom rejoices over His Bride.” (Isaiah 62:5 NLT)

I love the imagery of the City.  I know this was spoken originally to a people of an actual city but it was also a prophetic word given by the Holy Spirit to the people of God.  As you know, the Word of God is incredibly full and multifaceted. So when David talks about being poured out like water he may be speaking of his own self during a terrible season of his life but prophetically he was speaking of the Messiah Who would pour out His life like a drink offering.  When Kills a lamb to clothe Adam and Eve, it was also a prophetic act which spoke of the Lamb of God who would be sacrificed for us.  So when I see this reference to a city when God is prophetically speaking to HIs people.  Its easy to see He is talking about me, about us, His people.  Because His Words are eternal. 

I love the imagery of the city because it seems a more comprehensive portrayal of us as people.  Imagine if you will, any major city in America with its diverse population - diverse not only in ethnicity but even from person to person. No one is the same, we are all unique.  Given that His City - His people - are the people of God, those who bear His name, it is intriguing to me to think about.  “From every tribe and tongue and people and nation you have made us a kingdom of priests unto our God.”  What an amazing people!  

Then theres the personal level - Its like it includes me in all of my daily context. My weaknesses, my failures, my strengths, my worship, my hidden alleys of filth, my sparkling capital steps, the railway of my mental meandering,  my storage houses of memories and pain, my factory of offense, my soup kitchen of acceptance and my orphanage of random things.  When I say all that I am, I imagine a city. 

And He loves me - all that I am.  He “takes great delight in me”. He calls me His bride - his very own.  I belong to Him. Wow.

Down by the Riverside

(My husband is on the Mississippi with the IL Army National Guard
This is an excerpt from a letter to him.)


I know it is probably little comfort to tell you that your presence there (as a unit) is probably giving a lot of people peace of mind. The more I think if it, another effect presents itself in my mind.

Remember when I told you that I liked it when you wore your hat (or uniform) in public and people could see that you are a veteran? Remember why? Because it gives people the opportunity to direct their gratitude and appreciation, but also to remind them that our guys are still out there defending freedom, fighting for liberty. This, when people rise to the occasion, can instill in them a sense of honor and patriotism and even gratefulness. When I think of the fact that there are IL National Guard troops on the Mississippi there to help, prepared to do what they can to help no matter what does or does not happen, I get that same kind of feeling. I wonder if there are folks up and down the river right now thinking, "we are not alone in this".

Even the faintest echo of unity can inspire hope. Hands united to work together, to be there for each other, can strengthen a resolve, give determination a boost and affirm in us the value of life, liberty and the pursuit. I can determine to work hard and build a home for my family. I can do all that I can to strengthen the defense of that home and insure that it will be there for years to come. But when my neighbor or better yet, a stranger, comes to my aid when that home is threatened, I believe there is a bond that forms. Your neighbor, that stranger, becomes your brother, part of your family. He will stand beside you and toil and fight to defend you. And when it is his home that is threatened, you will stand with him, not because you owe him, although you do, but because he is your brother.

When the National Guard comes to places like the tiny town you are in and, strangers that you are, you stand hand in hand with the people there, or even in their stead, against the threat - be it man made or not, something happens. These folks cannot repay you by coming up here and piling sandbags or building and maintaining levees in these land locked areas. But one day, inspired by the actions that saved their homes, they may answer the call to be like their heroes, to be a Guardsman.

I hope you enjoyed this contemplation. I hope that while patrolling in the middle of the night and your mind wanders to comforting thoughts of home, that you also take a minute and think of the Citizen Soldiers to come, who may become heroes because you guys are there now.

Coming Home

When she was a little girl

and daddy went away

She would anticipate his return

each and every day

and when from window, door or stoop

she would see him from afar

out she would run to greet him

as he stepped out of the car

deep in his pockets her little hands

would search until she found

the treasure he would bring her

that he bought while traveling around

Then up in his arms he would sweep her

and a kiss she would plant on his face

and there was no sweeter thing to him

then returning to that place



Year after year as time would fly

on trip after trip he would go

every time she was there to greet him

inch upon inch she would grow


(to be continued)

Muir Woods, Caifornia

When God made the tallest living things on the planet ....

...He made trees.

Finding the Secret Place

Intimacy with God
by Ray Watson
Article printed in ICFM Faith Report - August 2001

Turn us Lord

In 1997 God spoke to me and said, "I want to use you to turn the hearts of My people back to Myself." I said, "Why, Lord?" and He said, "Because their hearts are everywhere."
The heart needs to be captured. We need a fresh encounter with love. We need to experience God in such a way that our hearts are captivated by Him. Only then will we turn to Him with hearts that are passionate, worshiping in spirit and in truth. The Psalmist prayed, "Turn us Lord, and our hearts will be turned." I believe God gave us music as one of the means to awaken our hearts toward Himself. There is power in music to ignite the heart in worship. That is its created purpose.
I think the church is ready for a fresh emphasis on worship. I sense a hunger for reality in worship that goes far beyond what we have become accustomed to. The deepest part of God is calling to us to be with Him, and our songs must reflect this. If a song doesn't move us deeply in some way then deep isn't calling to deep. Only songs birthed in His presence can bring that presence to us. Only songs birthed in heaven will leave us feeling like we have been there. Songs written out of passion will bring that passion into our worship services. I can't think of a worship song I've written that hasn't reduced me to tears in the process. There is surrender in tears. When tears can flow freely the heart is yielded and is easily touched. If we don't have intimate moments in our corporate worship services where people cry silently as their hearts are yielded to Him, then their hearts are not being touched.
There is a new sound coming into the earth today.- it is the sound of heaven. What does this "heavenly sound" sound like? There is glory on the voice of someone who has been there. You can tell if they have been there or if they haven't. I personally believe there are two elements that will identify this fresh wind of God's spirit in our worship, and those two elements are spontaneity and intimacy. Both these elements release the glory of God's presence in our midst in a way that a song constructed any other way just cannot. The new sound will carry an element of spontaneous worship - songs that are birthed from hearts so captivated with God, that the human vessel simply becomes a conduit of His presence. There is something about the human voice and its capacity to carry the sense of God's presence - it is hard to explain, but I'm sure we have all experienced it. There is a hunger in the heart of God's people for more intimacy in worship, and I believe this cry is birthed in the heart of God Himself. The Lord is calling us to greater intimacy as part of our preparation for the day when both the Spirit and the Bride will say, "Come." I believe the return of Jesus will be ushered in by a church that has found her way into the bridal chambers of heaven and whose passion demands a consummation of the marriage. "There will be no more delay." The Bride has made herself ready.
I think the challenge for the modern day psalmist is to find the presence of God, live there, and write songs that come from a heart that is obviously experiencing what the song is about. This will in turn allow the congregation to share corporately in the moment of intimacy that gave birth to the song. The congregational worship will rarely rise above the personal love walk of the song leader, or of the worship circumstances in which the song was birthed. Moses' own personal meeting place with God became the place where God met with the people. Our responsibility to the people is to have our own walk with God. We cannot lead the congregation into places we ourselves have not been. As a songwriter, your intimacy with the Lord becomes a place of intimacy for others when you put it in a song. Songs received in the presence of God carry God's presence. We must first eat of the holy things before we can minister the holy things. We must partake of the altar before we can serve from the altar. David went into the house of God and ate the Presence Bread. Then he was able to feed those who were with him. When our heart is touched with the presence of God we carry that presence with us wherever we go. Our place of meeting with God becomes the place where others too can meet with Him. It is an awesome privilege and responsibility.
There is a cry today in the hearts of God's people for greater intimacy in worship - for songs that are God-breathed, songs that are birthed in another world and can bring that world to us, songs that are so touched by His presence that they capture every heart for Him. There, in the secret place, we are captivated by His love and consumed with His purpose for our lives. There, in the intimacy of worship, we will lay down our brief lives in pursuit of the greatest privilege ever offered to man - to be lovers of God.

Copyright 2001 Ray Watson Secret Place Ministries
P.O. Box 27 077, Mt. Roskill, Auckland, New Zealand.
All rights reserved.

Soaking in His Presence - John Arnott

Ever since the Holy Spirit fell on us in January of ‘94, we have been “soaking” in the presence of God. As people have soaked in God’s presence, they have experienced profound heart changes. Their marriages have been healed, their fears dispelled, depressions and sicknesses have left and lives have been transformed. Our ministry teams continue “soaking” people to this day, nearly ten years later, as they pray for folks waiting for prayer on our prayer lines.
But What Is “Soaking”? During previous revivals people referred to it as “waiting on the Lord” or “tarrying” as they lingered expecting God’s revival blessings. Although “soaking” includes waiting on the Lord, in this present move of the Spirit it means much more than that. To “soak” in God’s presence is to rest in His love rather than to “strive” in prayer. As the person receiving a touch from God begins to connect with the reality of the Holy Spirit’s presence, he often responds by falling or simply lying on the floor. As he rests expectantly in God’s presence, often the Holy Spirit hovers over the person to reveal more of God’s love and to renew and repair areas of a person’s life.
As the believer soaks in God’s presence, the Lord takes control and begins to draw his attention to God’s word either in the scriptures or through internal audible impressions or pictures he sees in his mind’s eye.
Carol likes to compare soaking to making pickles. A few years ago, I found a classical Greek word study on the Greek words bapto, meaning to dip, and baptidzo, meaning to immerse. The article used the illustration of making pickles. The recipe called for the raw fruit to be dipped in boiling water to blanch or sterilize the cucumber, using the word bapto which means “to dip in and out quickly.” Then it called for the cucumber to be immersed, using the word baptidzo, and soaked in the brine and the pickling solution for several weeks.
What happens during this soaking time is that the marinade or the pickling solution soaks deep into the flesh of the cucumber until it takes on the flavor of the pickling solution so that it no longer tastes like a raw cucumber. This is what we mean by soaking. May you be so marinated in the presence of the Holy Spirit, soaking in the River of God, that you no longer “taste” like your old, raw nature any longer, but you have taken on the flavor of the Holy Spirit. “Pickle us, Lord, in the marinade of the Holy Spirit. Soak us in your wonderful presence until we become more and more like You.”
Why Do I Need To Soak? There is a deep need in every one of us to be close to God. Experiencing God is something to be sought after and not avoided. While we base our theology on God’s Word, our experiences with God make it all come alive. The Bible is a book of experiences of men and women of God throughout history, whose lives were changed through divine encounter. Your life will be changed as well as you encounter Him.
Where Can I Soak? In Toronto, we conclude every meeting with a time of soaking prayer. People stand for prayer on our prayer lines and our ministry team will come and minister to them, praying such things as “Lord, come and give them more of your presence; more of Your love.” They may stand there or often rest in the Spirit as they fall in God’s presence. Because of the many people who experience this phenomenon in our meetings, we assign every prayer team member a “catcher” to assist the person receiving prayer by standing behind them as the prayer team member prays for him.
This allows the person receiving prayer to relax and be less anxious about what might happen if he falls. Soaking prayer is something that you can also do in your own home. You can be alone, or just with your spouse or children, or you can invite several friends over who can take turns praying for one another. Steve Long, one of our pastors at TACF, was one of the first on our staff to begin soaking at home by himself. He would put on a CD, lie down on the floor and let the intimate worship draw him into a beautiful refreshing time with the Lord. Jeff Metzger, a pastor from Akron Ohio, was one of the first to have group “soaking prayer” going on in his home, and he’s been doing it for over seven years.
People are free to come and go as they please, yet they are encouraged to enter quietly, lie down on the floor and experience a restful revitalizing time with the Lord. Many changed lives have resulted from attending the soaking times at Jeff’s home. Recently I met a man from Germany who started inviting friends over to his house just to soak in the presence of God. He has been doing it for years, because he couldn’t find a church near him that was flowing in the River.
So How Do I Soak? Although you don’t have to lie down, you may sit in a chair or lie on your bed, the main thing is to be in a safe place so you can be vulnerable. Set your affection on Jesus. I like to soak while listening to intimate worship music with meaningful words that quiet my soul and help me draw near to God. As you reflect on the cross and all that Jesus has lovingly purchased for you, begin confessing your sins to Him and longing to be close to Him. After a few moments, you will become aware of the Holy Spirit’s unseen presence. People experience Him in many ways: a weight upon your body, an electric tingling upon your hands or face, or a warm sensation of love going through your heart which connects you to Him.
This is how you grow to love anyone, by a series of several encounters that bond you together. It is not only a rational process; your heart must be engaged. Experiencing God’s presence is what will cause you to love the Lord with all your heart and soul. (Matthew 22:37) Humble yourself before Him. Give all your worries and cares to the Lord talking to Him about them. Pray a prayer like this. “Lord Jesus, I invite You to come and search my heart. Come close and let me know Your love.” Let worship rise up inside you and give yourself to the Lord. If you become distracted, then re-focus on Jesus. Remind yourself why you are soaking and listen to the worship music.
Can I Trust That It Is The Holy Spirit Working? Yes you can. Remember, everything we receive from God we receive by faith. Faith must be positive and focused on God. (Not negative and fearful, focused on the enemy.) Jesus said in Luke 11:11- 13, “If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!” The key is intimacy. It is not a program to be run and managed, but a relationship to be maintained,
How Long Do I Continue Soaking? It usually takes me fifteen minutes to quiet the business of life and enter into rest. But Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath, and He wants you to enter into His rest. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy and peace, so we need to take quality time with Him. You cannot force or hurry this. The idea is not to “get” something but to “be” with someone. Take time just to be with Him; to love Him and let Him love you. If you fall asleep, that’s OK. If you are interrupted, you can always come back for more. You will know when your time is finished. You will feel a satisfaction in your heart and a release to go and get on with life.
Occasionally people can become quite emotional during soaking prayer. God may want to touch deep places in the heart. There are often areas of past wounding where we are very reluctant to go. That is often the very place that the Lord wants you to revisit so that He can bring freedom and healing to areas of fear and pain. It is helpful to have friends and even experienced ministry people in the room so they can love you through this and help reassure you to go ahead in faith in order to, so as to bring closure to these areas.
Is “Soaking” In The Bible? Here’s some of what the Bible has to say. (NKJV) Psalm 23:1-3 — “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul…” Psalm 131:2 — “Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with his mother; like a weaned child is my soul within me.” Psalm 4:4 — “Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.” Psalm 37:7 — “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him.” Matthew 11:28-30 — “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Hebrews 4:9-11 — “There remains therefore a rest for the people of God. For he who has entered His rest has himself also ceased from his works as God did from His. Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest.” Isaiah 40:29-31 — “He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the LORD shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles. They shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”
Psalm 27:14 — “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart. Wait, I say, on the Lord!” Proverbs 1:33 — “But whoever listens to Me will dwell safely, and will be secure, without fear of evil.” Luke 10:39 — “And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” Hosea 2:14 — “Therefore, behold, I will allure her. I will bring her into the wilderness and speak comfort to her.”
Starting A Home Soaking Center I want to see hundreds of Catch the Fire “Soaking Prayer Centers” springing up around North America and the world. This is an opportunity for those who are hungry for the River and for more of the Lord’s presence to link with us and draw deeper into intimacy with God. This is about spending quality time with God without having a program to maintain. It is a time to focus on a relationship with the Lord where lives are truly changed.

If you are interested in finding out how you and your friends can start a Catch the Fire Soaking Prayer Center in your home, office or church, email us at mail@ctfministries.com. We are offering a starter kit to get you going right away. We also offer a one week training course in Toronto where we can train you and pray for an impartation of the Holy Spirit so you can begin. May you be filled with all the fullness of God.

John Arnott is the senior pastor of Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship. He and his wife Carol are the hosts of the daily “Catch The Fire” television program. They travel extensively around the world spreading the fires of revival.

Happenings

Just because something good RESULTS from something bad does not mean

that the good thing was the REASON for the bad thing.

Father causes good things to come out of every situation we find ourselves in - good or bad.

Some things do happen SO THAT other things will happen.

but sometimes, things just happen.

Then there is the Enemy that is always looking to

steal, kill and destroy.

No matter what, we can count on God to work things out for good.

Be careful what you lay at the door of God.

Quote of the day

“You can work without praying, but that is a rather bad plan.
You will, however, never be able to pray seriously without working.”
- Hudson Taylor

Getting Romantical

Here is an article I found from last year - thought it was interesting:

February 13, 2007

For many men today is already too late. For some, there is still time. For women everywhere tomorrow could either be the most romantic day of the year or the most depressing day of the year and any point in between. Here are a few things I have learned:

Valentines Day is about a martyr who befriended a young girl and ultimately showed her the love of God and a commitment that even death could not shake.


Men give and do things that they perceive as tokens of love and displays of affections. Women receive those things and cherish them. That’s why you will always find a woman who still has the very first letter he even sent her or the ribbon from her first bouquet. That’s why when a man finds a perfect gift and his wife completely melts and keeps it forever he feels like a real man, a hunter who has conquered a most elusive prey.

Women look forward to Valentine’s Day depending on how successful their husband is at romanticizing. Men dread it to the same degree that they try to figure out what the woman wants.

Here is a tip: don’t try to shop for her like you would on her birthday or Christmas. Think instead of your most romantic times together. Think about the things you like best about her and the things you prize and appreciate the most. Then, and here’s the big challenge, try to find a way to express that appreciation.
For those who have not been married long this is difficult because you are just coming into really knowing your spouse. For those who have been married for a while this can be difficult because you may feel as though your appreciation has already been expressed or that you do not have any confidence in your own creativity. Remember men, she married you for some reason! There was – and still is – something wonderful about you in her eyes. It wasn’t because you were nice. It wasn’t because you were practical. It was because you were exciting and passionate and lit up every time she walked into the room. Go back to when you were first both crazy in love (that may not be very far back). Valentines Day is about celebrating love. Your Love for each other is a gift. Pull it out dust it off and turn up the heat.

This is an action that says, “I want my wife. And I shall have her to myself”. You know what you need to do. No need to go out. No need to spend a ridiculous amount of money. You could even plan a babysitting swap with another couple and have the whole night to yourselves. Just make sure you dedicate the evening to each other and avoid the temptation to be trapped into doing other things that you never have time for. After all, the love of your life is more important than fixing that squeaky door or organizing your home office. Allow yourselves to be lost in the moment. On this night - nothing else matters.

There is one gift a man truly wants – his wife all to himself, devoted to him, loving him.
And a woman wants the affection and devotion of her husband....

Merry Christmas!

Here is a little Christmas cheer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Fe11OlMiz8

As You Wish

"That day, she was amazed to discover that when he was saying "As you wish", what he meant was, "I love you." And even more amazing was the day she realized she truly loved him back."

A New Sign

Here is the new sign - I miss the old one (see 8/24/07 blog)

Silent Awe

What a beuatiful weekend it was here - weather-wise! I went with some friends to Cosley Park in Wheaton and it was so nice!

Here is a picture of a Falcon I took while I was there. this guy is probably my husband's favorite animal. It was quite breathtaking to see him. For some reason when you aproached his cage everyone would fall silent and just stare at him. Even the children who would normally be all questions and shouting and pointing.

Wow.

Relax. Take a deep breath and then . . . .

Indulge

I have been reading Ephesians this month –

I should say, I have been trying to read Ephesians this month.

I just wanted to read the first three chapters

but I can’t seem to get past the first chapter.

In fact, I can’t seem to get past verses 4-9.

They capture my attention every time!

“Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ

to be holy and without fault in his eyes.
God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family

by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ.

This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure.

So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out

on us who belong to his dear Son.
He is so rich in kindness and grace that

he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son

and forgave our sins.

He has showered his kindness on us,

along with all wisdom and understanding.
God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ,
a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure.”

(Eph 1:4-9 NLT)

Take a moment to consider what it means to belong to Father God.

Truly He has showered Great Kindness on us –

yet it was His own desire He was fulfilling.
Realize that making you His own is His own good pleasure.

In other words, when He made you His own,

He was indulging Himself!

Stars

In a city there are many lights and because there is so much light emanating from the ground, the starlight doesn’t quite make it to our eyes. Excess or obtrusive light created by humans, which obscures stars, is referred to as “light pollution”. But there are millions and millions of them out there. And each one is a testimony of God's love. (Ps. 136:5-9)

In the city, the stars we do see are wondrous. It is amazing to see a few stars and realize that their light reaches us through all of the light pollution around us. But go out to the country (or better yet, the ocean!) and look up. You will be suddenly overwhelmed at the number of lights up there! Look, stare, and you will begin to discern swirls of stars farther away – and beyond those, even more. Like layers and layers going deeper and deeper and each individual one speaks of God’s love for you.

Pause, and allow yourself to be overwhelmed!

Our day-to-day living is full of love notes from God – reminders of his pursuit of us. Even in the busyness of everyday stuff, His love reaches us every now and then. Little postcards, by His grace, come our way. But he longs to overtake us and overwhelm us and to do this, He draws us to a place where the “light pollution” is turned off. A place where the simple distractions of normal things can be put aside, even locked away, and He can have you all to yourself – so that He can “show you the stars”.

Where is your night sky - the one uninterrupted by earthly things? Maybe it is your living room in the early morning hours. Perhaps it is your bedroom with the door locked and phone turned off. Maybe it’s in your car in a remote parking lot in a forest preserve. Whatever that place is, fight to keep it! Go to it as often as He draws you. It will be for you a place of life, peace, joy and healing.

Make a place for this. Make time for this. Let it be the moment that you turn your eyes to the skies and even though the night is dark, His love will break the darkness and wash over you layer after layer as He draws you deeper and deeper into His love. Let Him overwhelm you. Let Him indulge Himself!

That's alright.

God thinks I am better than gold.

After the Rain

This picture was taken in Lombard after the storm last week. The sky was very dramatic.

And the Sunset that night was breathtaking.

It's a Sign

This is a pictuire of the sign at the entrance of where I work. I took this picture trying to capture the shadow effect that the acrylic piece mounted a couple inches from the wall creates. We are getting a new sign because we have a new logo. I will miss this sign - I think it is pretty cool. Hopefully the new sign will be the same but with the new logo. Whatever happens, at least I have this cool picture.