3-3-2014 Here I Am

Here I am 3-2-2014

The word of the LORD came to Jeremiah a second time, while he was still shut up in the court of the guard:

"Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it--the LORD is his name: Call to me and I will answer you, and will tell you great and hidden things that you have not known.”    Jer 33:1-3

And the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush. He looked, and behold, the bush was burning, yet it was not consumed.

And Moses said, "I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned."

When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, "Moses, Moses!"

And he said, "Here I am."          Exodus 3:2-4

And the LORD came and stood, calling as at other times, "Samuel! Samuel!" And Samuel said, "Speak, for your servant hears."  1 Samuel 3:10

Before I enter into communion with you Lord, I want to warn those on the journey with us; this one will be rough, complex and maybe a little longer than the norm. My God, you have all the time there is, but for you others…you may want to take this either in bits and pieces or find a time when like me, you can give it full consideration. To that purpose, readers, the content may best be split into several readings. Please pray for me as always, that to God be the glory in all we discover together.

You, Lord, of course are aware of the group of believers, who I consider to be incredible studiers or Your word, with whom I am honored to share fellowship.  We’re studying the word and concept of prayer and were alerted immediately to the depth of what we are approaching. I’ve even gone back in the archives of my writings and found many attempts—make that entire years —devoted to the understanding of my personal prayer life with You. But prayer is not about years, it’s about our walk with You. So my education continues.

For me the challenge continues to be finding a better way to explain my understanding of prayer using human terms. One of those friends walking through this discovery process with me suggests that I “sketch a picture” as a method of conveying my thoughts. But before I can draw a conclusion, I need to work through my questions and misunderstandings to arrive at a better understanding. So with my keyboard, I paint:

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be

acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Lord, I feel led by You to share some additional history. I have discovered others who had struggles with grasping the depth of prayer. A few notables: Martin Luther had to work through his questions on prayer by creating a study guide of Your Prayer. He begins each section with “What does it mean?” and I can only imagine the hours and prayers, ironically devoted prior to penning his thoughts. John Wessley implies there may be a temptation to make prayer a selfish quest. So he prayed, “…let me render to You what is Yours and let my spirit ever cleave to You alone.”

These men, your faithful stewards, had far greater brains than I and yet their writings suggest a mystery in prayer, something they allude to, but don’t directly address. Mysteries can be scary things. I could become fearful of my own clumsy methods taking me down a false path. But no, Lord, I will not fear prayer, it’s one of, if not the most powerful tool with which You equip me. I understand that the most powerful of tools can also do great harm. So, just as my earthly father taught me a huge respect for electricity; I want to fully seek understanding and learn respect for Your amazing gift of prayer. I pray that You guide me step by step through my learning and my application.

So in typical fashion, my time with You begins with a question, this one I believe to be one of the biggest—

Does prayer as You present it mean the same as what I’ve been taught by mankind?

And that seems to be the best place to continue my exploration—scripture. Who prayed? Did anyone not pray? Prayer in Your First Testament and the Hebrew text seems a bit different from Your Second Testament in the Greek. Are they really divergent or does one compliment the other? Knowing Your  ways, I can’t help but believe it’s the later.

It doesn’t take long Lord to see that the Hebrew words Tefilah for Prayer and Palal for Pray are the favorites used by Your chosen writers. The primitive roots suggest judgment (officially or mentally); by extension to plead on behalf of another judged worthy: -), For both words, humility or supplication—my laying flat on the ground, face down, pleading my own soul out to You—is included in the definition.

Odd, the words “by extension” or “by implication” are used in connecting these words to the idea of prayer or praying. So neither actually defines prayer? And that other word…judgment? My Hebrew study implies it means “self-judgment”. Interesting. Am I doing the judging, or is it You causing me to be aware of my abilities/limitations. If it is You…of course it’s You…then I have, in the past, had the tendency to begin my prayers inappropriately: I have by my nature, come to You requesting before I even know what is Your desire for me in our relationship.

Lord, it sounds like, before I ever even get to the act of prayer, I need to be ready to pray. I confess that I get in a hurry to pray. I expect You to be at my beck and call when I’m in need. I have tended to approach You as if You were taking my order at a drive in window, that I may receive a quick happy meal to send me on my way. Other times I dial into You like a 911 operator, when things get bumpy in my life. I plead now for Your forgiveness Lord—those two approaches don’t seem to be included in Your First Testament scriptural examples.

What’s more, there seems to be more to intersession—praying on behalf of others—than there is intracession. If that’s the case, I should be much more concerned with the needs of others and making sure I understand Your will for them…

…but wait…? “Your Will”? Where in Your First Testament does it say that prayer has to be about Your will? Yes, I know how Jesus teaches us to pray, but where is the scripture to support it?  How did Abraham and the other great ones know that Your will was the key to a righteous prayer life?

That seems to be a good place to bring in two other Hebrew words… Twsah Command/Said and Shama—some spell it Shema meaning to hear and respond. No, neither contain prayer in their definitions, but they do suggest to me the idea that You have something to say about our relationship before I start to add definition in my prayers.

Adonai, I confess, there are still so many things I don’t understand about our relationship—more of that mystery stuff. But nothing was, is or will be a mystery to You.  And that is the peace I find in our time together. You are my source, my refuge and my redeemer in prayer. It’s another wonderful twist, Lord that I find by this very exercise, by reaching to You for my spirit’s feeding, that I grow closer in prayer with You.

Your design for relationship is so beautiful in that way. You know what I need, before I even ask it. But Your joy is when I come seeking Your guidance, just as I am doing now. Lord, I’m so grateful for Your word in this matter. You have, by others examples shown me the blessings of obedience and the curse of rebellion. So please forgive me, but I want to look back in perspective to what others had heard that seemed odd or contrary to Your ways, yet You blessed the actions.

Noah encountered You and built an ark, Hosea heard a word and married a prostitute, Peter had a vision and ate bacon (or some such). These and other examples in Your book present a puzzle. There were no previous scriptural commands these men were following. Arks weren’t in fashion – as I read it, there was little to no rain to worry about at the time. And in fact, the Torah forbade marrying a prostitute – that was punishable by separation from the society. As for dietary restrictions – Your people are famous for their laws on this matter.

Yet these very actions caused those in the “know” to seek You more deeply. Is that how the prayer circle works? Is it like praying for patience and receiving circumstances by which to learn patience? In the same way, when I pray for understanding, should I expect to see events in my life that will challenge me to greater understanding?

Here’s my own personal historical concern, Lord. I have in the past worshiped on a very regular basis with congregations of believers who believed they had the gift of tongues. All fine and good until they suggested that those who did not define this gift as they did; suffered a diminished prayer and worship life. Lord, I would never question another believer’s personal relationship with You—the hearts of these folks appeared genuine and strong…as I know mine to be also. Yet in my personal experience and studies I could not nor cannot find a fully complete scriptural foundation to solidify their position.

These Prayer Language folk that I fellowshipped with, prayed actively with and loved mightily, informed me that they had a word from You. The spiritual implication being that such messages from You trump all.

Wow, what power that gives to the individual; what opportunity to Satan! Such instruction sounds wonderful when presented as Your response to prayers, but…what if such messages are not like those You bequeathed to Noah or to Moses? What if they are the will of my heart couched cleverly in the depths of my soul as a desire I want You to grant. What if I am the one, even innocently and subconsciously praying You to obey me!

Lord, such a possibility warns me, especially by other scriptural examples such as Saul in You First Testament and Elymus in Your Second Testament. Yes, You can and do inspire new ways of examining and fulfilling Your word through individuals. I believe You even still deliver messages of prophecy though prayer. But Lord, prayerfully, I can’t find a place in scripture of any times, nor in respected books that support scripture, that says You will change Your word once spoken. You are and always will be unchanging, it is I who must be held accountable; reconciling my understand with all not part of your word. Testing what I think to be with what has, is and will be according to those greater and wiser than me.

Who would those, greater and wiser be? After all, we’re all in this together. Is one person’s word better or stronger than another?

That question brings me back to the memory of my Prayer Language friends. I wanted desperately to come to a common understanding with them. They were and are after all, still my brothers and sisters in You. But instead of desiring to pursue unity, seeking common understanding, many of them drew another picture for me, a line of demarcation, explaining I could not possibly achieve their level of relationship with You unless I accepted their interpretations. There would be no discussion with them, only instruction from them.  After all, You had spoken to them, had You not? Was that not enough? Is that not what Prayer is all about—putting our words out, waiting for Your word to come back?

Or is there more to prayer than that? Didn’t Noah have Methuselah, didn’t Moses have Aaron. Didn’t You encourage Solomon, the wisest of all men to continue to sharpen his iron with that of other strong and wise believers in order to come to stronger agreement and complete understanding?

You are so rabbinical in Your ways, Lord! But as for me? All this sounds like a lot of work. And in case You haven’t noticed, Lord, I don’t like work. Hence my wanting drive-through solutions to the issues I present at the altar. I’d just as soon have the “quick answer” if You please—so spoiled am I.

Master of all prayer, I apologize if my heart sounds too sarcastic or frustrated about this study – I’m struggling only because I love the prayer relationship You are building for me with You…if I’m honest with myself, when I look back, I can see the strengthening in my spirit each time I come to You with Your will as my quest.

I get frustrated only because of my own laziness. Yet I’m hungry to learn more, studying the languages of Your prophets and apostles (which is a struggle and a joy in and of itself) and discovering I don’t even use the language of my native tongue well enough to share Your Love with others.  Thank You that You understand me better than I understand myself. Thank You that You have understood from the beginning of time how all of mankind would try to make their prayers Your prayers, their words, Your Word. Thank You for the community of strong studying believers I am now associated with who are willing to walk with me, offering their own prayers and observations on my behalf that we may all seek you Jesus as The Word, The Truth; Our Life.

Let me not intervene with requests and desires that have nothing to do with Your desires. Let me be ever aware that, just as Isaiah 45 tells me, You are STILL creating and there are STILL mysteries,—even new (to me) pieces of Your plan to be revealed that may not be easily integrated into my scriptural understanding. 

But as importantly, let me SHEMA! Let me continue to learn more about being still long enough in my own soul, that You can share Your Word and Soul with me. Let me not just hear and know; let me also be and do as You have designed me to be and do. Let me get out of the way with my limits so that Your limitless Love can lead me, even using other people, new sources, and my own submission as Your powerful tools for our prayer life and walk together.

Prayerfully I rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice,

Let my reasonableness be seen by all

Let me not be anxious about anything, but by prayer and supplication, by thanksgiving

Let my requests be reflections of Your will and desire

Let Your peace which surpasses all understanding guard mine and all of Your believers hearts and 

minds through personal relationship and prayer with you, my Messiah, Jesus

Amen

Mark C.

12-18-2013 The New Advent

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, "Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of your coming and of the close of the age?" And Jesus answered them, "See that no one leads you astray. For many will come in my name, saying, 'I am the Christ,' and they will lead many astray. And you will hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, for this must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom, and there will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are but the beginning of the birth pains.”                      Matthew 24:3-8

Lord, in years past You’ve inspired me to study the word Advent. Now it seems You are stirring fresh interest in the term.

Advent, from the Latin Adventus, means coming. But actually that’s a loose translation, is it not, Rabbi? The term is expectant, waiting, anticipating an event or arrival that has not yet happened. As if smelling rain in the air long before feeling the drops; or getting an announcement of an upcoming party held by someone with a reputation for holding great celebrations (an event I would surely not miss and one I’d want to prepare for properly). Advent might even be, say, a special someone who somehow knows there is trouble ahead. Maybe this certain person with foreknowledge of pending tragedy takes it upon Himself to intervene, willingly offering a very personal sacrifice in place of others’, to avoid greater suffering.

…Yeah, I know…that last example is a reach…who would actually do such a thing?

To me neither Christmas, nor Resurrection Day, would be complete without their preceding advents. And yet, those advents are best understood after Your birth and after Your victory over death. It’s so easy to look back, exclaiming, “Oh, I see, all those events, the prophesies, the historical heritage of Your people, the cultural nuances; they all pointed like a laser to the greatest story ever told. But if so, why did so many ignore Your walk on Earth? Why did those who should have understood the signs and wonders best, participate in Your crucifixion?

These disturbing questions cause one more to prick my consciousness. Creator of all things, what New Advent events are occurring now? I’ve studied and have understood for some time now that Your objective has always been to redeem this broken world, but now I’m realizing You’re not through with Your advent-urous planning. Could it be that right now, not in some distant hazy future, before our eyes that do not see and our ears that do not hear; You are unveiling a New Advent?

Savior , what would that mean to my way of life and my way of worship? Just because I can’t know the exact time of Your return doesn’t mean I shouldn’t be watching for the heralds of Your  New Advent. Actually, I’m told by Your word to be “alert and sober-minded” about all things spiritual, including Your second coming. What signs and wonders am I ignoring? What invitation messages might You be sending out for Your big event? How can I best prepare the way of You, Lord?

Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven

Some might say it doesn’t matter, that all is fixed and we believers have no risk as You approach, we can just show up to the party and all will be well. But is that so? I read of virgins being lackadaisical and missing the Bridegroom’s return and of a Wedding feast where one man is booted from the party for being inappropriately dressed for the occasion. Do these parables suggest that we may be too casual about Your plan? Are there implications if we are ill-prepared for Your glorious appearance to call the saints to You? Are we doing enough to testify about the greatest sorrow of all; that of missing the party all together? Are we effective communicating the terrible consequences of being permanently excluded from God’s soon-coming Kingdom. Has my personal witness helped or hindered Your Truth from creating fruit in others?

Adonai, I pray during this season that celebrates the First Advent, that You help us learn to be vigilant for a New and greater Advent, when You join with Your people once again to claim Your Kingdom here on Earth. Let us be watchful and understand in advance, how You would have us best prepare the way!

Merry Advent

Mark C.

Christmas 2013

A Simple Defense

The law of the LORD is perfect,

reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; 

the commandment of the LORD is pure,
enlightening the eyes; the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.      

Psalm 19:7-11 

Lord, You are allowing two good friends to teach me an incredible lesson from two perspectives this week. Thank You.

My one friend, someone I consider a very capable and diligent studier of Your Word, is searching for evidence that you, Jesus command us to worship You. He can’t find the words that, to him, instruct us to do any more than follow Your example of feeding the poor, caring for the orphans the widows and the sick. My friend’s suggestion is that ours is to be a servant role to the nations—performing acts of provision and mercy—and that by following Your example, Your kingdom is ours to claim.

When he posed this to me, my inner being shook with fear. You’ve heard my prayers on this question:

1.      Could it be a fact that You, Jesus do not scripturally (in Your own “Red Letter Bible” words) require us to recognize you as Lord and Savior?

2.      If not, then what is our purpose and by whose authority do we go forth?

3.      To obtain the Kingdom of heaven, is all we need to do is to perform noble works?

4.      Do command us to submit to You as our King? Am I Biblically capable of defending that position using only Your words from scripture?

5.      How do I walk with my friend down the path of this exploration so that we can both learn and grow as You, our God and Spiritual Counselor, would have us do?

Immediately Adonai, you inspired me to go to Your sword, the Word, to cut through the confusion, identifying scripture addressing Your kingship. That was the easy part—Old and New Testament alike abound with references to worship of the Messiah as the Son of the Most high.

And there is Your personal statement at the end of the Gospel of Matthew where You inform us that, “All authority on heaven and earth have been given to me.” This proclamation is a little tricky. because You don’t come right out and say, “obey me.” I have to recognize Your authority and it’s then up to me to bow down (or not bow down) to my Superior.

My friend seems to be asking You to make things more clear—to say to us, “I declare myself your King. Worship me.” That’s what any of us mere humans would require if we were given all authority. But not You. You want something more from us, and that’s where my other friend’s response to this puzzle is so amazing!

She is a new believer, fresh in her realization of Your love and sacrifice for her. Upon hearing my first friend’s query, this woman of God stated, “Are you kidding? Now that I realize what Jesus has done for me and seeing Him work in my life, how can I not fall down on my knees and worship Him as my God?”

All my studies, all my clever arguments and scriptural references couldn’t match up to the power of this humble statement of faith. You spoke through her to me and to us all, Lord. You didn’t have to order me to do anything. I can’t purchase salvation or a kingdom house by my good intentions. You’ve done the heavy lifting for me—for all of us. So I’m convicted by Your sacrifice, not by Your power. It’s the beginning of a beautiful relationship where I have to choose to worship and serve, not due to fear or obligation, but for desire; not as a requirement, but for hunger to be in relationship with You.

Once I am in a right relationship with You—vassal to Lord— then, not before, comes a very specific command. I’m to go out and “do”. The fruit of my servant relationship with You will be the care of widows and orphans, the clothing of the poor, the visiting of prisoners, the loving of my neighbor and my enemy as I would have them love me. How much simpler can it get?

Some might say, Lord that we can serve this way without worshiping You. That other religions and cultures perform good deeds just as well, or better than we Christ Followers do. Who am I to argue? All I know is what I see—a corrupt world, some of us doing little good and all of us doing a lot of not so good…no, let me call my actions what they are…selfishly based acts. We may look all clean and pretty on the outside, but You know the truth of our hearts:

Not one is righteous in Your sight

I’m told by Your word that my fruit is not a measurement of my nobility, but evidence of my faith – that’s all. I can’t do enough; My life can only be a witness to what has been done for me.

I know my friends to be strong believers, Master. They and I recognize You for who You are, regardless of whether or not You command obedience. I am concerned only that we, Your followers, share the total message You have given us to take to the world: How beautiful is Your love—all You long for is our completed love in You. And seeing that love in action—Your sacrifice for all of us, seeing You work in my life—how can we (how can I) not fall down and worship You as God?”

Mark C.

9-8-2013 Individually Together

  

      “Why do you see the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when there is the log in your own eye?
      "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye.”       Matthew 7:3-5

      Lord, I was listening to a friend the other day speaking about another person’s inability to forgive them. I asked my friend, “Have you forgiven them?”

The answer was simple, “I told them I was sorry.” Then my friend went on to explain their frustration with fact that the other person’s behavior didn't change after the apology.

      That’s my problem too, Adonai―I expect my behavior and actions, good or bad, to influence others. What’s more, I  expect that when I’m working on Your behalf―doing what I believe You want me to be doing―others will somehow be transformed/convicted into behaving and acting as I believe they should. At least that’s the way I’d like things to be.

      You my God seem to have another approach. From the beginning, You created us separated―individual―each to choose our own personal relationship with You. You also created partners for us, those who share (by choice, intimately or distantly) this magnificent gift of life. Each must choose, each must face the consequences―no one can do that for another.

      In my conversation with my friend, I explained a recent epiphany You’ve share with me. It seems that as I comb the scriptures, I find copious chapters and verses that, when taken to heart and obeyed in practice; change/fix me to the better―Your better. On the other hand, in all my searches of Your word, I have yet to find a single verse I can use to fix another person’s issues.

      The irony of course Master is that I certainly may be an instrument used to identify a character flaw, social or spiritual conflict that I see affecting another; I can offer prayer, personal support and scriptural references to help my fellow man or woman work through any conflict. I can even invite another to consider accepting You as their Lord and Savior. 
      But in everyday life, just as in eternal life, Conviction Conversations are between You and each individual.  It’s Your Spirit that is the change agent. You are the One who reshapes lives and moves people.

      Yet even You choose not to make someone believe in Your righteousness and sovereignty, so who am I to attempt such a thing on Your behalf? There is only one who has a choice in that matter―the individual.      

      Holy Spirit―Kodesh Ruach, as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord―even in this. It is individual, but we have chosen together. And together we invite and offer to share. Now comes the challenge: Teach us all how to seek Your kingdom―each one in unity with the others―willingly coming individually to become a body of one in You!

Blessings through the Days of Awe,

Mark C.

8-11-2013 DenomiNations

From these the coastland peoples spread in their lands, each with his own language, by their clans, in their nations.        Genesis 10:5 

For the LORD your God will bless you, as he promised you, and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow, and you shall rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over you.  Deuteronomy 15:6 

It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and it shall be lifted up above the hills; and peoples shall flow to it, and many nations shall come, and say: "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths." For out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.  

Micah 4:1-2

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.       Revelation 22:1-2

 

            I’ve been reading about how we, the nations, have been scattered throughout the world, Lord and I can’t seem to shake the feeling that I’m out of step. My uneasiness stems from an observation of the world’s divisional tendencies; whether a favorite sports team or a political persuasion, an ethnic preference or even…a church or religious institution.

            As I scan scripture, I find at least 327 references to “nations” and Your relationship with them in the Bible. That number of verses centering on one issue, place the subject into the “pay attention and learn” category: And so I obey.

            First I find that there are two major separations regarding nations: Them and us. The question is who “we” are and who are “they”. This one is easy. We are God’s chosen; they are not.  Wait…what did I just say―that was easy? Not at all! In fact, Lord, I now have to go back and define God’s chosen―Israel.

            Hold on a second, I’m not a Jew, and if I’m not a Jew, then…am I chosen? Oh yeah, I’m grafted in. But…grafted into what? It seems to be getting more complicated, Adonai, please clarify: You say that by Your blood sacrifice and resurrection, I’m offered eternal salvation becoming one with You and “in” You. But You’re the God of the Israelites and You commanded Israelites to be all about Your land and Your covenants. You have said the land of Israel is the inheritance of the Jews and so…shouldn’t I be all about Your land and covenants?

Oh, that’s right, I’m freed from that because of the New Covenant, right? Uh, no it appears that the other covenants are not extinguished by the New C; the New C simply finalizes the set. So, I’m still, as a Born Again Believer; not only Your child, but also a servant as defined by a specific connecting thread. You said the land of Israel is where we shall gather; any nation who blesses Israel will be blessed; anyone who curses Israel…?

There’s plenty of scripture that consistently backs up this concept and I’m certainly not going to get into a quoting contest with You, Master of text. But I do ask You to help me understand something―It appears that, at this moment in time, even the government and the people of Israel are not ­all about Israel. They too appear to be wrapped up more in their favorite sports teams, political persuasions, ethnic preferences and even…their church or religious institutions. As someone who lives in a distant land―someone who longs to live within and love the land of my inheritance―how can I share with You, other believers and with my Jewish kin; Your desire for a united people within a united kingdom while here on Earth? Am I to be more about Israel than Israel? Is that what You are asking of Your children?

Maybe I’m getting too worried about my future rather than trying to live out my “now”. Or is this the time when all of us should be living as You have asked us to―teaching and baptizing all nations, instructing them and living out by example all the commandments You have given us? As part of my national heritage, it would seem that I have a responsibility once again, to follow Your footstep example— as when You walked the earth. You spoke often and clearly about the land of Israel. You pointed the nations to Abraham and to the coming age when all would be gathered—not each to their own country, but all to one place—to Your place, Zion. Jerusalem.

Were Your words all metaphorical, Lord? Is there any or all of Your text that I should read literally? Shouldn’t I be committed to—praying about, supporting and familiarizing myself with that place where I will someday dwell with You?

I believe all of what You have given us in Your instructions to be literal, all pressing and all important for all Your people, Lord. I believe it because You repeated it in word and by example, over and over again and I want to be obedient to Your ways.

Yet my question still stands, how can we, as Your children unite concerning our heritage when many of those I observe in Your body of believers seem to have no problem with the condition of Israel and the decay of its people’s focus toward You? How can I help shift the paradigm of awareness when few seem motivated to change?

Adonai, I pray for inspiration: please show me, show all of us how we as separate nations will be gathered as described in the writings of Micah and Revelation. King of kings, encourage and direct us in our commonality as one body, focused on going up to Your mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that You may teach us Your ways, that we may walk in Your paths.

Anxious for more teaching from You,

Mark C.

6-23-2013 Border Security

 “Give ear, and hear my voice; give attention, and hear my speech.

      
      Does he who plows for sowing plow continually? Does he continually open and harrow his ground? When he has leveled its surface, does he not scatter dill, sow cumin, and put in wheat in rows and barley in its proper place, and emmer as the border?

      
      For he is rightly instructed; his God teaches him.”    

Isaiah 28:23-26

El Shaddai, this passage speaks to me today because of the turmoil regarding the land in which I live and also the struggle in Your land―Israel. The two countries and their issues appear different on the surface, but as I consider more deeply I see striking similarities.

Here in the United States, a debate rages as to whom, rights and privileges should be delegated. Who in the country has rights? Who is the administrator of those rights and based on our founding documents, what latitude do they possess in determining the scope of said blessings/benefits?

In Israel a similar question persists. Who is the possessor of the land and its benefits? By what rights do they possess, by whose authority do they claim ownership and what documents /history support these claims?

The beliefs and arguments of opposing factions suggest that neither country, nor its occupants will quickly resolve their differences. I could easily be discouraged by what I believe to be an erosion of foundational positions that will cause both my country and Your Land to forget and abandon their origins.

But that would not be taking into account, the power of the pinnacle factor that our countries share. That factor is You. Master, there will be those who will read these words and cry foul. “No fair, bringing the god factor into this argument. What about those of us who don’t believe any god has a dog in this fight?”

I would not argue with those people―they have chosen, and so have I. As for me and my house, we will serve You, YHWH. Argument between believers and non-believers on this point is moot, yet it is the determining factor of my life’s choices. All of my decision from that first decision―to believe in, worship and obey You―determine all of my other decisions.

So that, when I hear a Jew say, “I am a Jew by culture, belief in YHWH is not necessary for me to claim my birthright as a citizen,” my mind gets caught in a question, “Being born, makes one human, possibly even allows citizenship according to manmade laws in certain countries, but does it give someone a cultural/ historical right to claim a title that You God bestowed on a people who chose consciously to believe in and honor You?”

The question ironically speaks as loudly to me in this country. Our foundation includes a declaration that recognizes You as our Creator. Yet, I’m told not to bring my religious baggage to the table even though we revere a constitution which states loudly; belief in God will not be influenced, inhibited or obstructed by the laws of the land. So the question for me becomes, “How can I be a true citizen of a country that claims a Creator, but does not allow the belief in that Creator to be expressed and lived out in the course of everyday events?  

Lord I’m not a farmer, but I did marry a farmer’s daughter. And having to some degree helped out on the farm, I understand the Isaiah passage listed in the beginning of this blog prayer from a different perspective.

Each crop that is planted on a plot of land has a place and a purpose. Some of the seeds are not only to grown to feed the planter, but also to guard the other crops from weeds; some enrich the soil to support other crops and some create a border to define the land as You, God ordain.  

Adonai, your Word surrounds me and protects my borders―I am Yours to command regardless of other’s approval or disapproval. Those who share the place which You have blessed us to reside serve a purpose as well, whether the purpose is known to them or not: It is Your purpose and Your plan. Your desire and Your judgment based on our obedience or our rebellion.

Therefore, I pray for Your purpose and plan Lord to be done. I pray that You continue as You always have to make You presence and Your will crystal clear to all the inhabitants of the land, through Your Word and Your Spirit. I pray also that You continue to speak to, dwell with and strengthen me and all who recognize You―emboldening us to be a blessings of light and salt to our neighbors and the world.

Lord I also pray the same for Israel which I consider my true home. I ask that You continue to work in the hearts of all Your people to help bring about Your ultimate plan of a Kingdom where Your infinite glory, holiness and loving kindness are the only boundaries―the definition of our house, our land, our lives in You.

Mark C.