Receive Your Pay

HIDE (v):  Psalm 64:2
to shield; to seek protection; to put or remain out of sight
see also HID

HOME (n):  Matthew 9:7
one's place of residence; place of origin, destiny, or comfort; family-style social unit
see also DWELLING, HOUSE

INSTRUCTIONS (n):  Exodus 14:1
a command or principle intended especially as a general rule of action; an order; directions; the action, practice, or profession of teaching
see also COMMANDMENT(S), LAW(S)

LISTEN (v):  Proverbs 5:1
to hear something with thoughtful attention
see also HEAR

PAY (v):  Proverbs 5:1
to suffer the consequences of an act; to requite according to what is deserved; to make due return to for services or goods rendered
see also PAID

PROTECT (v):  Psalm 64:1
to cover or shield from exposure, injury, damage, or destruction; to defend
see also KEEP

STAND (v):  Matthew 9:6
to remain stationary; to remain erect; to maintain one's position; to endure successfully
see also STOOD

Listening to the instruction of the Lord enables us to stand firm in the face of adversity.  When violent people wrong us, we can be confident in God's protection through abiding in Jesus.  There will always be testing.  There will always be the temptation to retaliate in our own strength-but the Lord is our strength!  When we are weak, He is strong!  So stand, child of God.  And if you ever find yourself in a position of falling short before the glory of God, remember this:  Weakness invites more glory-the glory of the Lord!

Jesus did not call those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.  With that being said, we now know we sinners receive salvation through the price Jesus paid for us-His blood.  We are all sinners, and this does not mean we excuse our sin, but rather, intentionally turning away from it.  This does not mean we will never sin again.  When we lift up our heel against the enemy, and exalt the name of Jesus Christ, we show him mercy-showing mercy for Jesus, and condemning sacrificial behavior.  For God sacrificed His only begotten Son, given up to sinners, for the salvation of sinners.  The sacrifice has already happened; receive your pay.  So, let us not continue to condemn Jesus through exalting sin-by excusing it.  Let us stand, Lord.  Lord, let us remain in your steadfast covenant-your love-our home.  Thank you Father.  We thank you for not hiding your face from your servants!

I plead the blood of Jesus Christ over the reader and their home.  I pray for Godly insight, and thoughtful attention to you, Lord.  I prophesy in the name of Jesus Christ, "We are, and will, continue to stand and walk in your instruction."  I declare, "We have made you, Lord, our abiding home, and you, Lord, have made us your abiding home."  May the Lord bless you and protect you.  God smile upon you and gift you.  The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.  I love you.  Jesus loves you.  Shalom Shalom

Rebuilding The Temple With God

JOY:  Psalm 63:5
an act or instance of traveling from one place to another

MEAL:  Matthew 8:15
a portion of food eaten usually at designated times in the day to satisfy appetite; an act or time of eating

PRAISE:  Psalm 63:3
to worship, command, or give honor to

REST:  Proverbs 4:16
to sit or lie on; to cease from action or motion; to take relief or respite

SERVANT:  Matthew 8:8
one who performs tasks under the direction of another

SLAVERY:  Exodus 13:3
submission to a dominating influence; the practice of slaveholding

YEAST:  Exodus 13:3
a fungus used for making alcohol and bread

The fear of the Lord brings joy to my heart.  I remember my life in Egypt.  The confusion, the resentment, the pain, the fear, the pride, the loneliness-the slavery.  In fact, the Lord rescued me from all of it recently.  The yeast in my heart caused a great decay within, and it was detrimental to my soul.  I held the trauma inside to the point of bursting-from my wrong living and from religious people and their leaders.  I wouldn't forgive myself or others, and I used the gifts God gave me to destroy them.  I committed myself to destruction, and there was no rest for my soul because of it.

I remember when the Lord began chasing me down with intention and intensity.  It was terrifying.  I was terrified because all I'd ever known up until then was decay and short lived peace.  I thought he was punishing me, but really, he was pruning me-breaking me and then loving on me-both, with precision.  He pierced my heart in the most poetic way.  So, yes, I will praise God for the rest of my life, both here and after.  How could I not?  The joy of the Lord has consumed me and I don't have time for much else these days.  He has proven what is right in his sight through correcting me.  He corrects the one he loves.  Now, he honors me, and I am honored to reflect what he has taught me back into the world.

Through it all, from slavery to servant, from suffering in slavery, to victory in Christ, to share a meal with Jesus-I am truly grateful beyond words.  I never thought the day would come when I'd be grateful for the trials and tribulation-but God!  Isn't it so refreshing to be loved unconditionally?  What love!  Love conquers all.  Love covers a multitude of sins.  And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.  ~1 Corinthians 13:13~

I pray we never forget the great kindness he has shown us.  I pray whoever is reading this-if they are still in Egypt-that the Lord chase them down with his love and break the yoke of bondage, and may he cleanse the yeast in their land.  I love you.  Jesus loves you.  Shalom Shalom

Jesus Makes Us Whole

BLOOD:  Exodus 12:22
fluid in the circulatory system; signifies human life; kinfolk; of animals, used in priestly sacrifices; of Christ, effective for the forgiveness of sins; on hands or head, symbolic of guilt

BRANCHES:  Exodus 12:22
limb of a (family) tree, part of a complex body (of knowledge); figurative of offspring and of disciples (of Christ and his disciples)

FRUIT:  Matthew 7:20
a product of plant growth; product or result

POUR:  Psalm 62:8
to move or come continuously; to supply or produce freely

PURIFY:  Psalm 51:7
to make pure or remove (physical or moral) blemishes; to make ritually clean

TREE:  Proverbs 3:18
woody perennial plants, many of which produce crops; highly treasured natural resource; often linked to the worship of pagan gods; symbolic of a growing believer

TRUST:  Proverbs 3:5
to place confidence or depend; to commit or place in one's care or keeping; to rely on the truthfulness or accuracy of

WASH:  Psalm 51:7
to cleanse-of physical, ceremonial, or spiritual significance

There is a significant difference between ritual and obedience.  I'm just now discovering this as a growing believer in Christ.  Ritual living looks like treating others in a way that Christ would disapprove and then asking forgiveness-rather than showing compassion from the get, and living wrong 6 days a week, then playing Christian on Sundays(observing festivals and ceremonies).

But there is grace in Jesus Christ.  There is grace when we have a continual relationship with him(pouring out our heart to him), accepting his truth, and producing good fruit as we grow in our relationship with our Father.

Jesus makes us clean,  He washes us in his love and mercy.  It's taken me a long time to realize this.  It's taken me a long time to realize I don't need to strive for his love because he loves us freely.  My wrong living produced much guilt and shame, and in turn, made it difficult for me to accept him-to accept that it is his sacrifice, his blood, that makes me clean.  Not my own works.

It is good to do good works.  But that can't be the sole mission.  Excluding Christ(excluding  love, mercy, and truth), and relying on one's own understanding produces bad fruit-loveless knowledge.  I find that loving others is difficult at times because I am exalting my own feelings, rather than accepting his truth and redistributing it(good fruit).

I pray we continually seek after and pour out our hearts to God.  I pray we embrace his love, rather than our own resentments.  I pray the blood of Christ over you and your family.  I pray you pray the same for me 🙂.  I love you.  Shalom Shalom