I'm Drinking from a Saucer....

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I went into a great search the other night looking for the song whose chorus begins with that line.

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Why?
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'Cause someone gave me a gift and a word of exhortation related to that song once and I had never heard it. I've told many people the story of the teacup, but I had not heard the song. I'll share the song with you at the end of this post, but for now I want to talk to you about the OVERFLOW of Grace that I learned about from this little gift.

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"... You anoint my head with oil;

my [brimming] cup runs over."
Psalms 23:5b (AMP)

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In the Amplified version of Psalm 23:5, it says my [brimming] cup runs over. That word translated "runs over" in the Hebrew is rewāyāh. The Complete Words Study Old Testament Dictionary defines rewāyāh as a feminine noun referring to abundance; a state of overflowing. It refers to an overabundance of something. It is used figuratively of the cup of life and blessing from the Lord (Ps. 23:5). It refers to the richness, safety, and blessing of God's deliverance from enemies (Ps. 66:12).

From Vine's there is a Hebrew word translated "to fill" which also indicates this state of overflow: "Mālēʾ (also mālâ) can also mean "to fill up" in an exhaustive sense: "…And the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle" (Exod. 40:34). In this sense an appetite can be "filled up," "satiated," or "satisfied." Male is sometimes used in the sense "coming to an end" or "to be filled up," to the full extent of what is expected.

The Bible Knowledge Commentary gives us this for Psalm 23:5:

23:5. In this verse the scene changes to a banquet hall where a gracious host provides lavish hospitality. Under this imagery the psalmist rejoiced in the Lord’s provision. What was comforting to David was that this was in the presence of his enemies. Despite impending danger, the Lord spread out a table for him, that is, God provided for him.

The image of anointing the head with oil, which was refreshing and soothing, harmonizes with the concept of a gracious host welcoming someone into his home. In view of the table and the oil David knew that his lot in life (his cup) was abundant blessing from the Lord. (emphasis added)

In the Greek, this word found in Vine's dictionary gives me insight into this idea of superabundance.

Strong's Number: Original Word: περισσεία, perisseia
Usage Notes: is translated "overflowing" in Jas. 1:21, RV. See ABUNDANCE, A, No. 2. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words)

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. ~ James 1:21 (NKJV)

**In this instance it is indicative of the overflow - exceedingly great nature - of wickedness and man's amoral condition rendering him in need of salvation.

Strong's Number: Original Word: ὑπερπερισσεύω, hyperperisseuō
Usage Notes: "to abound more exceedingly," Rom. 5:20, is used in the Middle Voice in 2 Cor. 7:4, RV, "I overflow (with joy)," AV, "I am exceeding (joyful)." See ABUNDANCE, B, No. 2. (Vine's Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words)

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, ~ Romans 5:20 (NKJV)

** Now I want you to see this. In this passage of Scripture - the word translated abound or abounded three times is two different Greek words. The highlighted word abounded, "But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more," is the Greek Strong's 5248, hyperperisseuō. But the other two words rendered "abound, abounded" are Greek Strong's 4121, pleonazō: defined in Strong's as "from (pleion); to do, make or be more, i.e. increase (transitive or intransitive); by extension to superabound :- abound, abundant, make to increase, have over."

So we can read this Romans 5:20 to say: "Moreover the law entered that the offense might increase, to be made or done more, to superabound or have over (it's way). But where sin increased, was made to be or done more, superabounded or had it's way, grace [increased, was made to be or done more, superabounded or had its way] exceedingly more." (Bold lettering indicates translation taken from definitions provided, emphasis added is mine).

I just have to sit here a minute and take that in!

And if I got back to the Bible Knowledge Commentary to reconcile what I have just stated:

5:20-21. A remaining question in this discussion is, Where does the Mosaic Law fit into all this and why? Paul explained, The Law was added so that the trespass (paraptōma, cf. vv. 15-19) might increase (“abound”). The word “added” should be rendered “came in beside,” for it translates the verb pareisēlthen. Two similar verbs, eisēlthen and diēlthen, were used in verse 12. Galatians 2:4 is the only other place in the New Testament that uses the Greek verb for “came in beside.”

Is the statement in Romans 5:20a a purpose or a result clause? The coming of the Mosaic Law (clearly meant here in light of vv. 13-14) did result in the abounding of “the trespass” (the consequence of any law), but (also in the light of vv. 13-14 and 4:15) the Mosaic Law came in “so that” (purpose) abounding sin might be recognized as abounding trespass.

The result was that where sin increased (lit., “abounded”; cf. 5:20) grace increased all the more (“overflowed superlatively”; cf. “overflow” in v. 15). What a contrast! No matter how great human sin becomes, God’s grace overflows beyond it and abundantly exceeds it. No wonder Paul wrote that God’s grace “is sufficient” (2 Cor. 12:9). God’s goal (hina, so, introduces a purpose clause) is that His grace might reign through righteousness (the righteousness of Christ provided for people) to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. Once again Paul spoke of reigning in connection with life. In verse 17 those who received God’s gift “reign in life” through Christ. Here God’s grace is personified as reigning and bringing eternal life.

By the time the Apostle Paul had reached this point he had not only described how God’s provided righteousness is revealed in justification but he also was anticipating how it is to be revealed through regeneration and sanctification.

DID YOU GET THAT? The Law came not just as a set of rules to live by, but to exemplify the overflow of sinfulness in the HUMAN condition. Thus, making us realize our need for God's OVERFLOWING, SUPERABUNDANT and EXCEEDINGLY MORE Grace! Whereever sin has increased or is increasing in the World, God's Grace always increases more!

OH MY THAT IS A REVELATION to build our lives on.

I'm overwhelmed. I mean... Really. I need to get on my knees and type this from the floor because it is so what I have been living out of for the last two or three years, but unable to fully explain until just now.

You see, God's grace is all we need. We don't have to work and earn it. His Word tells us so much about this - David realized that God was all He needed, not just the provider but the Provision Himself. Just as I wrote in the study of the Hebrew name Jehovah Jireh. Living every day totally dependent on God and the power and guidance of His Holy Spirit we have all we need to do all He requires of us through Christ who paid it all. Not some, not on time, but all was paid by grace and receive it by faith.

Living in superabundance is so beautifully expressed in the song from which the title of this post comes... I've included it at the end of this post.

Where sin abounds in my life, grace has the opportunity to abound even more. That is why Jesus said of the woman who anointed His feet with oil that those who have been forgiven much love much - because we give back out of the overflow of the grace that we have received.

"I'm drinkin' from a saucer, 'cause my cup has overflowed." ~ From "Drinking from a Saucer" written by Jimmy Dean

Much to be grateful for this Thanksgiving, may God's blessings truly abound in your life this Holiday Season as you sip from your saucer and may your cup always run over.

Our Bridegroom, Our Husband - Ish

I am having some particular difficulty getting my computer to operate at an optimum level today! Please forgive me but I would not like to push this post into this afternoon and then be stressed out and rushing for my class tonight!
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I will return tomorrow afternoon and make the post good... Until then, be blessed!

Tuesday's In Other Words: Credited as Righteousness

Miriam (Mipa) at Miriam Pauline's Monologue is hosting this week's IOW. If you would like to participate, just copy the quote above and write your own post In "Other"
Words about this week's quote.

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Even the demons believe that God exists and shudder. Belief in the existence of God is not enough to be called by the name of His Son. Belief in the existence of God does not guarantee us the promise of heaven and eternal life with the God in whom we believe. The kind of faith that is credited as righteousness is the faith that declares Jesus as Lord and Savior, the God who redeems that which is lost and restores brokenness and overcame the grave. The One and Only Son of God who came to seek and save that which was lost.

When I read this quote I think of Abraham. Abraham who sent one son off to the desert with his wife's handmaid, Hagar, and entrusted his life to the Lord and His promise for Ishmael. Only to be given an even more difficult task.

I think of how God called him to give up the promise to see if Abraham's faith was in God or in the child God had given him. However, as we read in Genesis 22, Abraham acted faithfully entrusting His son's life to God and believing that if God called him to sacrifice the child of promise, that God would indeed bring Him back from the death and that is exactly what God did.

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My favorite part of the retelling in Genesis 22 is when Isaac asks his father on the way up the mountain, "I see the altar. I see the knife. But, Father, who will provide the lamb?"
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Abraham's Answer: "The Lord will provide the Lamb."
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How Abraham's heart and love for his son must have raged against his willingness to be obedient to the Lord even in death.

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I have never questioned God on the death of my son, Justin. I know there is a better purpose and plan in it all. I have experienced deep comfort and peace in the arms of my Savior over this issue. I had to trust God to be as good as His Word and that He would not let me stumble or fall even in the most devastating circumstances. I could have raged against Him and cried out about the injustice... I could have renounced my faith in Him because life had not worked out the way I had planned and the answers to my prayers for my son were often the situation growing much worse rather than better. Anytime we experienced a moment of reprieve in his life, it would seem it was only the calm before a much more violent storm. Yet, in it all, I never stopped praying, believing, asking or hoping that God would deliver on the words spoken over my son all his life.

And what about Ishmael? What happened to Abraham's other son? Hagar ran from the harshness of her mistress while pregnant with Ishmael, she ran to the desert where she encountered the Lord and received a promise. Had she not believed God for that promise, she could not have returned to the harsh treatment of her mistress and endured for the sake of her child. She returned to her mistress and endured the harshness with the promise that the Lord saw her agony and would take care of Hagar and her unborn child. She went back only to return to the desert once more. Only to watch as her son almost die... And the God who sees, El Roi, He saw Hagar and Ishmael and had mercy on them - just as He did with Isaac and Abraham on the mountain. Sometimes, receiving the promise means believing God while returning to places you had once thought the door would be closed forever.

This Psalm comforts me when I find myself revisited by haunting moments of my past - places and things that have been long done but have not been dealt with between the Lord and I. Things I'd just asoon never revisist. However, God in His mercy would not allow me to be pushed back to those places unless He intended to help me and bless me through them so that those circumstances could never make me fall again.

When I find myself in the grips of self-defeating life patterns, going back again and again to what has wrought havoc and destruction in my life, I am learning to ask God why I keep going back and how this works in His plan for my life. He is ever faithful. He restores my heart, my mind and my soul in those moments and always provides a way out for me. He then cleanses me of it and redeems the memory to show me where He was and what He was doing during those dark and painful times. It is truly for Freedom that Christ has set us Free. Going back does not mean revisiting and reclaiming the shame and destruction of a particular period of my life, going back means believing by faith that if I entrust my past to God and allow Him to redeem it - it will be used to reveal His good and glory in the life of another and in turn bring restoration and healing to me. He is faithful. He never forsakes us. He asks only that we would believe.

"What does the Scripture say? 'Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.'" ~ Romans 4:3 (NIV)

God gave Abraham credit for trusting His word. He gave Abraham credit for believing in Him through much adversity - and He will give you credit, too. Not for how you failed Him, but for how you trusted in Him when the times were hard, the memories painful and so difficult to understand. Trust Him completely let Him redeem your past as He delivers you into a glorious future. He truly is making all things new.

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For more info about In "Other Words", check out Loni's blog at Writing Canvas.

Melek - Our King

This week we study the Hebrew word Melek. Melek is translated King. Throughout the Psalms, God is called Israel's King and not only Israel's King, but they believed that He was King to all nations and that all kings were subject to Him. "He changes times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning." Dan 2:21 (NIV)

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Today we are going to look at how God's plan was to be Israel's King from the beginning and how He established His Son, Jesus as King of Kings. In Psalm 72:1-3 we see a Messianic prophecy predicting the establishment of Jesus, the Christ, as the Lord's righteous and just Millenial King.

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First of all if we go back to Genesis, we will find that Abraham and his descendants were led not by King, but by God. God was their King. Abraham and his family and servants did battle with the kings of the earth and God provided victory. Let's look at the Hebrew word and its definition from Strong's Hebrew and Greek Dictionary before we go any further:

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Hebrew Strong's Number: 4428
Hebrew Word: ‏מֶלֶךְ‎
Transliteration: melek
Phonetic Pronunciation:meh'-lek
Root: from , Greek
Cross Reference: TWOT - 1199a
Part of Speech: n m
Vine's Words: Kingdom

Usage Notes:

English Words used in KJV:
king 2518 royal 2 Hammelech 1 Malcham 1 Moloch 1 [Total Count: 2523]

from (malak); a king :- king, royal.
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In the book of Genesis we find a curious king. He is the King of Salem (Salem is translated Peace), and he is also a priest. His name is Melchizedek and he came to the aid of Abraham after he had battled many other kings and was facing yet another king, the King of Sodom. Melchizedek provided bread and wine for Abraham in his time of need. Communion, reprieve, redemption are all exhibited in the three short verses of Melchizedek's story.

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However, Hebrews 7 gives a bird's eye view of this king and why his appearance in those early chapters of Genesis is so important.

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1 This Melchizedek was king of Salem and priest of God Most High. He met Abraham returning from the defeat of the kings and blessed him, 2 and Abraham gave him a tenth of everything. First, his name means "king of righteousness"; then also, "king of Salem" means "king of peace." 3 Without father or mother, without genealogy, without beginning of days or end of life, like the Son of God he remains a priest forever. 4 Just think how great he was: Even the patriarch Abraham gave him a tenth of the plunder! 5 Now the law requires the descendants of Levi who become priests to collect a tenth from the people--that is, their brothers--even though their brothers are descended from Abraham. 6 This man, however, did not trace his descent from Levi, yet he collected a tenth from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. 7 And without doubt the lesser person is blessed by the greater. 8 In the one case, the tenth is collected by men who die; but in the other case, by him who is declared to be living. 9 One might even say that Levi, who collects the tenth, paid the tenth through Abraham, 10 because when Melchizedek met Abraham, Levi was still in the body of his ancestor.
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Hebrews 7:1-10 (NIV)

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Hebrews 7 establishes Melchizedek as a priest of the highest order. Not as a priest of the tribe of Levi ordained hundreds of years later after the exodus from Egypt, but a priest to whom even Levi paid a tithe to through his ancestor, Abraham. A king and a priest offering bread and wine. Sound like anyone you know?

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We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, 20 where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf. He has become a high priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.
Heb 6:19-20 (NIV)

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Christ was a priest - not in the order of Levi who was of the priestly lineage and served in the temple. Instead, He was a priest in the order of Melchizedek. A King of Peace who was also a priest. A King who came out and served the chosen man of God bread and wine and collected a tenth offering of all the plunder Abraham had amassed during his battles with foreign kings.
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In Christ we not only have a King to whom we are to submit ourselves to, but also a King who has a heart to care for His subjects, His people. He hears our pleas from His throne and He is the source of our hope and the anchor for our souls (Hebrews 6).
Again we see in Psalm 10 a picture of a King who not only rules and has dominion over every other kingdom and king, but also has a deep and loving concern for the plight of his people. A king who listens, encourages, defends and aleves our fears. A call to pay attention from the city gates all the way to the inner sanctuary of Jerusalem to lift up their heads and take notice of the triumphal entry of their eternal King. The King of Glory who is strong and mighty, the Lord Almighty - Yahweh, El Shadday.
The Lord who sits enthroned over the flood. Think of that, pointing back to the flood of Genesis - God's sovereignty was at work even in the calamity of that great flood. From that flood He raised up a people, the Semites. From the Semites He raised up a nation that would make a name for Him - a nation to present His glory in all the earth. The Israelites through the Abrahamic Covenant. He is never off of His throne, but remains enthroned forever. He strengthens and blesses His people with peace. He is King.

In the Gospels, Christ comes as the Anointed One of God in the form of a man - Jesus of Nazareth. During His three years of ministry He explains the mystery of the Kingdoms in Parables. He says, "The Kingdom of Heaven is like..." And then He reveals the mystery in terms which the people can understand. God manifested, God with us - He brought the Kingdom to us and made it accessible to us through Salvation and understandable to us through His Holy Spirit.

He even answered in this way when the Pharisees questioned Him about His Kingdom:

"20Asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He replied to them by saying, The kingdom of God does not come with signs to be observed or with visible display, 21Nor will people say, Look! Here [it is]! or, See, [it is] there! For behold, the kingdom of God is within you [in your hearts] and among you [surrounding you]." ~ Luke 17:20-22 (AMP)

The Kingdom over which God reigns is not only an eternal future Kingdom with real property, but it is a right now, at hand Kingdom that exists not only in our hearts, but in the hearts of those around us who love Him, too. The Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Does Christ have rule in your heart? His Kingdom is there.

We serve a King who is immortal, invisible, the ONLY GOD, and who is worthy of all HONOR and GLORY forever and ever. Can You SAY! YES, LORD! Oh Glory, I don't think I can cover it any better than that. We are also co-heirs with our King... what does that look like in your economy? It looks like Heaven in mine.
When the nations of this world rage against the King of Glory, the Lamb of God, He will overcome because He is the LORD OF LORDS and KING OF KINGS AND with Him will be His called, chosen and faithful followers. Think of that... We are part of the Victory of the Lamb over the dark spiritual forces and principalities and the ungodly nations of this world. We are His crown.

As you read this week's Chapter for reflection on Melek - Our King. Try to capture in your mind's eye this description of your great and mighty King:

The Rider on the White Horse

11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven were following him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean. 15 Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND Lord OF Lords.

Revelation 19:11-16 (NIV)

Stand amazed before Him friends, worship Him, He is the King.

Tuesday's In Other Words: Wrestling With God

THIS WEEK'S IN "OTHER" WORDS IS BEING HOSTED BY LONI AT WRITING CANVAS....Hop on over and check out what others are saying "in other words.

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Is it awful that I was so excited to read this quote? I often hear people express their anger with God and their inability to resolve that anger over something in their lives. Parents who have lost children can find this one element of grief to be the most challenging to overcome. I often site the experience of Job when I address these types of concerns. Job started out praising God, but throughout the book bearing his name Job wrestles with his identity, God's sovereignty, and even the purpose for which God intended all the suffering that Job was enduring.

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For some forty chapters we see Job sorting, venting, and lamenting his dire circumstances before the Lord. But, one thing God establishes for us from the beginning is this:
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"In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing." Whew! I want that to be said of me when the annals of history are reviewed. That I never held God to account for some wrong that happened in my life. So how did Job manage to maintain his "integrity" as his wife put it while sorting out the messiness of anger and grief with God. I believe it is because to men Job defended God, but when he was in anguish - he sought out the Lord and made his complaint known only to God. Was Job putting on a brave face or was his heart sincerely holding onto something that he believed and hoped to be true in spite of all the evidence to the contrary? In my reading of Job, I found that he held onto what he believed to be true of God, what he hoped for... And, he knew that if he questioned God, God would answer him.
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And how is it that we can be sure that all this wrestling it out with God is okay? In Job 42, light dawns in Job's life. His suffering is about to end as Job admits that nothing and no one can stop the plans of God. Read on and see what God did in response to Job's acknowledgment:

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"1 Then Job replied to the LORD :

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2 'I know that you can do all things;
no plan of yours can be thwarted.
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3 You asked, 'Who is this that obscures
my counsel without knowledge?'
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Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
things too wonderful for me to know.

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4 'You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak;
I will question you, and you shall answer me.'

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5 My ears had heard of you
but now my eyes have seen you.

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6 Therefore I despise myself
and repent in dust and ashes.'

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10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the LORD made him prosperous again and gave him twice as much as he had before. 11 All his brothers and sisters and everyone who had known him before came and ate with him in his house. They comforted and consoled him over all the trouble the LORD had brought upon him, and each one gave him a piece of silver and a gold ring. 12 The LORD blessed the latter part of Job's life more than the first." ~ Job 42: 1-6, 10-12 (NIV)
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Job's plight forced him to come face-to-face with the truth about his heart, his beliefs and ultimately his God. When Job realized that his anguish had caused him to doubt God - Job repented and confessed the truth before the Lord. And if Job had stopped there, perhaps that would have been enough. Yet, he fulfilled the glory of his revelation by also praying for those who had not only accused him of being responsible for the tragedy taht had befallen his family, but they had also prompted the further questioning of God's judgment in those sovereign acts.

Job's suffering accomplished many things, but for Job it established that his initial response was correct. That the Lord may indeed give and He may also take away, but in all things His name is to BE PRAISED. By putting on this attitude of praise in his deep anguish, Job established a hopeful pattern that would be repeated throughout his discourse with God. The identification with a God who is inately good and true. By trusting God even with the messy, angry feeling he suffered in the wake of his loss, Job proved God faithful and true to His Word. God is a God who keeps His promises. He promises that no matter what He works all things for our good and His glory, that He can take what Satan intends for evil and turn it to good, that He always has a plan that prospers us and gives us a future and a hope, and that He will never leave nor forsake us no matter how bad it gets.

I want to conclude by reminding you of the story of Jacob in Genesis 32. Jacob was running from many things in his life. Not the least of these things was the deception that had pit him an enemy against his own brother. However, God caught up with Jacob one night and wrestled with Jacob throughout that night even injuring him. When God had enough of the struggle and was about to take His leave, Jacob caught a hold of Him and said, "I will not let you go until you bless me."

In spite of his past failures, in spite of the agonizing pain of the struggle, Jacob was not willing to give up. He knew that God could bless Him, change the outcome and deliver the victory and He was not leaving without it. God indeed blessed Jacob. He left that injury that Jacob suffered in the struggle to remind him of the reason for the pain. But, he gave Jacob a new identity, a better heritage and an eternal purpose to fulfill that far outweighed anything that Jacob had faced in his past. Israel's destiny was to make a name for God - and they did... His name is Jesus and He provided redemption and salvation from this fallen existence for us all.

In my own life, I have found this passage from James to be so true. When we allow suffering to have its perfect work in our lives. When we allow God to deal with our anger, our anguish and even out pain it builds in us a complete, sure and tested faith that brings us to maturity in Christ. When we suffer and face those sufferings as Christ did - "for the joy set before us" - we fellowship with Him in those bitter moments. That prepares us for the great joy that we have in our salvation, His promises of a better inheritance and the promises of eternity with Him. Suffering - even the kind that makes us angry with God - can produce a faith that lacks nothing if we will work it out with God.

Sorting out our anger with God is honest, it is necessary and it allows God to tend to our hurts and our wounds in ways that nothing on this earth will ever accomplish. God administers healing to those wounded, angry places within us so that the Holy Spirit can do its work in our lives. Trusting God with even the ugliest of our feelings toward Him opens our lives up for not only reconciliation, but also peace, joy, and hope that overflows into and out of our lives.

The sovereign goodness of God means that He can be trusted to act mercifully with us - even if we are angry with Him. His love and His nature will not allow Him to hold His anger against us if we confess it before Him in truth and with a heart that desires to be reconciled to Him in spite of our pain. He is good, His mercy endures forever... He is ever worthy of our praise.

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Check out Loni's website each week as we write about the quote for the week In "other" Words.

Everyday Doers: An Unexpected Call

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Yesterday, I popped in over at Tammy's blog and read her post that was related to Cheryl's blog post that is in response to a movement at Mandy's blog.... Everyday Doers. I will be hosting an Everyday Doers post on September 18th ... So, come on back and read about a ROOV - and that is all I'm saying about that today!
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Tammy and Cheryl wrote about how they discovered a calling to help others through teaching and/or writing in the blogosphere. The questions prompting their response:
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What is God calling you to do today?

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And more importantly how will you respond?

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Okay, so my answer? God is calling me to be a "big tree." Remember that scene in "Hope Floats" where Gena Rowland's s character tells her grandson "Travis" to "be a tree." Well, it kind of was like that.

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Please don't laugh. It's symbolic to be sure - but a tree just the same. However you interpret 1 Corinthians 14, I tend to lean on the prophecy still exists side and I know this because 1.) I've received words in due season; and 2.) I've given words in due season. So... knowing this truth is vital to understanding and since one of my giftings is prophecy... that little nugget of how I landed on this truth is all related.

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How did I arrive at the idea that I am called to be a tree?

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Last summer I had the unfortuate opportunity to make a very bad decision. That decision? I decided in haste and fatigue to stand on a barstool to help some youth decorate for a lock-in. A stool that was not uniquely designed to support my more than 200 lbs. of body weight. The result was not only painful... It was admittedly embarassing.

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To top it off, I had just applied for a position I really wanted and the injury might be working against that whole idea. (This job opportunity was the catalyst for big change, and BTW I did not get the job... But, that was okay because it was not "my" position.)

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(I know you are asking where all this is going, but just hang with me - I'm really growing a tree here.)

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So, I am laying in a hospital ER that night that I fell with a swollen and incredibly painful knee that was hyper-extended and I asked God, "I really missed you on this job thing. Didn't I?"

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I really didn't get a response. Could have been the pain. Could have been the pain medicine. All in all, that night God wasn't speaking.

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For a week, I was laid up with a knee brace, crutches, lots and lots of pain medication and a real concern I was going to have to have knee surgery. However, the following Monday, after a weekend service on the Healing Power of God, a prayer and anointing from and altar minister and a good night's sleep - I took off my knee brace, stopped taking my pain medicine and began to carry on like nothing had happened.

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The appointment with the ortho was made and after several weeks and electronic imaging appointments, the determination was made that I had actually broken the very tip of one of the bones that joints at my knee in the fall. However, there was a significant tear in my cartilage (not related to the injury) which was most likely the thing that I needed surgery for... and so we scheduled the surgery for the next week.

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(Are you still with me? There IS a tree in this - I promise.)

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At church that weekend they flashed the promo for the upcoming marraige conference and there upon the screen sandwiched between the between the beginning date of the conference and the ending date of the conference was the date of my surgery. OOPS!

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I leaned over to my husband and had a conversation that went something like this:

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"Uh, honey."

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"Yeah?"

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"Um. I just realized that a month ago I paid for us to attend that conference and this week I scheduled my knee surgery for the exact same time."

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"Okay, so we definitely aren't going now, right?"

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My face screwed up in horrified digust:

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"NO! We are still going to that conference."

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And we did. We attended on Thursday night, I had surgery Friday morning and we missed the two sessions during the day but returned for the Friday night session and the Saturday morning one.

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It was amazing, Spirit-filled, Spirit-led and it sparked something in me that I have a hard time explaining. On Friday night after the conference, my husband loaded me and my ice-machine pack thingy into the bed. He administered the relaxing, pain-relieving medication marked "may cause drowsiness" (and later on it did) the doctor prescribed for me and he went to bed.

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Within a half an hour I was punching my husband who woke startled thinking I'd fallen out of bed and said, "What?"

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I said, "I need a pen, a piece of paper and a lap desk now."

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I had laid there in the dark with words and Scriptures rolling around in my head for ten minutes trying to go to sleep only to find that I had to write them down. He got up and supplied my "need." I wrote down what I was "hearing" and put the pen, paper and desk away to go to sleep.

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As soon as I relaxed and got settled again, a picture of a tree kept popping into my head with the names of my family in it. Isaiah 61 kept rolling around with that tree in my head. I laid there trying to be still and very quiet as something inside of me became very alive and awake the more I thought on what my mind's eye was experiencing.
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About midnight, my oldest daughter walked in the door and I whispered loudly... "GET ME OUT OF THIS BED!"

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She did. She came right in and loaded up my ice-pack machine thingy, my pillows, my blanket and my lapdesk before following my hobbling frame out to the living room where I sat up for hours writing out the vision I was receiving. I drew the tree.

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A large tree with five branches - one that had been cut off but had sprouting branches off of it. My daughters whose branches were low and long, and my step-children were the two shorter branches - but they were there just the same. The roots went deep and long into the ground and stream ran along beside the tree. Beside my son's branch where the little branches were sprouted I wrote in the names of his half-brother and sister on his dad's side. Justin's death provided money that kept them in Christian childcare and school. A blessing and a promise if you ask me. The leaves on the tree were for healing.

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In the trunk (a BIG strong trunk) of the tree was Scott's name above my own and I felt like this vision was for my husband. I felt like God was showing me Scott's gift of healing. He has brought so much healing and reconciliation to my life since I've known him I thought it was sure. I believed he was the key to healing and breaking some generational curses in our bloodlines. I shared the vision with him and he seemed to consider it. But for months, nothing happened with him. I however went on an odyssey of intense time alone with God. Habakkuk 2:2-3 began to resonate in my life and I started blogging.

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God uprooted us from our old church where I grew into a ministry "sprout" for lack of a better term and replanted us in a larger, Spirit-led environment. And, I waited for the vision to come to fruition. The last day at our previous church was the same weekend of my surgery and the marriage conference.

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I even signed up to lead a small group at church that Fall and no one signed up. I just hung out with God that until after the Holidays. In January I fasted 40 days for direction and joined a small group Bible study. I made new friends and in the latter days of the Spring semester a group of Prophetic ministers came to our group and gave me a word: "Whatever I had done in the past for the Lord, and the sense is that it is BIG ... well whatever you are about to do is BIGGER."

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At our annual women's conference in March, I served on the ministry team as a team leader preparing gifts for the women who attended. By the end of the conference I knew I was supposed to walk out a calling to mentor or lead a support group for Bereaved Mothers.

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I spoke to the Womens Groups Pastor and we agreed to meet and discuss it. Fast Forward to June... I met with the pastor and we discussed curriculum. She had prayed with another pastor about my group and they both agreed whatever I felt led to do was the direction this group should go. I wanted to do weekly Scripture focused discussions about grief and then give them a promise Scripture for them to meditate on and journal about.

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The Womens pastor sent me to meet with a pastor in our "healing" focused ministry (Freedom Ministry) and she talked me into making my group more healing/recovery oriented than CRISIS oriented. She recommended I meet with the general grief recovery leader and write my curriculum. I adjusted my focus and started working on that. I was sent to a traning course for Freedom group leaders. I met up with the other grief recovery leader. I just completed a few weeks ago the 12 weeks worth of curriculum in a month and about a week. I was overwhelmed and elated.

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I designed and layed out a beautiful Bible study. The theme - TREES. Leaves and trees everywhere. I went into the office this week to print out copies of the member book for the four women signed up to attend my group and the pastor who had trained me and encouraged me to move in a healing direction honored my work. She introduced me to the Executive pastor of the Freedom area of ministry in our church. I had actually met him a few weeks earlier at a Freedom event and he said he had used something I had said to him several times.

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I shared my testimony at a Freedom class on Hurts and Traumas and discovered that the bungled job I felt I had done had actually ministered to many. I have been so blessed - not tooting my own horn here - really. I mean I never would have chosen this route or avenue of service. Out of all the things I felt I was called to do - HEALING was not in my vocabulary.

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Prophecy. Yes. Healing. No.

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So, now I am awaiting the start date of this group. I believe God is growing something bigger out of this opportunity. But - we should never despise small assignments.

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You would think this would be the end of this story until I started writing this post. And guess what God reminded me about! And, now I see that this is all tied to a ministry vision He gave me in 2006 of a center for grieving families (especially children who have suffered a significant loss) where the whole family receives support and recovery focused care through a team of groups that take care of each member of the family specific to their loss in a Christ centered environment.

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In this vision I had received a commissioning to plant a "Key to Healing Garden." In this Garden I saw large plots of ground unplanted just - fertile soil. The entire garden was shaped like a keyhole with a large walkway entrance complete with fountain leading into a round garden where families could come and plant flowers and plants to remember their loved ones on the grounds of the center/church. The only plants in this garden that were not provided by the families were ... You. May. Have. Guessed. It. TREES. I saw HUGE. LIVE. OAK. TREES. In the center and planted around the garden to provide shelter, protection and shade. The garden would serve as a place of remembrance and solitude for families who had suffered losses until they reached a place of HEALING. Then they would purchase a stone of remembrance and put their loved one's name on it and the date they received their healing to place as a marker in the garden.

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If you then fast forward to our recent Siesta Fiesta in San Antonio. One of the women, Lora, gifted in delivering words of knowledge was given a word to pray over me weeks before we actually met. The first thing she said to me was, "God has BIG... BIG plans for you." She shared much more about now being the time to walk in my calling and His anointing. But the BIG resonated.

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The final confirmation was at church during a time of prophetic/presbytery ministry on Sunday night when we got back. I asked a friend to pray and confirm all that God had shown me over the weekend. I did not tell her about the word I had received and she knew little if anything about last summer's vision. She prayed with me and she told me this after our prayer: "All I saw was you as a BIG TREE."

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Ya'll! I. CRIED.

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A big tree with many branches and the leaves on the tree were women. HEALED women. The many branches are the lives I've influenced who reproduce the ministry God did in their lives.

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The vision is finally complete. A great burden of responsbility and anticipation now accompanies me as I walk confidently in this calling and start my first Bereaved Mother's Group - Heart to Heart on September 17th.

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I now host a blog for Greiving Moms also called Heart to Heart. And, I recently set up a blog for my group at church. I am so determined to just follow the Lord out on this thing. To do what He has called me to do.

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I said to my friend at church, "Big trees start as little trees, right? But, I have a feeling I've been a little tree for a while now."

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DO Something. Seek out the Lord and then Do Something. It's so worth it.

Hashem - The Name

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Yes, The Names of God Bible Study post is back. Read On... Hashem.

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In her Bible Study, "The Patriarchs," Beth Moore teaches in the introductory session that the Israelites so revered the name of God that they would not speak it for fear of profaning it. (The Patriarchs, Moore, 2005, Lifeway Publications, p. 10)

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Instead of using the Tetragrammaton, YHWH, (pronounced Yahweh) they called God "Hashem" which is a combination of two Hebrew words, ha - translated as a definite article: "the;" and shem - translated as follows from the Hebrew:
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Hebrew Strong's Reference Number: 3084
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Hebrew Word: ‏שֵׁם‎
Transliteration: shēm
Phonetic Pronunciation: shame
Root: a primitive word [perhaps rather from through the idea of definite and conspicuous position
Cross Reference: TWOT - 2405
Part of Speech: n m
Vine's Words: Name
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Usage Notes:

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English Words used in KJV: name 832 renown 7 fame 4 famous 3 named 3 named + 2 famous + 1 infamous + 1 report 1 misc 10 [Total Count: 864]
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a primitive word [perhaps rather from (suwm) through the idea of definite and conspicuous position; compare (shamayim)]; an appellation, as a mark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority, character :- + base, [in-] fame [-ous], name (-d), renown, report.

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Vine's defines this word in this way: "name; reputation; memory or renown." Cognates of this word appear in Akkadian, Ugaritic, Phoenician, Aramaic, and Arabic. This word appears about 864 times and in all periods of biblical Hebrew.
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It is not always true that an individual's "name" reveals his essence. Names using foreign loan words and ancient words were probably often not understood. Of course names such as "dog" (Caleb) and "bee" (Deborah) were not indicative of the persons who bore them. Perhaps some names indicated a single decisive characteristic of the bearer. In other cases, a "name" recalls an event or mood which the parent(s) experienced at or shortly before the child's birth and/or naming. Other names make a statement about the individual. This sense of a name as an identification appears in Genesis 2:19 (an early occurence of this word): "...And whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof." On the other hand, the names by which God revealed Himself (‘Adōnāy, ‘El, Elōhîm) do reflect something of His person and work.

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Šēm can be a synonym for "reputation" or "fame": "Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name; lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the earth" (Gen. 11:4). To "give a name for one" is to make him famous: "and what one nation in the earth is like thy people, even like Israel, whom God went to redeem for a people to himself, and to go make a name, and to do for you great things and terrible, for thy land..." (2 Sam. 7:23). If a name goes forth for one, his "reputation" of fame is made known: "And thy renown went forth among the heathen for they beauty..." (Ezek. 16:14). Fame may include power: "and he lifted up his psear against three hundred, and slew them, and had the name among three" (2 Sam. 23:18). This sense, "men of reputation," appears in Gen. 6:4: "...mighty en which were old, men of renown.".

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This word is sometimes a synonym for "memory" or "reputation" (that which remains): "...And so they shall quench my coal which is left, and shall not leave to my husband neither name nor remainder upon the earth" (2 Sam. 14:7). In this respect "name" may include property, or an inheritance: "Why should the name of our father be done away from among his family, because he hath no son? Give unto us therefore a possession among the brethren of our father" (Num. 27:4).

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Šēm can connote "renown" and "continuance" (in those remaining after one): "And they rose up before Moses, with certain of the children of Israel, two hundred and fifty princes of the assembly, famous in the congregation, men of renown" (nu. 16:2). This significance is in the phrase "to raise up his name after him": "What day thou buyest the field of the hand of Naomi, thou must buy it also of Ruth the Moabitess, the wife of the dead, to raise up the name of the dead upon his inheritance" (cf. Deut. 9:14; 25:6; Ruth 4:5). [Vines, Thomas Nelson, 1986]

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Okay, I know this is talking about the Angel of the Lord sent to lead and prepare the way for Israel. However, I zeroed in on verse 21: "Pay attention to him and listen to what he says. Do not rebel against him; he will not forgive your rebellion, since my Name is in him."

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As I thought about the implications of this passage - I considered how it speaks to our reverence for men called to lead by God. When we rebel against the counsel of godly men, men who are called and minister by the Name, Hashem, of God, we in fact are rebelling against God. It should cause us to exercise care and consider the godly wisdom of the called of God whether they are elected officials, ordained officials or lay people who are fulfilling the calling of God through the anointing of His name.

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It also strikes me the protection from the enemy that exists in the NAME of God and those who are called and anointed by His name. From Vine's we learn the the benefits of His name are a part of our inheritance, a part of the blessing of redemption.
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Exodus 20:7 establishes the importance of God's name, Leviticus 24 sets forth the consequences for forsaking that name, blaspheming it. In my mind blasphemy is more than using the name of God as a curse - though that misuse of a name that brings redemption, love, peace and blessing is enough - I think of it even as overusing it - taking it for granted and using it without proper respect, submission and honor. Even allowing His name to be dishonored by our choices and allowing others to be hurt by our actions and choices when we are representing the name of God. If we revered the name of God as the Israelites of old did, I believe we would truly live differently. We would talk, act and be different than we wholly are because of the Holiness that His name represents. The misuse or misrepresentation of the reputation of God is punishable by death. That should weigh on us and bring us to a new depth of not only honor and service before Him, but in relationship to Him.

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Our obedience and our walk (public and private) declares something about the God we profess not only to those we immediately influence in our daily lives, but also to the NATIONS. It brings special honor to us to be called by the name of the Lord, reverence and blessing in both our lives and the lives of our children become evident as we pass on a legacy of faith and reverence for the Holy name of God.
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David had such a humilty and love for the name of the Lord he was concerned that the name of the Lord did not have a permanent dwelling placed but instead traveled around among His people in a tent. He even witnessed what happens when those who care for the articles called by His name are misued and mishandled. Because of his orders and the priests mishandling of the transportation of the ark, one of David's men died because he touched it when the load shifted because they transported it by cart and not hand. Anything called by the name of the Lord bears His reputation and the call to holiness and honor that the Lord Himself demands.

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His name is worthy of all our praise and worship. Think of that - the utterance of His name, acknowledging who He is is a reason for worshipping and praising. Who He is, not just what He does. Names scream identity and God created us and redeemed us to be a people of His name - to make Him known and so that others could identify with Him through us. One of the ways is by our expressions of love toward Him and His name.
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Those who love and honor the name of the Lord receive the benefit of His presence and His mercy - He is always faithful to care for those who love Him - love His name.
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Again, as we express our love (worship) for the name of God, we will experience His mercy and His presence in profound and healing ways.
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As I read this... I took me to the place of redemption and the power of the Name of Christ in the life of the believer.

Let's look at some New Testament principles related to His Name.

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1. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Romans 10:13) It is the name of Christ that brings us restoration and redemption. Relationship with God begins by declaring and calling on the name of the Lord as our Savior.

2. Jesus' name trumps every other name. (Philippians 2:9-11) His name, the name of the Lord, is the name above all names. He is exalted. At His very name, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He not only is the Christ but that He is Lord of all. They will declare Him Lord to the glory of His Father.

3. Jesus has inherited a name, that by adoption became our name as well at Salvation. (Hebrews 1:3-4) Think of that. The name of Jesus that is higher than every created and angelic being is our own. We have it as a co-heir with Him in the Kingdom of God.

4. The judgment against us is removed by a name given that is only known to God. (Revelations 2:17) In the account of Stephen as he was martyred in the book of Acts, Paul (then Saul) is said to have given his approval to the stoning. During those days the Pharisees cast their judgement by standing in a gathering and casting stones in the center. A white stone represented innocence and a dark stone represented guilt. This is the manner by which a Pharisee executed his judgment or approval toward the stoning and punishment of another. God tells us here that there is a white stone given for us that has a new name written upon it known only to him who receives it. This white stone cancels our old identity in the sinful nature and gives us a new identity in Christ who receives us as His own.

5. When we have finished the race and overcome this world through the power of Christ, we will be placed as a pillar in the eternal temple of God - upon us is written His name. The seal or mark of our eternal inheritance and place in the New Jerusalem. (Revelations 3:12) He is our God and on Him will be written our NEW IDENTITIES!

6. Jesus is called by many names in Scripture but this Revelation 19:11-13 picture of our Bridegroom makes my heart soar. His names as identified here are "Faithful and True," and "the Word of God." In verse 12 we also learn that He has a name written upon Him that no one but He Himself knows. A name unspoken by human lips, unprofaned by the wickedness of man's soul... A Name to redeem all names. He is the Lord and we have much to learn about Him - do we not?

HASHEM... The Name.

As you read the following Scriptures consider what they reveal to you about the sacred nature of God's name:

Worship our Lord - Hashem - The Name Above all Names