What the Lord Gives Back, Part 2

Posted by Rebekah Willis at 3/21/2008 9:00 AM and is filed under Coping,Endurance

...humbly prostrated before the feet of Jesus, crying, "Oh my dear Savior! You stripped me of all my well meant dreams and burned my tender heart. You peeled back the layers of what seemed to be Your divine plan and hoisted me from my fervent efforts. What is left for me? What is between me and You?"

Most people do not understand the sufferings of others. We try our best to empathize by drawing from somewhat similar personal experiences, but often find only disappointment at the quick visit to the inner passions hub. It is empty, or desperately lacking, when it comes to our buddies'' unfamiliar trials.

Many years ago a very loved friend of mine was allowed to be taken by a very painful, debilitating chronic condition. I truly did the best I could to support her, comfort her, be there for her. I even began a journey of research that lasted for years. Accessibility, which was always an important issue to me, became even more relevant, as I tried to bring her information which could keep her 'on her feet'.

Sometimes, though, it was obvious that I just didn't get it. She was gracious, but ever so often, I could see a pained or frustrated look on her face because of something I had said, done, or left undone. I didn't have a clue how to remedy this.

Not too many years later, the Lord led me into the most agonizing leg of our journey I had yet met. Day after day, I enjoyed revelation upon revelation, regarding the true nature of my friend's suffering. Then, I learned a little more about how to be grateful.

Perfection in timing, spirit, implementation and purpose — all characteristics of the Lord's will. However, this can pose quite a problem for the Believer. We do not know everything. In fact, sometimes it feels as if we are only groping in darkness.

When the Lord comes to drop a burning coal on our lips, have us swallow something bitter, bless us with a bum hip, a troubling message, an early death or even a stint in prison the best thing for us to do is nothing.

Seriously. I mean, take the example of the martial arts student in some ancient fighting country. This guy is just a student. He feels leagues lower than his teacher and lo and behold, here come a troop of angry karate guys!

What is he gonna do? If he starts swinging, he only opens himself up to more attack options. If he runs, he's probably going to get caught anyway. What happens if he sounds the alarm? "Maaaaaaster!" He screeches, in his crackly little voice.

Lo and behold (again), help is on the way! What if this other guy has been with his master a little longer than the first novice. What if he positions himself and scrolls through his memory for the voice of the one who leads him, giving him guidance as to how to move? What if this story was about us and the master was The Master, the voice in his head was the Holy Spirit, and the angry troop was a legion of fallen angels mixed with some misguided humans?

How do you think that would work?

Oh, the best place to be in the world is helpless under the wings of Elohim! How freeing it is to know that there is nothing left for us to do.

"This I recall to my mind, therefore have I hope. It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.

"The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him. The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him. ...For the LORD will not cast off for ever: But though he cause grief, yet will he have compassion according to the multitude of his mercies." (Lamentations 3:21-25, 31-32)

This good word is coming from the perspective of one who knew the struggle was due to turning away from the Lord. How much more will the Lord champion the righteous?

We need to wait.



What the Lord Gives Back

Posted by Rebekah Willis at 3/20/2008 10:16 AM and is filed under Endurance,submission,Faith

"But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away. " (Isaiah 64:6)

We are nothing. No, I don't mean that we are worthless. The truth is quite the contrary, in fact. We have value that is inestimable.

You can describe it easily by making a market metaphor. When someone spends a great deal of money on some piece of art or new fangled product, the rest of world stands in awe, the price of all other items similar usually skyrockets and the market is fed. It's the simple law of supply and demand.

Well, you're aware that some time ago a very wealthy Merchant came to our region and dispensed more than has ever been spent for anything in order to only have the opportunity to dwell with us. So... yes, we are invaluable.

Nevertheless, we are nothing. We are silly, futile, misguided, wretched, poor, blind and naked. (Shall I go on?) Thus, the purchase of Love is even more amazing. Love designed a creature who would be capable of a level of achievement we cannot fathom. "A little lower than the angels" we were made, with the design that we would grub at the table of wisdom and grow.

Ah... growth. How eagerly I have pursued it! How often have I thought that the pleasure of the Creator would be something the created could grasp. How often did I believe that I could, with my effort and my good works, cause the implementation of His masterful plans?

One of my favorite Psalms is number 19, especially where David notes: "Who can understand his errors? Cleanse Thou me from secret faults."(v12) It is no mistake that this interjection comes on the heels of several verses praising the law. Oh, yes, it is perfect, right, pure, clean, and true. The Word of the Lord converts, increases wisdom, brings joy, and enlightenment.

But WE... have started from a long ways back. We can never catch the will of God and hold it, maybe squeezing out a little GodWill juice to rub into our 5 year plan. All our goodness, our flawless perfection, our good intentions and/or calmly borne suffering, is nothing but filthy rags. We sin without even knowing it, before we can stop ourselves, or when we just can't take it anymore.

So, this inconstant cannot divine Constancy. This mortal cannot consort with Immortality.

My friend Job seemed pretty sure his role in this world was to be a clean example, serving God, praying for his family and friends and just plain staying out of trouble until the Good One brought him to his end. I have to admit that this appears reasonable. In the light of Job's goodness, I would even say it wasn't too much to ask of God.

Yet, Job was wrong. The Merciful Love had a bigger mission for his life. Job could not have imagined how important it was.

When we find ourselves humbly prostrated before the feet of Jesus, crying, "Oh my dear Savior! You stripped me of all my well meant dreams and burned my tender heart. You peeled back the layers of what seemed to be Your divine plan and hoisted me from my fervent efforts. What is left for me? What is between me and You?", may it be that the King of the Universe with raise us up quickly. The mirror we carry is a stumbling block. We can neither succeed by looking at our current righteousness or reflecting on any point in the past.

We cannot stare into the law, further defining, self-adjusting, shifting, constantly nervous about the God of justice. (For even if we do, we do not understand His ways... Check out Isaiah 30:18-22)

We must be still.

No matter what is taken, it is insignificant according to the fruit—the perfection of His harvest. What He gives back is the stuff of supernatural transformations, super-rich constellation matter, timelessness and majesty!

My mind can only go so far, but Elohim is without limit. If I can cause my flesh to lounge in Him, then I have bested every dream and accessed every mission.

"O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth! who hast set thy glory above the heavens. Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast thou ordained strength because of thine enemies, that thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.

"When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? For thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour.

"Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet: All sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field; The fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.

"O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!"(Psalm 8)





Who taught you how to overcome temptation?

Posted by Rebekah Willis at 3/19/2008 10:29 AM and is filed under Endurance,Coping

The following is an excerpt from "Shoulder Mountain" by Rebekah Willis

Jesus was very careful to speak the word into every challenge. By His example, we know that the scriptures give answer to every question – especially showing us the will of God when the deceiver is about.

As dedicated followers of Christ, knowing that we must pattern our lives after His example, “it is written,” are the first words that should come from our hearts when tried. “The Bible says,” is just as effective.

There is a certain power in meeting temptation with truths from the word of God. The Psalmist sings, “I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word. With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments. Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.”(Psalm 119:8-11)

It is the Word that strengthens the experienced, repentant sinner in the path of righteousness. It is through the Word that we are able to build the house of holy visualization and step into the one built by the hand of God.

There is no good thing in Man. It is the Word that levels the rough places, brightens the mind and opens the eyes to salvation. Without the Word, we are lost, for “faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” (Romans 10:17)

Not only is the word of God our guidebook, but the Word is Y'Shua.

The Word, is the testimony of the will of the Father. Long before the creation of our world, the Word was. Serving as the wonderful Michael, the Word was the one and only representative of God. When the Word spoke, all knew that the Father’s desires were expressed. The Word stood in the image of the created beings with which He held communication, showing His love and confirming the deep understanding held by the Godhead of all His creations. They call it infinite wisdom for a reason.

So the “Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”(John 1:14) God’s Son said many times during His walk in Israel, “he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father”.(John14:9) He points out the intricacies of the Holy relation and the resemblance between Father and Son.

So it is today. When we pick up the Word, we pick up the sanctified mystery of the Holy Spirit, the inspiration, dictation and visions of the Messiah and the God of all creation. Contact with such power, wisdom and love directly affects the workings of the heart and mind. Thereby, the ‘young man cleanse[s] his way’.

It’s a question of miracles.

But how does that explain the power of using the word against temptation? Simple. Jesus is the Word. Sin cannot abide where He is; not in your heart, not in your home, not anywhere.

© 2008, Rebekah Willis & Psalm86.org — All rights reserved.

King James Version—Psalm 86, on which the song “Teach Me Your Ways” is based. Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.