“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day…above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darks of the wicked one.” Ephesians 6:13&16 NKJV
Pull me out of thinking about last night, last year’s troubles.
Waking to remember, I got my car stuck in the mud last night bringing my Mom home in the pouring rain.
It didn’t help leaving the car running for 15 minutes while I got her settled in for the night. Then there was the hesitation when I tried to pull away. I knew then, “I’m in trouble now” Reminding myself of the advice I recently heard,
“To hesitate is to tolerate.”
Marcus, who helps me every night to transport Mom and her wheelchair up and back from our house for dinner, (she is no weight bearing for another couple of weeks), we tried throwing rugs under the front wheel, but the tires continued to spin and sink deeper into Mom’s front yard. How stupid is this, I know better, now I’ll have to tolerate (endure, accept, stomach) the results of my actions.
Determined not to let it ruin our night, the last night of the year, we gathered our things and walked back up the lane singing. Yep, what else could we do in the cold, pouring rain of New Year’s Eve 2020. Seemed like a fitting end to this year.
“Over the river and through the woods,” we walked home, feet soaked, (of course, I didn’t slip on my rubber boots by the backdoor before leaving the house. I’m only going to be 15 minutes) Yes Mom, I remember, “Always put-on clean underwear when you go out in case something happens.” Only this time I could have used this advice for wearing my rubber boots!
So this morning, the first morning of the new year, I wondered to myself pouring the first cup of coffee, before dealing with my car “stuck” in the mud, “Gosh Lord, is this the word for the new year?
Don’t get stuck thinking about your troubles of 2020.
As is my way to study and understand, I picked up the Concordance to see if “stuck” was in the Bible.Nope, no “stuck”. That’s comforting, looks like God doesn’t see things as stuck. Humm, “What are you trying to say Lord?”
Opening the pages to Isaiah, my eyes fell on
“For since the beginning of the world
Men have not heard,
Nor perceived by the ear,
Nor has the eye seen any God beside You,
Who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
Isaiah 64:4 NKJV
Yes Lord, “Who acts for the one who waits for Him.”
The editor noted in the margin, next to verse 64: 4 “Psalm 31:19”. Seeking to hear and understand, I followed the path to Psalm 31. The answer to my question for this year was found in verse 4.
“Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,
For You are my Strength.”
Psalm 31:4 NKJV
Pull me out –
Yes Lord, You “lead and guide me” verse 3.
Pull me out of thinking about last night, last year’s troubles.
Lead and Guide me, for You are my Strength.
The Hebrew word cluster for “pull me out” is numbered in the Concordance as #3318 (for those who like to dig deeper). Pull me out – yatsa – to go, to bring out, carry forth, a variety of words…shoot forth, spring out. #3319 – to finish.
Glancing up to see #3317 – (wait for it)
#3317 – Yiphtach or Jiphthah El
God will Open!
Now there’s a word I receive and can carry forth, shoot forth, spring out into the new year of 2021!
Don’t get stuck looking back on my troubles in 2020.
Yes, God knows I still have to deal with getting my car out of the mud, but I’m not to let, my troubleskeep me stuck in yesterday’s problems. Following His path to see and hear, “God acts for the one who waits for Him”.
God will Open
Thank you Lord, You will open, carry forth, ALL Your good plans as we allow You to“lead” and guide” us through this New Year in Jesus’ Mighty Name! Amen!
And what was verse 19 in Psalm 31 that sent me there in the first place?
“Oh, how great is Your goodness,
Which You have laid up for those who fear You,
Which You have prepared for those who trust in You
In the presence of the sons of men!” Psalm 31:19
Ps: Blue and Sarah our good friends are on their way to help us out! Thank You Jesus!
Struggling with the battles and direction in my days, I couldn’t help wondering if there were insights on how to successfully look for and be forewarned of the little kings or enemies. Those unexpected distractions diverting my attention and depleting my strength fighting battles throughout my day.How could I be more like Joshua and walk in the land God had promised and assured Joshua belong to him.
“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” Joshua 1:3 NKJV
In the following days, I invite you to share in fresh daily insights and reflections of the past two years of traversing the battles and more importantly the victories found in Joshua.
I thank you for joining me and pray you are empowered to live victorious daily in Strong and Courageous – 31 Days of Victory Through Joshua’s Battles.
Denise
“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV
“Reflections of the fourth candle illuminate the night. Revelation of Your Beauty completeness in Your sight.”
The seven candlesticks orlampstand found in Exodus 25:32 is the shadow or concealed beauty of Jesus in His completeness in the Tabernacle or Tent of Meeting which Moses was instructed to build in the wilderness. (The Menorah) The seven candles represent completion as the number seven in Scripture can represent completion.
In contrast the nine candles of Hanukkah lampstand can illuminate or be a shadow of the Holy Spirit by the nine gifts and fruits of the Spirit.
Each lampstand is different but both reflect the Presence, the Gift and the Fruit of the Father. For in Him there is no shadow of turning only Love and Light.
May you be blessed lighting the fourth candle and enjoy His Love and Light all year long.
“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of Light, with whom there is no shadow of variation or shadow of turning.” James 1:17 NKJV
Why the nine candles? Each candle represents a miracle of God. When the Temple was reclaimed there was only enough oil to light the candlesticks on (the Menorah) for one day. Through God’s gracious hand the oil last nine days.
My heart delights to see the oilof the nine found in Nine Gifts of the Spirit the Apostle Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 12:10 & 11 NKJV
“Now concerning spiritual gifts.. the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all.
The word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge…to another faith… to another gifts of healings…to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.
But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He Will’s.”
May the nine lights of Hanukkah cause us to remember the miracle of oil in the nine gifts of the Spirit residing in each as He wills in the second light of Hanukkah this day.
Today begins the lighting of the first of nine candles celebrating Hanukkah.
Thinking on how this applies to my life as a Christian it occured to me the miracle of the light that shines in me because of the Holy Spirit (the oil) I can partake of Hanukkah in the spiritual by sharing the Light.
A word of encouragement to a co-worker who has lost hope in their situation. A prayer with a friend fighting a battle of sickness. A kind word of caring to a neighbor who is experiencing their first Christmas after the loss of a spouse or a child.
Surely in prayer and asking, the Father will light a new candle every day and cause His light to shine in darkness.
Celebrating and lighting the first candle of Hanukkah – Day One.
“Let your light so shine…and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 NKJV
I know on any given day it is next to impossible for me to stop by and visit with each of my WordPress neighbors. The confines of life and time prevent even the most willing of reader and neighbor from doing so. Then there was Jesus.
Two thousand year ago, in His first recorded miracle of changing the water to wine at the wedding in Cana, stepped into Capernaum. Jesus, our Bridegroom, steps into our lives to do the same today. Jesus path to our door. Touching our lives, health, homes, relationships with His miracles of refreshing joyous life, even when our “jars” have gone dry and all hope is lost.
Cana Wedding – Jars displayed in Church located on the site of Jesus first miracle.
Cana Stone Water Jar.
Oh, the marriage supper of the Lamb and His Bride.
“…for He has covered me with the robe of righteousness…and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.” Isaiah 61:10
Jesus, drawing all people to Himself to raise the dead, heal, touch, embrace, change lives, give new direction, and touch hearts. Jesus of Capernaum. Jesus the same yesterday, today and forevermore.
God Bless and Shalom!
“Let us rejoice and exult and give Him glory,
For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and
His Bride has made herself ready…
Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
Revelation 19:6-9 (ESV)
“Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and
Jesus passed by their work place and their course of life, and names changed forever.
The Sons of Thunder, James the older and first to die for Jesus name in Jerusalem.
And John, forever to be known as the “one whom Jesus loved”. Follower, disciple, and writer of the Gospel of John, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John and Revelation.
John’s is the English spelling for the Hebrew name “Johanan” which means “Jehovah is gracious”; hence, John represents “Grace”.
Grace represents the numeral five (5):
thefifth time Noah’s name is mentioned, it says “But Noah found grace…;”
the fifth time Ruth’s name is mentioned, “…in whose sight I may find favor or (grace);”
the fifth time David’s name is mentioned when we meet him in 1 Samuel 16, “…let David stand before me, for he has found favor (grace) in my sight.”
The Beloved John wrote five (5) books in the Bible;
Yes, Johnthe disciple whom Jesus loved showered us with His Grace.
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