This is the third writing in a series of seven on how we are a new creation in Christ. This writing is intended to reflect the message of salvation through the language of creation at the beginning of our Bibles. Today’s writing reflects the third day of Creation in which God pulls land from deep under the water and commands all kinds of living things to grow and multiply. The language I am using is a form of story that I discovered by referring to like phrases throughout scripture. This writing is different from the previous two days in that it is much more seemingly complex. The illustration is that God takes our repentant brokenness and uses it to make something that He calls, “Good.”
From out of the depths, buried beneath the waters, is heard the cry of a daughter of the earth. She reaches up with her hand and cries, “Save me, O God!” At the command of the Lord, and at the sound of His thunder, which stirs up the sea, the daughters of the earth flee together into one place. God calls this daughter out from among the other daughters and dries her tears. He raises her like a mountain from the midst of the surging daughters and calls her His ransomed and redeemed daughter.
As the Lord calls His ransomed daughter, she comes to Him in her barrenness because there is nothing left of her from her troubles. And God sees that the soil of her heart is good. He has wiped her slate clean of all her sins with His own blood that He shed on the cross of Calvary. The Son of Man sows His Word into the fertile soil of His redeemed daughter’s heart.
Then He fills this dry and thirsty daughter with His Holy Spirit so that out of her innermost being will flow rivers of living water springing up to eternal life. Then God said, “Let My daughter grow and blossom. Let My Word, which I planted in her heart, overflow into her words and her work, so that the other daughters of the earth who hear and see her will be able to receive the My Word into their hearts.
And that is what happens, as this redeemed daughter of God begins to live her life of freedom in Christ. She begins reading and studying the word of God and listening to His voice and building a relationship with Him. Then she begins speaking and living in His righteousness and by His Spirit, through her words and actions, she begins planting seeds in the hearts of her sisters, the daughters of the earth. And God sees that this is good.
Here we see another level of relational distancing that is like a great heart-breaking action as this one daughter of the earth begins reaching out her hand for help with a repentant heart. Does God ignore her or disillusion her for her cry for help? NO! He draws her out of the crowd that heaps upon her deep distresses and sorrows. He lifts her up in the midst of her enemies and sets a table before her and feeds her in love, compassion, and tender mercies so that she can do the same for her sisters, the daughters of the earth.
Combining Genesis 1:9 with Psalm 104:7-8; Psalm 69:1-3; Psalm 130:1-2; Psalm 23:5; Isaiah 51:17; Job 40:9; Psalm 46:3; Genesis 2:4-6; 1 Corinthians 3:6-9; Matthew 13:37; Luke 8:11, 15; Mark 4:8,14; Ezekiel 17:5; John 7:37-39; John 4:14; Psalm 23
]]>“Your unfailing Love, Oh Lord, is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds.”
Psalm 36:5 NLTThis is the second writing in a series of seven on how we are a New Creation in Christ. This writing is intended to reflect the message of salvation through the language used in the Creation story in the beginning of our Bibles. Today’s writing reflects the second day of Creation in which I will use the word, daughters, instead of waters and show how God is the Cloud that reflects the Light of His way and puts a divider between two places. When referring to the person involved in the process of salvation, I’m using the terms, Daughter(s) and Daughter(s) of God. Keep in mind that the language of the Bible is all inclusive of His Sons and Daughters, my focus is building up the Daughters of God, so this is the language that I am using.
“Then God said, ‘Let there be a space between the daughters of God, to separate the daughters of the heavens from the daughters of the earth.’ And that is what happened. God made this space to separate the daughters of the earth from the daughters of the heavens. As Daughters of God, when we receive the Light of God’s truth in us, we begin to change as we view and live more truthfully every day. As we seek out God’s face and His core values, we begin to reflect these core values in our lives. This puts a space, or a relational distance, between us and the people in our lives. As we become Daughters of God, some of those around us will remain daughters of men.
“God called this space, ‘Sky.’ “ Another word for sky is heaven. So, heaven separates the Daughters of God from the daughters of men. The sky is also the place where the clouds move and is supported on foundations and columns. Our character is like our foundation. When God’s character of Truth is the foundation of our character, He is the cloud that holds us up as Daughters of the Kingdom of Heaven. It separates us from the Kingdom of the earth because Heaven is God’s throne and the earth is His footstool.
“And the evening passed and the morning came, marking the second phase of salvation.” This is how the Kingdom of Heaven is near according to Matthew 3:2. When God is sending out His Search-Light, the Holy Spirit, to call His daughters, and they see it and begin to live in it, then He protects His daughters with the relational distance that takes place between His daughters and those that are not His daughters. God’s daughters are now protected by Truth and Relational Distancing so that God can continue His mighty work of salvation in His Daughters.
This writing is based on Genesis 1:6-8; Isaiah 66:1; and Matthew 3:2.
]]>In the beginning, God created the atmosphere and the person. The person was without form and void; and darkness was deep in this person’s heart. And the Spirit of God was nurturing or shaking this person up in their dark atmosphere. The Holy Spirit was moving or inspiring this person. The Holy Spirit was calling this person out of darkness.
Then God said, “Let there be Light in this person’s atmosphere.” And there was Light. And God saw the Light and it was good. God approved the Light and divided the Light from darkness. God divided the Truth from the emptiness and void of darkness. God called the Light Day and the darkness He called Night. With the Light of Day, the person can see clearly and with the darkness of Night is adversity.
Because of how this person started out in darkness and God called the Light into their lives, we see how God calls each person out of the atmosphere of darkness into His atmosphere of Light and Peace. So evening and morning, is the first day.
This is the first of a series of writing about the creation account as the account of a person who is in the process of salvation. There are seven days in the week of Creation and so there will be seven short writings and descriptions in this whole process of how God recreates each person who answers His call. As daughters of God, we have been called out of darkness into light. And while we are being called out of darkness, we are given this same mission as we grow and learn in the atmosphere of Heaven. It is our mission as Inspired Daughters, to inspire others with the precious Light of Heaven, calling others into the Kingdom of Heaven where the Light comes from. (Matthew 28:18-20)
This writing is based on the following places in scripture:
(Isaiah 9:2; Matthew 4:16; Acts 26:18; John 8:12)
]]>Yes, Sarah laughed. But have you heard it mentioned that Abraham laughed as well? In fact, Abraham’s laugh is recorded before even Sarah’s is mentioned. They had been traveling for 25 years after God gave the promise and Sarah was most likely still able to bear children, being about 65 years old, when they left their hometown of Haran. By the time that Sarah gave her handmaiden, Hagar, as hope of the great promise, Sarah was about 77 years old and not able to bear children anymore. I cannot imagine the burning grief in Sarah’s heart that she had lost hope of being the one to bring the promise like God had said. We all know how that is the time when the devil temps us with all kinds of things in doubt and uncertain things in our minds and in our hearts. That’s when we waver in thinking that maybe we misunderstood God’s directive. Sarah was no different. She was also a human being.
So now she hears the voice of God telling her that she is going to have a child next year. What shock that must have brought to her entire being! She must have thought:What? What is that I hear God saying? No way! Not after I’m no longer able physically. Of course, it was a type of laughter of scorn. It was scorn because it was so full of pain and grief and such patience…such patience! I have had friends who were barren and desired to have children so deeply that it literally leveled them into a state of scorn and grief. Oh, how Sarah desired to laugh the joyful laugh of a new mother! But how could it be now? I can imagine these thoughts going through her very being.
This was a time of new hope! Would Sarah really be able to laugh that hopeful, healing, happy and joyful laugh? Yes! In fact, that is the name Abraham and Sarah’s child would be named, for the name Isaac means laughter. Now, Sarah’s laughter was really turned to joy and celebration as she was given strength to bear, feed, and care for her only child.
As Daughters of God, there are times it we wait for what seems to us an eternity for things we ask of God or for things that God has promised us. We keep asking and wondering when these things will come to be. Perhaps we even grieve over some situation that we have no control over; but we know that God does. Ladies, look forward to the hope of God’s sure promises with patient labor; for even in my life, I can see that He is bringing fruits from the labors of waiting in my life.
]]>I began to ponder about the meaning of the word friendship; the state of being friends. What does this really mean? As I looked it up on my little app called “offline dictionaries,” I was amazed at the super simple definition that I found there. Both of my definitions come from www.wiktionary.com
I looked up a couple of words to get a deeper glimpse into their function and meaning.
Jesus came to seek the good will of the people of earth. In fact, I love the way His mission is described in Luke 2:14. An innumerable amount of angels revealed themselves to the shepherds in the fields declaring the mission of Jesus. They said, “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth, peace, goodwill toward men.” In His great love and grace which is to His glory, His angels presented the peace of God to the shepherds of the earth in the same way that Jesus taught His disciples to greet the people of the earth as they traveled door to door and person to person. Jesus instructed them to greet the people with the statement, “Peace to you.” As they entered the houses on their journeys.
The next part of the statement is “Good will toward men.” I like to say it as “Good Will to people.” Because the word for men in this place is a word that is used for mankind which is inclusive of both men and women. So, we have this greeting that includes us as Daughters of God as a hope and as a mission in our lives to do as Jesus’ mission which is to seek the good will of the people of the earth. That is what brings glory to God in the highest…and in the highest form.
As Daughters of the living and highest God, we have such a beautiful mission that is given to us. We have the honor of greeting the people of the earth in the peace and good will of God. So as I have been seeking the good will of my friend, Martha, I have been fully involved in the mission of God for a woman who feels that she has received the kind of love that only God can give.
]]>In Jeremiah 29:11, when God is talking to His children who happen to be in the process of the warning of discipline, He says, “I know the thoughts that I think toward you, thoughts of peace and not of evil to give you a future and a hope.” In the world at large, we see how much evil thoughts are projected onto anyone and everyone for anything under the sun. It’s easy to fall for that style of thinking until you find the agape love of God; the love that says, I love you even when you mess up. Just come talk with me. Communicate and reason with me. In fact, one of the first messages in Isaiah to God’s people is, “Come now, and let us reason together, thought your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow.” That is to say, “Children of Mine, come and talk with Me. Even though you’ve really messed things up, we can fix this and I will forgive you and heal you and cleanse you and the situation.” What peace! What peace we have when we come to Him believing that He thinks thoughts of peace toward us!
I wrote before how when Jesus came to this earth, it was a message of forgiveness to all peoples, nations, tongues, and tribes. Look at the message the angels gave the shepherds in the fields when Jesus was born. “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward all men.” The message of Jeremiah 29:11 is repeated for the whole world to see that God still thinks thoughts of peace and hope toward all people. Jesus didn’t come to cleanse and save only those who are Jews or who are Christians, but He came to cleanse and heal an entire world full of people.
As daughters of God, we have a most beautiful and positive way to think toward all people. It is a loving way to be with people for it is how God, our heavenly Father shows us how He loves us. In a world full of negativity of speech, we are called to be the positive thinkers and speakers. We are called to be forgiving and to reason with each other in kindness and in peacefulness. As Jesus came to reconcile all peoples in agape love, so we are to follow Him and reflect this lovely image as God’s Daughters Inspired.
]]>There are two kinds of boldness described in the Bible. On the one hand, there is the desirable righteous and holy boldness and on the other hand, there is something called wicked boldness. The righteous boldness and the wicked boldness are both considered courageous acts on the part of the one acting out in boldness.
Let’s look at what righteous boldness is. My favorite example is found in Acts 4:31 “And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.” Here, according to Strong’s Greek Lexicon, the word boldness in this sense means “free and fearless confidence, cheerful courage and boldness, assurance.” In most cases, the boldness is in connection with presenting the word of God. But is it without love? It cannot be. In 1 John 4:8,16 it states that “God is love” and verse 16 takes it further when it states that “and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” Right after this, it states that we can stand in boldness on the day of judgment before God because of His love. In fact, to go more indepth on this issue of love and boldness, we have this explanation in 1 John 4:20, “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” So, righteous boldness is a beautiful thing and not a hurtful or a harmful thing towards God and towards any individual.
Let’s look at what wicked boldness is. Proverbs 14:16 states that a “fool rages and is bold.” This word for bold is the same word that is used in Proverbs 28:1 to illustrate how a righteous person is “bold as a lion”. But rage is not included in Proverbs 28:1 like it is in Proverbs 14:16. In fact, rage is listed among the unrighteous traits of character found in Galatians 5:20. The boldness of the wicked is frightening and forceful. There is no love in this kind of boldness because the Holy Spirit cannot live there.
As daughters of God, we can be assured that righteous boldness is the kind that loves at all times and the wicked boldness cannot love without the prayers of those who do know love. Both forms of boldness are built on courage but the righteous boldness is illustrated even to have a cheerfulness in it according to Strong’s Greek Lexicon. The wicked boldness does not have that cheerfulness. How can it? It’s an angry and vengeful boldness. As daughters of God, let us seek the abiding presence of the Holy Spirit so that the boldness we have is one of righteousness.
]]>As far back as I can remember, Jesus has always been with me, even as a child. I remember praying at night until I fell asleep. There were times that I remember Jesus comforting me in my dreams. I did once have a trial that I experienced and as I grieved through the trial, I continued steadfast in prayer. In the midst of this trial, there was this one day that I was to care for my granny, who suffered with dementia, alone and by myself for the first time in my life. I had brought her into the house from her chair outside and she didn’t want to come inside, so she didn’t sit in the chair that I was helping her to sit in. Instead, she swung her hips and landed gracefully on the floor. I knew there was no way that I was able to pick her up off the floor, so I trusted God.
I trusted God as I put my arms through hers and placed my feet on hers in preparation to lift her up. Then I called out, “God, help me!” The instant I said that, we were standing up and neither of us had moved to do so. We both knew that God had sent His angel and lifted us up to stand. Granny, who had been a little unhappy before, had now become very obedient and calm as we continued through our time together that day.
As daughters of God, we can realize that God’s Spirit is present with us and will help us when we call on Him in our moments of need. It was during my serious trial of life that God became more real than just the knowledge of spiritual matters and wisdom and all that exists there. I know that I can call on God at any time and I know that He hears me. I know through that experience, because I am His daughter and I commune with Him, that He even knows my name. As daughters of God, we can trust Him who is our heavenly Father.
]]>There is a loveliness in the fear of God. Most often we have heard of phrases that describe the fear of God as some awful and destructive thing but that is not the whole truth of what it means to fear God. The fear of God keeps us stable in His protection and care and corrects us when we begin to go astray. As Daughters of God, we have the honor of illustrating the loveliness of the fear of God.
I know that often when I have heard the phrase, “the fear of God,” it was stated with negative and angry tones aimed at another individual. I am sure you have, too. The fear of God is a lovely thing, though, and in it we can reflect the lovely image of Christ.
So what is it that makes up the fear of God? I have gathered several gems from scripture to help gain an understanding of this. Job says that the fear of God is to depart from evil and that it is understanding. (Job 28:28) King Solomon and King David state that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 9:10) But King Solomon goes even further in detail, after all, he is known for being the wisest man who ever lived and reigned as a King. Here is what he has to say about the fear of the Lord: It is the beginning of wisdom and knowledge and hates evil. It prolongs days, is a strong confidence and refuge, a fountain of life, and it is the instruction of wisdom. Finally, the Prophet Isaiah says that it is the stability of times and the strength of salvation. (Psalm 111:10; Proverbs 1:7; 8:13; 9:10; 10:27; 14:26,27; 15:33; Isaiah 33:6)
As Daughters of God, we have been called with a calling to come out of wicked behaviors and thought patterns. This is part of the fear of the Lord because as He calls and beckons to us to leave off of this thing or that thing and we believe Him at His word and do it, then we are acting in the fear of the Lord and learning wisdom and understanding in the process.
There is no law against the fear of the Lord because it is pure and clean. (Psalm 19:9) There is no harm to others, no harshness or brashness, nor anything that is hurtful or demeaning. In fact, it is loving each other with a pure heart. Look at these last two scriptures I found: Proverbs 16:6 says, “In mercy and truth, atonement is provided for iniquity; and by the fear of the Lord, one departs from evil.” In 1 Peter 4:8, we find that “love covers a multitude of sins.” So, as we journey in the beauty of holiness that we are called to walk in, let us bear the lovely fruits of Wisdom as we magnify the loveliness of the fear of the Lord.
]]>Seven times seventy was actually referring to something called the seventy weeks prophecy. It actually started during the time of Jeremiah who wrote about seventy years of desolations that were pronounced upon the people of God because they disobeyed and walked away from Him.
God’s beloved people were literally taken captive because of their choice to disobey God and in breaking off their relationship with Him. Just like how they were taken captive, so when we sin and commit offenses against God and against each other, we go into a type of captivity.
To understand this a little clearer, in Jeremiah, God was pleading with His beloved to stop what they were doing against Him and to come back to Him or they would go into captivity. You know how when a child gets in trouble for doing something wrong, they are sent to their room or to a corner for a space of time. So Daniel was one of those who had been taken captive because God’s warning through Jeremiah was not heeded. These children were sent away from the face of their Father for a space of time. They were kicked out of the house, to say it in modern domestic terms.
At the end of the 490 years is when Jesus came to this earth and was sacrificed on the cross for our sins. Jesus came back to call His beloved back from time-out. He came to find His beloved and to heal His relationship with them and to show them how to put those offenses away. He came to show His beloved how to forgive each other and how to bear with each other. He came to show us, His beloved, that He forgives us and calls us to turn from things like unforgiveness, calls us to be reconciled to Him.
You know what else? Ezekiel and Peter wrote about how one day is as a thousand years concerning prophecy. So, according to this calculation, God’s beloved were sent away from Him for almost half a day prophetically. God, in His great love and mercy and forgiveness, cut short the time that He sent His beloved children away from Him.
So, like Jesus, as daughters of God, we are called to a mission of forgiveness among ourselves and asking forgiveness of our brothers and sisters. What a most beautiful thing it is to forgive and to be forgiven. It’s just one of many ways that we are called to reflect the lovely image of Jesus.
]]>