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A Pocket Full of Miracles

17 Sep

Cross coin

1 Thessalonians 5:17  “Pray without ceasing.”

 James 5:16  “. . . The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.“

All of my life I’ve had a terrible habit that I haven’t been able to break.  My mother always lets me know how unladylike it is – and I agree – I just can’t stop!  No matter how hard I try I just can’t keep my hands out of my pockets.

Over the years I’ve lost my ability to remember things (even my name once or twice).  To compensate for my memory “challenge”, I have been known to write myself notes and stuff them in my pockets.  Sometimes the notes prove useful, but most of the time they get wadded and creased and become illegible by the time I truly need them.

One day, while browsing through a Christian Bookstore (my very favorite pastime), I came upon “A Cross In My Pocket” coins and medals.  They come in several shapes and sizes.  I began to search for five separate medals, each with its own special purpose.  Before long I had found just what I wanted – the miracles had begun.

The largest coin has a cross on the front with “Dad” engraved over the top.  On the back is a prayer of thanksgiving for who he is.  This coin would represent my husband.  With a silent prayer I slipped him into my pocket.

The next largest coin says “Jesus” across the front and it cites a scripture on the back.  It is the heaviest coin and represents my heaviest burden at this time, my teenage son.  So easily he could turn the wrong way, yet through prayer and intercession I have faith that he will remain on the right path.  With a silent prayer I slipped him into my pocket.

Next comes a nickel with a cross stamped out of the center.  It was new and shiny, and the perfect coin to represent my 9-year-old son who has not yet shown an interest in drawing close to the cross.  With a prayer I slipped him into my pocket, along with the other two.

Next is a coppery penny with a heart stamped out of the center.  This is the coin, which represents my 7-year-old son.  This is a child abundantly filled with a love of God.  This is a child that will, one day, help the broken-hearted heal from their wounds.  With a prayer he was slipped into my pocket.

The last coin is a light aluminum coin with a cross on one side and the “Cross In My Pocket” story on the other.  This coin represents the special needs of the people of the church.  One day it represented my two youngest sons’ birth mother, the next day an ill friend, and the next an evangelist with a special prayer request.  This coin changes daily, yet it rests in the closeness of my pocket, in covenant with the prayers for my family.

This is my pocket full of miracles.  Every time I thrust my hand down into my pocket I feel the coins and I begin to pray.  I caress each coin, identify the shape and design with my fingers, and say a special prayer as I hold them.

Like the bit of sand that irritates and festers in the shell of the oyster, the small metal coins that fill my pocket, and jingle as I walk, will bring forth a precious gift, more beautiful than a pearl, in miraculous answered prayer.

What a small price to pay to always be reminded of those people I love, dozens of times a day, and offer up specific prayers to guide their precious lives.

Lord, remind me daily that I can never pray too often for the wonderful people you’ve placed in my life.  And, even though I may never see the answer to all of those prayers, may I always remember that You have the answers in the palm of Your hand, and that you will release them when the moment is right.

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A SOLDIER

16 Sep

Praying Soldier

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. [20] And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.     1 Corinthians 3:19-20  KJV

I have a picture of a young black man in fieldworker’s clothes holding a small baby.  At the bottom of the picture is a caption “I Cannot Do Great Things, But I Can Do Small Things in a Great Way”.  The Lord brought me to that picture over and over today.  But, how Lord, how can I do small things in a great way?  How can I make any size difference in God’s Kingdom?

The Bible says that all portions of the Body are essential to the whole body.  No one position has greater worth, no one portion has lesser worth.  All are called to a position, to serve in a position they have been prepared for.  I can do small things in a great way.

I have been called to be a soldier.  I’m not a General, I’m not a Captain, I’m not a Lieutenant – I’m a soldier.  I will not lead the troops into battle, but I will fight to preserve the Kingdom, I will devote all my abilities to protect the General, the Captain and the Lieutenant.  They will never have to worry about looking back for I will be there – and if I fall, my brother/sister will step forward into my place.  We will move always forward in battle to make a safe place for those we have yet to meet – those who have not yet heard the truth – those who have yet to come to the Lord.

What can I do as a soldier?  How do I battle?  How can I do small things in a great way?  How?

I am a soldier.  I wage war with the words I speak.  I can wage war against evil or I can send turmoil among the troops I walk with – all by the words I choose to share.  I can speak life or I can speak death.  I can spread comfort and healing or I can spread gossip and dissent.  I can do small things in a great way?  It’s my choice.

As a soldier in the Kingdom I have the tremendous responsibility to protect those above me when they are at their most vulnerable.  I can scan the horizon while the General prepares the way for those that will follow.  I can be the strength to hold his arms, the inspiration for his words, the confidence that allows him to rest.

As a soldier in the Body I can pray a cover of protection over my Pastor and my Church.  I can intercede when the spirit of confusion moves into the assembly.  I can watch the body while the Pastor is concentrating on delivery of the message – critical to the hearts, prepared and hungry, in the assembly.  I can intercede when confusion and fear overcome the musician or soloist.  I can set the shield against the attack of the enemy.  And, if I feel overwhelmed, I can engage my brothers/sisters to join with me in battle.  For it is my job, as a soldier, to pray for a safe haven for the searching to come into.  It is my job to pray a cover of protection over those called to provide the atmosphere for the message for those whose hearts have been tendered by Jesus.  It is my job to intercede when the enemy attempts to steal away the anointing – so carefully placed.  I cannot do great things, but I can do small things in a great way – I can pray.

I can hear the faint whisper of a name and pray.  I can see the faint image of a face and immediately begin to intercede.  I can be a thousand miles away at the time, or ten thousand miles, it matters not.  I can wage a warring battle for a soul in need – even when I have no clue as to the situation at hand.  I am not big, but I am mighty.  I am not brilliant, but the wisdom of the ages rests within me.  I have no material wealth, but I will inherit a jeweled, golden mansion.  I am quiet and meek in this world, but determined and confident in spirit.  I am not great – I cannot do great things – but I can do small things in a great way.  I am a soldier for God.

But  –  What if I choose to fail?  What if I choose to step away and let you carry your burden as well as mine?  And what if you choose to leave it to someone else – and so on – and so on – then who will prepare the way for the lost?

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CRUTCH

15 Sep

Crutch2

Not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but as the servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart;With good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men: Ephesians 6:6-7 (KJV)

We live in a rural community, a small town with lots of space.  In the area I live, all the homes are on 1-acre lots, or larger.  It isn’t unusual to see horses and goats wandering in yards – keeping the vegetation under control.  It’s a very comforting sight.  Roosters announce the sun, and passing car headlights in the middle of the night.  Even the occasional donkey bray, louder that I ever expected, piercing the morning quiet, is comforting.  Always makes me chuckle.

We’ve had several years of drought and the lots aren’t scattered with wild flowers, as in years past, but after a monsoon rain, the valley turns immediately green and delightful.  Times come when people are unable to care for animals, for health or financial reasons.  You often see animals for sale or given away to good homes.  Lots overgrow and become fire hazards when the growth becomes dry.  Many people commute a long distance to find a good job and their lots suffer.

Not long ago our lot was to the point where we had to do something.  Even with three healthy boys in the house, between work, school, church and after-school activities, no one had time.  One day I decided enough was enough and created a parental ordinance – all activities were hereby cancelled until the weeds were mowed.

Out came the mower and about 1/16th of an acre later, the wheel busted right off.  Good Grief!  The wheel was a special order, replaced the year before, and just not what we needed to replace right now.  Grumble, Grumble, Grumble!  Been there?

Later in the day I needed to head into town.  Along a side street I noticed an empty motorized wheelchair.  I slowed down to be sure the owner hadn’t fallen out.  There he was, on a metal crutch, legs painfully misshaped, weed-eating the front of his lot.  Oh, my goodness.

Weeds and dust flew around him, but his smile never diminished.  You see, against all odds, and doctor’s reports, he could still do something.  He could get out of the wheelchair he had been sentenced to and make his overgrown lot look beautiful.  No goat, no horse – just a hobbled man on a crutch with a weed-eater.

So many times I have seen my ministry dreams and visions put on hold and I think – I’m getting old, how can I ever see this come to pass.  I read my Bible and pray and wonder, with a shadowing of doubt, whether the ministry that God has burning inside of me will ever get past pen and paper and into reality.  I sit in my self-imposed “wheelchair” and cry out for solutions when God is telling me to get out on shaky legs and lean on the “crutch” of the dream that He’s given me and make something beautiful happen; even if I can only go forward a few feet at a time – like my weed-eating friend.

How many of us sit in “wheelchairs” of doubt, fear, shame, and “I can’ts,” never allowing God to use the gifts He’s birthed inside of us.  God, stop the wheels on the chair I rest in and push me forward toward the goals You have placed in front of me.  Encourage me to take the small steps, every day, toward the finish line that grows nearer with every moment.  Prove to me “I Can.”

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JUDAH

11 Sep

 Armor of God

“Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand

shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall

bow down before thee.”   Genesis 49:8 KJV

—-

Judah is rising up,

As the Phoenix Bird from her ashes,

Reborn and Refreshed,

To take His place in the line of war.

—-

His dead are walking forth from the tombs,

where they have been wrapped,

In the works of this world.

—-

The scales are being removed from His blinded eyes,

Falling to His feet of bronze.

His tongue is being loosed,

To bring the message of God.

—-

Judah is rising up to take His place in the line of war.

—-

With the blessing of Jacob,

And the prayer of Moses,

He prepares Himself,

Ready to battle,

In the Armor of Light.

—-

The belt of truth glistens in the light of the sun,

Making a way,

Distilling the darkness.

—-

Righteousness adorns His breast,

Truth, Grace, Justice.

Peace from the written Word,

Which was God and is God,

Steadies and guides His feet.

Cloaked with faith,

Which no evil can penetrate.

—-

Covering His head with the Anointing oil,

A Spiritual helmet,

Cleansing the mind,

Clearing the confusion,

Making salvation clear.

—-

Stepping forth in the strength of the Spirit,

Both violent and tender,

Judging in Love,

He begins the walk.

—-

Judah has risen,

He is taking His place,

In this Spiritual War.

The singers march first,

To anoint the field,

Causing demons to flee.

—-

The Levites remain, interceding,

Protecting, lighting the way,

With prayers unceasing.

Those that have fallen,

Those that have strayed,

Hear His call.

—-

The Lion roars in the tribe of Judah,

The Root of David gains strength.

The songs of Angels’ tongues break forth,

Screams and gnashing echo in the darkness.

—-

Judah has risen, He has taken His place.

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DRY BONES

10 Sep

Dry Bones

Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto

them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.  Ezekiel 37:4 KJV

———

Could I have bore the pain you carried.

Would you have tread where I once walked.

—-

Had we been given each other trials,

Would I or you have chosen different paths,

Or could I have carried the burden for which I have judged you?

—-

The ravens of gossip and deceit,

Help me to strip the smallest,

Most hidden and covered areas of your being.

—-

With a critical tongue and thoughtless sighs,

I chew away your life, bite by bite.

Stripping away the beauty that was you,

Leaving dry parched bones,

Cast into the wasteland.

—-

What have I done?

Can these bones live again?

Can what was stolen ever be returned?

Will you be able to hear Jesus call,

With the cleansing blood of truth,

That can breathe life back into these bones.

—-

Will you let another hear that can love

          and nurture your brokenness back to health,

Or have the words of my mouth caused walls of stone,

So tall and deep, that none may penetrate.

—-

Could I have carried the burdens for which I have judged you?

Could I have carried the burden of the pain which I have caused you?

If I had only taken the time to see life through your walk,

If . . .

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WOMAN OF GRACE

9 Sep

 woman in prayer

“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.”  Proverbs 31:30 KJV

—-

Born of sacrifice,

Birthed in grace,

Bone of man’s bone,

Blood of man’s blood.

—-

Chosen to serve,

Cleaving to the covenant,

The promise of Adam,

The promise of Abraham.

—-

Grace to bring forth,

The children of promise,

Destined to call,

Destined to serve.

—-

Grace to pray truth,

Into the nation,

Grace to endure,

Intercession by day,

Intercession by night.

—-

Unwaivering love,

Unmerited favor,

To see past the pain,

Of sin’s temporal hand,

To the promise of life,

This side of the cross.

—-

Faith in the truth,

Abounding with love,

To believe in the birth,

To believe in the death,

Of life and of Sin,

Of spirit, of soul.

—-

Grace to bloom forth,

As the rose in the desert,

With fragrance and velvet,

From the thorns,

Rigid arms.

—-

Rising to God,

In manifest witness,

Of grace and of mercy,

In truth from above.

—-

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DEVIL’S TONGUES

2 Sep

Gang Graffiti

 

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities,

against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this

world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Ephesians 6:12 KJV

 

What is that written, spray painted on,

Done in the dark, between twilight and dawn.

Devil’s tongues.

—-

Set there before us, to boast, instill fear,

A warning to all, not to come near.

Devil’s tongues.

—-

Driven by Satan, sent on a quest,

Marking the town, choosing the best.

With Devil’s tongues.

—-

Taking it back, that’s why we pray,

Wickedness in high places,

Step out of the way.

—-

Soap, paint and sanding never will stand,

Only sanctification through the Blood of the Lamb.

—————————————

A change in gang activity

can only be made

through prayer.

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PEARL OF GREAT PRICE

2 Sep

 Chicken Coop Eggs

  

“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking

goodly pearls:  Who, when he had found one pearl of great price,

went and sold all that he had, and bought it”  Matthew 13:45-46

All my life I’ve wanted a coop full of chickens, and at age 54, they finally arrived!  My love for these wonderful birds began during times I spent at my grandmother’s home – the only place I felt true peace and acceptance as a child.  Her love of chickens was passed on to me.  I can sit and watch my crowd of noisy, smelly, feathered critters and remember a simpler time – and a woman that was my model of love.

I think my favorite time with them is when I put them to bed at night.  I usually end up chasing them around the yard several times before they all make it into the hen house.  I latch their little door and go inside to change their water and give them scratch and crumbles.  They’re so funny.  They squawk and crow and carry on.  They fight over nests and positions on the roosting bar.  You’ve never seen such a fuss – every night like the first time – what a circus.

Then I collect the eggs that have been carefully placed throughout the day.  Eggs as small as a ping-pong ball and others so large it’s hard to close them into the egg cartons.  If you clean their pen, or bring in a new tenant, the egg-laying stops for a few days – until they recover from the change.  They really are a lot like us.

I sat and studied one of the tiny Banty eggs the other night.  It was small, perfectly shaped, evenly milky-tan, and laid at a price.  God created them to make a daily sacrifice of themselves – to bring new life, or to sustain an existing one.  A pearl of great price, given unselfishly, every day.

God has also given me a pearl – a gift of His Word – to bring new life (new souls born again) or to sustain one that is in need of immediate nourishment (a word of prayer, encouragement, or exhortation).  My gift is replenished every day, every minute, but do I always give it – like the chicken – without prodding or “right” circumstances?

Jesus, always give me the desire to unselfishly share Your Word, Your touch, Your smile, Your love, whenever You show me the need – without hesitation.  My joy would be to always be a “Pearl of Great Price.”

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THE ROSE

2 Sep

                         Jesus in the Clouds

 “I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys”.  Song of Solomon2:1 KJV

In the valley of life,

Where Israel and Egypt,

Dwell together,

You walked.

—-

You searched,

This way and that,

For the Pure of Heart,

To call Your own.

—-

In the garden,

Tended by Israel,

Grew a rose.

It grew upward,

Spreading its leaves and petals,

To the light and the warmth,

Of  You.

—-

It grew past the thorns,

Through the winds,

During times of drought,

During the flood.

—-

It grew ever up,

Seeking fellowship with You,

Fully opened,

Exposing the tender inner parts,

Deep within.

—-

As You knelt down,

To savor the beautiful blossom,

You blew gently against it,

Sending the sweet fragrance,

Toward the emptiness of Egypt.

—-

Some caught the fragrance,

In their hearts,

And came to share in the joy,

Of the rose,

Joining Israel in victorious praise.

—-

Others were left, only briefly,

As Israel tends the garden of life,

Watering and feeding,

Pruning and grafting,

Preparing once more,

For the opening of a rose.

—-

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SKUNKED

2 Sep

skunk

EPHESIANS 5:1 Become, then, followers of God, as children beloved,  (2) and walk in love, as also the Christ did love us, and did give himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odour of a sweet smell,

It was about 2 AM and very dark.  My robust Blue Tick Hound, Zeke, was quite agitated and dancing to go out.  Almost as soon as I had closed the door he began howling, barking and running back and forth along the fence line.  Then I smelled it – a burning rubber sort of smell overwhelmed the bedroom.

The first thing I thought of was the chicken coop that we had run an electrical line to.  I looked out the open bedroom window, but the coop was dark – no sign of fire.  I started searching the house, the smell was strongest in our bedroom.  Where could the fire be?

Zeke was still raising a ruckus, which I figured was because he could smell the smoke too.  By now I had my husband and boys awake, helping me check outlets, appliances, the front yard, the back yard, even scan the neighborhood for flames.

I let Zeke in to quiet him down – the smell intensified.  My eyes were tearing and my asthma began kicking up.  Ole Zeke was running from one end of the house to the other end, back and forth, knocking things flying – the other dogs joining in.  The smell kept getting stronger.

The boys reported back that they had searched everywhere, in the coop, neighbors, in the garage, around the yards, and although you could smell it some outside by the fence, it was by far the strongest in my room – then traveling down the hallway.

By now I have disassembled every piece of electrical equipment that had been running, unplugged every air freshener, every light in the house is turned on and still there’s no sign of smoke.

We all agreed that the smell must be coming from outside.  We put all the dogs out, closed the doors and windows, turned off the lights and went back to bed.  6 AM came quickly.

As soon as it was light enough, we began searching around the house.  The smell was incredibly strong – especially about 8 feet down the fence line from my bedroom window.  We called the neighbor over and asked if she’d had a fire in the night – if she was okay.  She laughed.  It wasn’t a “that’s cute” kind of chuckle, it was an outright “You City People” kind of laugh.  We didn’t get it.

“There’s no fire,” she said laughing.  “You’ve been skunked!”

Well, that one hit home hard.  Not only was Zeke skunked, but I let the well “perfumed” critter run back and forth in the house while I looked for smoke, eyes running and lungs swelling.  Good grief!  Consequently we were the first customers at the grocery store, stocking up on tomato juice.  Bath Day!!

It took several days for all the smell to completely go away.  We scrubbed the dogs, scrubbed the carpet (especially where Zeke had been running), kicked the air purifiers to full blast and we waited.  I doubt I’ll ever get the full respect back from the neighbor, she probably still snickers every time she looks across the fence.

This series of events makes me wonder if I don’t handle my faith and my Christian walk the same way.  I spend my time worrying about possible fires when it’s a musky fragrance that’s following me because of unkind words and non-fruitful behavior.  I wonder if Jesus watches me running back and forth from faith to doubt, trying to figure out where the answers to my daily problem are, when all along Jesus just wants me to stop and listen and realize that following Him turns my musky walk into a sweet fragrance that draws others near.

Jesus, help me to hear your call and stop my running to and fro.  Help me to remember that my trust in You is a sweet fragrance of love.

By Linda J. Humes

Written 8-21-2000

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