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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The Mustard Seed

2 Sep

Mustard Seed

Matthew 17:20 “ . . . If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

While enjoying a moment of prayer and being enveloped in the blessing of anointed music, I was touched by the greatness of God. The God that brought the children of promise out of Egypt; the God that parted the Red Sea; the God that brought life to the womb of a virgin Israelite girl; the God who created life and set the sun, moon and stars in their orbit. The God that give life to the grass, flowers, animals and man – no two alike. The God that holds every thought and every emotion of each of His children close to His heart, and turns His head toward the broken, sincere prayer.   What a Mighty God We Serve!!!

As I sat in thanksgiving of how great He is, I rejoiced in how He loves us so much that He has packaged all of His power into a faith that would fit inside the tiny mustard seed. A seed so small, that I could hold hundreds in the palm of my hand. That thought fills me with such joy. The faith of Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Peter and Paul would fit into five tiny seeds that rest in the crease of my palm. The faith to lead a nation, to speak life into dying people. The faith to perplex natural events and raise the dead back to new life. The faith to stand, and when they were weary and no longer had the strength to stand, by faith they stood.

Jesus, I pray that I will be content enough with myself that I will want to abundantly bless another in my smallness. I don’t want to feel that I must be well known and in frontline ministry to be able to make a difference. Help me to remember that I can rest in prayer, and with the faith the size of a mustard seed, send up the sweet savor of a miracle to be birthed in another, half a world away.

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RISEN HEROS

20 Jul

Prescott 19 Hotshots

“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Recently 19 Hotshot Firefighters went home to be with the Lord. Most of them just beyond voting age. All of them were courageous and deeply loved.

In the hours that followed the recognition of the horrible tragedy that had just taken place, Yavapai County, the State of AZ, and the Brotherhood of Emergency Responders pulled together to comfort these families and attack and extinguish the fastest moving fire in AZ history. It was a true example of the love of God manifested in the little town of Prescott, AZ.

I knew one of the young men and consider his family to be dear friends. Between my 3 boys, we knew 6 of the 19 who perished. Social Media helped us to stay updated with the community events, news stories, videos, shared memories, fundraisers, the Memorial Wall around the fire station, where there was a need and where needs had been met.

It showed us what needed prayer and where prayers had been answered. It showed us the pain and the helplessness of the families, but it could not take us close enough to hug them and hold them as they cried. I was so thankful that at this most challenging time for these families, that God rose up an arm of caring people to be His hands and feet. God sent people to comfort. God sent people to clean homes. God sent people to provide meals. God inspired people to offer rooms for those who came to help. God sent people to fill out forms and complete paperwork that the families would have had such a difficult time completing. God sent people bringing thanks and honor and respect. God brought an army of Angels to be His hands and feet.

The families will continue to struggle with “Whys” and ‘Hows” for a time, but they will never wonder about how much love God can send to them in their hour of pain, they have already experienced that.

Jesus, please keep me always mindful of the pain and the needs of others. Every life in crisis, no matter the cause, needs to be touched by Your love, by any means you have placed in our hands. We won’t always be able to solve the problem, but we can always offer a prayer, speak a word of encouragement, give a hug, listen, and sit with them as they cry. We can be Your hands and feet of compassion to a hurting world.

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REMEMBERING YESTERDAY

14 Jul

Saddle oxfords

“And he called unto him the twelve, and began to send them forth by two and two; and gave them power over unclean spirits; And commanded them that they should take nothing for their journey, save a staff only; no scrip, no bread, no money in their purse: But be shod with sandals; and not put on two coats.” Mark 6:7-9 (KJV)

Seeing the commercials for Back-to-School clothing and taking notice of the clothing that people are wearing, almost always seemingly new, brought back memories of being a kid in the 50’sand a teen in the 60’s. My clearest memories are in my junior high school, where everyone had such a strong opinion of what was “cool” and what was not.

There were five kids in my household and money was tight. In grade school my mom made a lot of our clothing, some from flour sacks with tiny colorful flowers printed on them. In junior high school I was allowed to have 5 skirts and 5 blouses which we bought at the discount store. Sometimes I had a thing or two that fit from the year before, so those were subtracted from the items I was allowed to choose that year.

We were allowed to have one pair of shoes a year, which were always bought a thumb-width too long so you had room to grow into them during the year. By the end of summer you had to stuff cardboard inside so the rocks didn’t bruise your feet through the holes that had worn through the soles on the bottom. Plus, the stitching always wore through around the toe so the sole would flap as you walked. Sometimes epoxy helped, sometimes it didn’t. On the weekends were hand-me-down jeans and hand-me-down t-shirts and old gym shoes from the school year before. That’s just the way it was.

Then was an era when you took the time to put things back together – the handle on a coffee cup broke off, glue it on – the plate was dropped and broke in half, glue it back together – the handle on the rake broke, bailing wire and screws – the broom handle broke, tape and screws or use it short! Things had value because resources were few. We learned to cherish the things we had.

Today we live in a microwave society with an abundance of cheap, poorly made products designed to fail after a year’s use. We live in a society of debt and over extension so that “we” can have everything that “others” expect us to have to be normal. How did that happen? How do we get people back to “necessity” and out of “want”?

When Jesus sent the disciples out He told them to only take what they wore and two coats. He knew that carrying more would burden them and slow them down, keeping them from reaching the people He needed them to reaching in a timely manner. The disciples depended on God and the people of faith to provide for their needs as they did His work.

The children of Israel walked 40 years in the wilderness, but their clothing never ripped and their sandals never broke or wore through. What a miracle, I had a hard time getting 9 month’s wear out of my saddle oxfords!

Have we lost sight of why we are here? Have we sacrificed simplicity for a life of attractive complications? Jesus sent us with a simple yet powerful assignment, share the gospel with all people, care for the widows, the orphans and the homeless; comfort the hurting, pray for all.

I can do that. I am aware that the few things I give up each week can make a huge difference to a person in need. I can set a few extra plates at my table and invite folks over that need a break, a homemade meal and a time of encouragement. I can put together small packages of items and deliver them to the shelters. I can pray for the hurting, whether near or far, knowing that Jesus takes those prayers straight to the Father and a miracle will come soon. I can, I will.

Jesus, help me to always be aware of Your kingdom and Your children. Help me to walk past selfishness and always into Your will. Amen

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WINGS

23 Jun

By Linda J. Humes

Hen and Chick

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.                                                                                                 Psalms 91:4 (KJV)

In the area where we live, this time of the year is when you see new birth.  The weather is starting to warm, things are sprouting, trees are blooming, and baby chicks appear.

One of our hens decided to set on an egg, and there wasn’t any getting it away.  After about a month a little chirping black ball of fluff was running crazy all over the hen house with a squawking momma, in the chase – trying to collect the golf ball sized little chick and rush it to safety.

At feeding time I discovered that the momma hen could only protect the chick when it allowed her to, and once the chick ran into the outside yard, she was completely unable to guide it back in.  Every night I would find the hen and chick outside, put the chick inside the hen house, dodge the angry momma’s beak, and finally get momma and baby reunited.  Once inside the ruffled and irritated hen would spread those wings and chase that chick around until it was finally in a nest, under her wing, and settled down for the night’s sleep.

One day we had a crazy rain storm.  Icy and heavy – I forgot about the hen and chick.  When I realized the storm wasn’t going to lighten up, I went out in the dark to feed the chickens.  No momma, no baby.

I called my son to help me search and after a bit he found the hen in the outside pen against the edge of the hen house – not moving.  He picked her up and put her through the little hen door – she lay limp.  I asked about the chick, but he didn’t see it.  Then, right outside the hen door, in a covered spot, was the chick; it had fallen when he moved the hen.  The chick was completely dry and warm.  Momma had almost drowned.

We picked up the hen and dried her off.  We wrapped her in a towel and placed them in a cage under a heat lamp.  Before long that momma was talking to that chick and scolding it to stay still and warm.  The next day they looked as if nothing had ever happened.

I’ve thought a lot about that hen.  She was willing to drown to keep her chick safe and warm.   She’s still trying to get that chick to stay under her wing – but it’s running around wanting to see what life is all about.  It’s about the size of a tennis ball now, still so little, still so full of life, still so curious.  Kind of like us, don’t you think?

God is doing all He can to bring us abundant life under the shadow of His wings. He sent His Son to die for us and yet we’re running free, trying to find out about the pleasures of this world.  Thank goodness, like that hen, God loves us so much that He’s constantly trying to bring us safely back to Him.  Let me always run to the safety of His arms.

Written 4/23/2009

By Linda J. Humes

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