Tag Archives: Birth

One New Man

24 Aug

cross-as-bridge

“For he is our peace, who made both one, and brake down the middle wall of partition, having abolished in the flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; that he might create in himself of the two one new man, so making peace; and might reconcile them both in one body unto God through the cross, having slain the enmity thereby:” Ephesians 2:14-16 (ASV)

I remember, when I was in my mid-twenties, I thought I would never be my own person.  I went from being Bobby’s daughter to being Bob’s wife and I never was recognized as myself, Linda.  I was always somebody else’s something.  It felt quite frustrating.  It wasn’t until many years later that I began being recognized as an independent person with skills and talents that recognized me by my own name.  I was a person, still daughter to one, and wife to another, but identified as all 3 for being who I was.

In the Bible, the Jewish lineage was very important.  From Numbers to the “begats” of Matthew, each person’s lineage was lined out for the importance of coming from a family of wealth or power, or from the lineage of a harlot, or being born to a simple peasant girl.  It wasn’t that there was a specific pattern of where you had to come from to what you were going to become.  It was/is a book of stories of people.  People who made horrible decisions and suffered the consequences.  People who fought through temptations and trials, but had a heart humbled and dedicated to God.  People who were just trying to find their way in life and lived a decided life in faith.  Even we are there, in the parallels, in the passages, in the words of “those who believe” (John 11:25-26).  The Bible is just about people – and God – and choices.

Yet between the Old Testament and the New Testament there was a crevasse.  A deep division between the Jew and the Gentile.  One people chosen by God from birth.  One people, for the most part, set on destroying the Jewish people and all they stood for.  A division which seemed could never be healed or bridged.  Then came the birth of Jesus and a new Covenant.  Then came hope for all who would listen.

With the ministry of Jesus came a new message of love (Matt 6:14), forgiveness (Matt 18:22) and equality (Gal 3:26-29).  Jesus’ life was seen by many as a breaking of the Old Testament laws of God.  His ministry included both Jew and Gentile, both men and women, both rich and poor, both good and bad.  His ministry took the extremes of all walks of life and proved that with trust and love, God could work through any person (Phil 2:13), and any person could turn a life of questionable decisions and behaviors into a life filled with faith and integrity.  His ministry took the crevasse and bridged it with the love only God could birth.  A love so strong that it held the heaviest of burdens and the longest of tribal hate and wars, shaped them into a robe of righteousness (Heb 7:25), and clothed a nation with a heart of unity.

Even in His death, chains of hate, confusion and tradition fell away from those who watched, who beat him, who gambled for his clothing, who laughed at him as they pushed the thorns of the crown deep into his forehead.  They saw, on that day, this was no ordinary man, punished by an angry crowd screaming “Crucify Him” (Matt 27:45-54).  They saw the sky darken and felt the earth tremble.  They heard His voice cry out to His Father “Forgive them for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).  This had never happened before.

By His death, Jesus’ words and teachings created a new way.  Jew and Gentile became one nation (Eph 2:11-17).  The Gentile could become a confirmed child of the living God by accepting the Son.  The old laws of sacrifice and traditional gatherings to ask for the forgiveness of their and their family’s sins were taken away (1 John 3:9).  Now it was ALL by faith (Heb 8:6).  The war that raged between these two factions of people had no reason to continue; they had always been equally loved by God, but could now realize that they were equal in the eyes of God.  This was by the birth of the Son of God to a simple peasant girl and His death, 33 years later, at the hands of an angry and deceived crowd.

The veil in the Holy of Holies was rent (Matt 27:51).  The prayers of the people were now to be offered directly to God and His son, who intercedes for us.  The barriers of birth were removed.  The “People” became “One New Man;” One New People.  And, in this country, at least for now, we are free to worship God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Today I have a new name.  I am Linda, child of the living God.  I like that.

**A Journey Through Ephesians – Chapter 2 – Part 7

Written by Linda J. Humes

5-24-2015

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“HAVE YOU SEEN MY SERVANT . . .”

20 Oct

“I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.” Psalms 40:1-2 (KJV)

All my life I have been drawn to birds. My great desire was to have my own chickens and ducks. A few years ago my Mother’s Day Gift was the converting of a shed into a chicken coop. We bought baby chicks and raised them in the bath tub until they were big enough not to escape through the fence openings. We learned that just because a sign says “Pullets” you are only guaranteed that 80% of the birds are hens – we weren’t that statistically fortunate – more like 75%. If you’ve ever had to deal with territorial roosters, you will understand the importance of that.

About 8 months ago we took in a foster-adopt dog named Patches. She was over a year old and had been seriously injured on a number of occasions by other dogs. At first she would just lay on the floor for hours, not moving. The vet recognized that she had an eye problem where the lid of her eyes would turn all the way inside, causing large sores on her eyeballs. After her eye surgery she took on a whole new hyperactive personality. We grew to love her and her silliness very much.

A few days ago I was heading out to put the dogs in the house and let the chickens and ducks out of the coop and pen to wander the yard and eat their fill of bugs – but something was wrong. On the back porch lay one of my little banty hens, dead. I looked toward the pen – Patches was inside.

I ran as fast as I could to get her out and protect my little flock – but what I saw completely devastated me. All 3 ducks were dead. 7 hens were dead. 2 hens were horribly mutilated but breathing. One rooster was mildly hurt.

How could this happen? We so carefully built the coop and pen to keep out predators, but our own dog got in. On the side of the pen was a hole about 12” wide that she had ripped with her teeth.

We latched down all the coop doors and blocked the hole – but she went back in several times. The other 2 hens died that night, only the rooster remained. We thought we had the pen secure again and I opened the little door from the coop to the pen, so the rooster could walk around. He wasn’t much interested in venturing. He was still so scared.

I checked on him every few hours to see how he was doing, and on one trip found a duck egg in the corner. I took it in the house, washed it and opened the egg carton to put it away – every egg in the carton was cracked open, somehow they had frozen on the top shelf of the fridge. Overwhelming grief struck me. All but one of my chicks and ducks were dead. All of their eggs were destroyed. It was as if God was erasing a section of my life.

That night I kept hearing noises and kept checking the coop. At about 2am I finally fell asleep. At about 4am I woke again – the dog was back in the coop and had mangled the rooster after ripping a 3’ wide hole in the fence. The rooster lived until late in the day. We took the dog to a foster agency that morning, being sure to tell them that she should not be placed in a home with any kind of birds. I could no longer trust her and knew I could not keep her inside either as I have a large collection of domestic birds.

I was filled with pain. I could not understand what had just happened. I had lost all 13 of my flock and I had lost a dog I loved. Even the broken eggs in the ‘fridge seemed to be a message. I was so overwhelmed with grief and cried out to God “Why?”

I pray over my home and animals every day. I pray over the land and the safety of everything on it. I stand in faith believing that when I pray, my prayers are heard and honored. I couldn’t understand why my God would allow this.

I prayed and cried for hours – until I heard God’s voice. “Have you seen my servant Job?” What? Was this merely a trial?

“But God I prayed.” Job prayed and even sacrificed for each of his children so that they would be pure before God as they did not live holy lives.

“But God, you said if I prayed believing . . .?” Job said that God gives us all, and He can take it all away (Job 1:5, 1:8 & 1:21).

God and I spent a lot of time together that day. I was so confused and hurt; He was patient. I was angry; He was loving. I finally said “God, if this was Your will, please take the hurt away and give me peace.”

A soft cloud of peace wrapped me like a blanket. The pain slipped quietly from my heart and I felt such comfort.

I don’t understand why we are given such trials of faith. I don’t know why some things have to be so hard. But I know that when we cry out to God, He is there to bring comfort and peace.

I’m already planning my new flock. This time we’ll use heavier gauge fencing. I will still pray over them every day. I will still trust in those prayers. And, if God allows me to be tested again, I will cry out again for peace – knowing in Who’s hands it rests.

——

NOTE:  Since this piece I have raised several flocks of chickens and ducks.  It is such a blessing to see them roam around and enjoy life.

———-

By Linda J. Humes

Written 7-5-07

**The Road To Emmaus”

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HUMBLE BIRTH

10 Sep

And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.  And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.     Luke 2:4-7 KJV

 

It wasn’t that they had to travel,

travel was a way of life -

travel to the place of sacrifice -

travel to the special feasts.


It wasn’t the taxation,

that too had become a way of life.

It wasn’t the number of people -

traveling to their father’s lands -

waiting - walking - crowding.


It wasn’t being heavy with child -

ready for the precious birth -

difficult to ride -

impossible to walk.


It was that all had come together on this momentous occasion,

even with careful preparation -

not really prepared -

for the events to come.


And in all the disappointment of the evening,

the kindness of a stranger -

a humble and rugged resting place -

became the catalyst of a birth.


As the night grew its darkest,

the light pierced the sky -

to announce the hope -

of generations to come.



Cutting the sky, as the pillar of fire,

drawing those with the pureness of heart -

the star spoke the joy -

of the new life to come.


In His earliest moments of life,

He the same as others -

tiny perfect fingers -

tiny perfect toes -

the miracle of birth every parent admires.


Yet, with the sameness came the new,

the anointed glow -

with the very first breath -

drawing God’s servants -

from near and far.



A humble start - for the humbling of the heart.

No wealth or grandeur - the capture of pride.

The kindness of a stranger - to instill mercy.



And the family of flesh mixed with the family of Spirit -

surrounding - comforting

to build a solid foundation of love.


It didn’t happen the way they had wanted -

Mary and Joseph -

but it was the plan of God.



Not one moment of His precious life was wasted,

every moment etched the path of tomorrow’s grace.



So tiny - so frail,

a King was born -

a King sent to gather the humble -

to exhort the meek -

to teach love to all who would listen -

to live - and - to die -

for every precious child -

that has graced God’s earth.

 

 

Written 12-21-97

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Birth Of The Bride

20 Aug

Genesis 1

Adam ressurection

The waters came forth,

    pure and abundant,

    preparing for life,

    supernaturally.

—

The evening and the morning,

    were the 5th day,

    life had begun.

—

From the dust of the dry land,

    and the waters of the sea,

    God’s hand formed and molded man,

    the first Adam.

—

The blood in his body lay silent,

    His image and soul lay pure,

    without life, water and blood ran together,

    unheedingly.

—

Then into his nostrils did God breathe,

    true life,

    not merging liquid,

    not hardened soil.

—

The gentle breeze from the soul of God,

    drew man to life,

    away from silent existence,

    covenant of love,

    covenant of truth.

—

The blood and water coursed within man,

    birthing forth the desire,

    of a new covenant.

—

In the safety of love man rested,

    a deep sleep,

    peaceful sleep.

—

God reached deep inside,

    removing a small sacrifice,

    blood and water and molded dust.

—

This rib became the bride of Adam,

    still and lifeless,

    breathed to life,

    by the same precious deity,

    the one Holy God.

—

By the breath of God did the woman rise,

    from mere existence,

    to precious life.

—

The evening and the morning,

    were the 6th day,

    the Bride was born.

—

She was to bear the cycle,

    the covenant of blood and water,

    the temporary temple of God’s chosen.

—

The cycle continued,

    covenant   –   sacrifice,

    birth    –    sacrifice,

    covenant    –    death.

—

Jesus, the final covenant,

    God the son,

    the substance of new life,

    pierced in His side.

—

Even in death,

    precious blood and water,

    amniotic fluid ran down the cross,

    onto a cursed hill  –  Golgatha.

—

With it ran the seed of a new nation,

    a new generation,

    the covenant of eternal life,

    the Bride of Christ.

—

With His last earthly breath,

    He drew in the sins of the world,

    and the Bride to come,

    that all life might dwell,

    in the Holy promises.

—

The sins, cleansed and forgiven,

    ran with the blood,

    ran with the water,

    planting the seed,

    of the covenant to come,

    Kingdom Heirs.

—

A tiny baby, born in the darkest of times,

    nurtured by the hand of God,

   filled with the breath of the Spirit,

    coursed through with sacrificial blood,

    sacrificial water.

—

No longer apart from God the Father,

    no longer apart from God the Son,

    the miraculous testimony of living Word,

    birthed in the death of sin.

—

Rise up, Oh Israel,

    take your inheritance of life,

    God breathed,

   Holy & Blessed.

—

Clothe yourself in gold and purple,

    as the rightful Bride,

    of Christ.

—

Rise up, Oh Israel,

    for the Groom prepares the place,

    where you shall dwell,

    the promises have come to pass,

    where faith meet truth,

    and they become one.

—

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