Tag Archives: Cold

SACRIFICE

16 Sep

“By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.”  Hebrews 13:15  KJV

✝

The Ancient of Days,

cast Himself to the earth,

in the form of a seed,

in the womb of a virgin.

✝

Subject, now, to heat and cold,

to fatigue and illness,

to prejudice and ridicule,

to suffering and pain.

✝

The Ancient of Days,

became man,

flesh, blood and Spirit;

willingly giving,

the power of deity,

for the birth of a nation.

✝

The God of Jessie,

born through the sacrifice of blood,

to become the blood sacrifice.

✝

From the promises to Adam,

to the revelation shown John,

the blood of God coursed the earth,

changing strength and direction,

at the tributary called Christ.

✝

The new stream of Christ,

fed the trees of new life,

where the roots of the old,

were washed clean.

✝

The water, most pure,

chased the stagnant pools of red,

that once rinsed man’s hands,

but touched not the soul.

✝

The water, most pure,

flowed over and cleansed,

the wounds of the past,

refreshing the hope,

of a dark, tarnished dream.

✝

The water of life,

borne from the blood,

of an innocent man,

takes sweet revenge,

on the deepest of sin.

✝

Released to be washed,

by the power of mercy,

by the treasure of grace,

it rises back up,

to the base of the cross.

✝

There, at the cross,

the blood and water,

of grace and mercy,

flows down to the earth,

as forgiven sin reaches up,

meeting at the feet of Christ.

✝

Running together they became one,

the earth shook with promise,

the sky darkened,

to reveal a new light,

and the rivers flowed,

with a new wine,

washing clean the weary souls,

of all that would reach forth,

in praise.

✝

 

 

Written 10-18-1998

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CYCLE

5 Apr

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. Exodus 33:14

…

The rose bushes are pruned and bare, dormant.

The valleys are brown, dry.

The air is crisp, clean, clear.

…

Crystals of cold hang in the air, waiting.

From the first appearance,

It seems as though death has come to overcome.

Look closer still.

…

The cold releases dew, seeping deep underground.

The brief glimpses of sunlight beacon tender buds,

Soon the cycle of life resumes.

…

Like seasoned Christians;

Pruned, trimmed, resting.

The Love of God surges forth,

When weariness gives way to rest in the Son.

 

 

Written 2-6-2002

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A BRAND NEW DAY

4 Apr

 

“For now we see in a mirror, darkly, but then face to face.

Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13: 12-13

 

Steam from the frigid water,

Rises up to kiss the sun.

Birds shake loose the morning dew,

And sing the sweetest song.

The leaves and petals raise their face,

To drink the first rays of day.

Music fills the air, chasing away the cold darkness,

Of the night.

Clouds part, allowing the gold and purple hues,

To dance across the sky.

Webs glisten in intricate geometric patterns.

Tiny footprints grace the fresh morning soil.

It’s a brand new day and God has given His first gift.

Lord, teach me to see with spiritual eyes,

The same daily beauty I see in the natural.

Remove the scales of circumstance,

That cloud my spiritual vision.

Help me to receive Your morning kiss,

With more joy and admiration,

Than simple nature.

Help me to receive the miracle of NOW.

 

Written 6-15-2002

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DEAD BRANCHES

19 Nov

 

”But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.” Matthew 18:6 (KJV)

 

Many years ago we experienced a winter far colder than any other I had experienced. Lakes frozen over, streets frozen over, chunks of ice were inches thick on the electrical and telephone wires all over town. People couldn’t drive their cars up the steep streets of Prescott, AZ. Police officers were turning lines of cars around in an attempt to reduce further accidents. It was COLD!

 On a warm afternoon, several months later, I was enjoying a quiet moment on my front porch. There was a light breeze blowing and suddenly a large branch fell out of our tree in the front yard. The tree was beautiful green and full with leaves. There wasn’t any sign of dead branches, until this one fell.

 I wandered over and looked up into the tree. It looked green and healthy. I looked from a different angle; green and . . . oh, wait, what was the brown in the middle? I brought over a ladder and looked closer – dead branches. There were a number of dead branches broken loose from the tree, being held in place by the new growth, waiting for a wind to set them loose. I suspect that these branches were broken loose by the heavy ice that had rested there in the months before. I pulled a few of the branches out and left those that were out of easy reach.

 It made me think about new Christians and how they have broken and wounded spirits that are hiding in their newly born lives. Lives full of enthusiasm and desire to grow with Jesus, covering over the brokenness and wounds that first drew them to Jesus. They look fresh and beautiful on the outside, hiding the pain inside.

 So many times we rejoice with their salvation and ignore the task set before us to help them grow. We often think they’ll find their own way to their faith and the truth. We might “toss” a scripture their way if they ask a specific question or two, but don’t get too involved in explaining what it means. After a while they become discouraged and disappear.

These “Babies” need someone to come along and embrace them, pray with them, teach them to let go and allow the pain and wounds to drop away through the healing of Jesus. Like us, they are called to be fountains of living water. They are to grow and be pruned by the Master, just like we were. They will be shaken clean by the winds of trial. Their roots will grow strong with dedicated study, prayer and intercession. But, only if we will teach them how.

 What sort of witness are we if we spend our time preening ourselves and not guiding them along the way? Do we allow them to be tossed by the winds of doctrine, or do we show them how to receive the wind of the Spirit and the healing Word of God? Do we allow them to wander and be confused by tempting spirits, or do we teach them to discern and recognize the truth? Do we brush away the dead branches we can easily see and leave the deepest, furthest away to remain? Or do we dedicate our works to intercession and instruction, so that they can recognize the things in their lives that they have the authority to cleanse away themselves. Do we care?

 God, help me to never forget how confused and lost I was when I first came to You. Help me to remember the outstretched hands and dedicated prayers that lead me to a strong knowledge of You. Help me remember how strong the pull was to give up and walk away when things just didn’t make sense, and the joy of breaking through with a well guided word and a moment of encouragement. Help me to be the example to help others find true relationship with You.

—

By Linda J. Humes

Written 10-1-2012

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SPIRIT OF MAN

22 Sep

“The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord, searching all the inward parts of the belly.”  Proverbs 20:27


Lord, can you see

the death within 

the fallen man?



Has the light,

You've placed,

inside his soul,

dimmed from the absence,

of the anointing oil?



Does his inward parts,

grow dark and empty,

from the absence of you?



Where did the oil go?

Did it slowly burn away,

when used on goodly projects,

void of Godly seed?



Did it burn rapidly away,

on endless nights,

of busy details,

none birthed for the kingdom,

only for the furtherance,

of man?



Did the glow leave,

so slowly,

that no one noticed,

the warmth in the depths of the eyes,

was replaced by cold,

hallow, loneliness?



Once cold, 

did the soul embrace the emptiness,

and call it home;

explaining the way back,

is too difficult?



Is there yet a hope, 

a small smoldering bud,

that a new flame,

could grow,

even brighter,

than the first?



Replenish the oil,

in this vessel, Lord,

that when the nights grow so weary,

I will draw closer to the flame,

and into Your light.



Let there be such an abundance,

that the light within me,

will show into the eyes,

of one so cold.



Let the oil flow,

so heavily,

from my anointing,

that it will flow from my prayers,

through the depths of Jesus,

and into another's life.



Let me always be a light,

to lift the darkness,

in another's soul.

 

Written 7-28-99

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JESUS IN THE COLD

9 Jun

Jesus-on-cross

By Linda J. Humes

“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

I work in a large city 3 hours from my home in the small town of Chino Valley, AZ. Every Tuesday morning at 5am I start the journey down the mountain – with several appointed stops along the way (I don’t recall having to stop quite so often when I was younger!).

It was a cold winter morning. With heater and defroster blasting I had created a comfortable refuge. Praise and worship music filled my small sanctuary as I prayed and sang while on my way to my first stop, an hour down the road, and my first cup of coffee! I have come to cherish those intimate times with my Jesus.

My stop went as usual, with only momentary shivering, and I was on my way again. I had just pulled back onto the highway when a light caught my eye, up to the left. I had never noticed it before. As I sped by at 65 mph I saw it – as I sped by I saw “Him.” It was a roof-to-ground sized crucifix on the side of a church building. It took my breath away. “Oh, no,” I thought, “someone left Jesus out in the cold.”

It hit me with such force that the ambience of my sanctuary disappeared. Immediately my thoughts went to turning around and covering him up, straight into “mom mode” and out of reality. I saw a vision of Jesus wearing my gloves, hat and wrapped in my car blanket. On any other day that would have made me laugh – trying to warm up a stone Jesus with earthly garments. But I didn’t laugh that morning; in fact I spent well into an hour in tears, so grieved in my spirit.

Why did it hurt? That crucifix had probably been there for years, this morning someone had forgotten to turn the light off. This day I faced a reality that I had not allowed myself to dwell on before. We have left Jesus out in the cold.

There is Jesus hanging alone on the side of, or in front of, our churches. We hang Jesus around our necks as a symbol of our faith. We hang Jesus on our living room walls and in our bedrooms. I’ve even seen Him hanging from rearview mirrors and glued to dashboards of cars. Jesus is all around us – in the cold. Yet is He also where He belongs? Is He nestled warmly in the depths of our heart? Is He so deep inside us that we find peace and joy in the darkest of moments? Is He inside this warm sanctuary only in times of crisis – or do I keep Him warm always?

I didn’t take off the cross I was wearing that day, but I did hold it in my hand all morning. I didn’t take down the pictures in my home, but I did make sure that the glass and frames were clean. I didn’t cover Jesus up at the little church along the highway, but I did say a dedicated prayer. I asked for His forgiveness for those moments in my life when I had left Him out in the cold. And I prayed that He would always help me keep Him nestled deep inside my heart, every day of my life.

Thank you Jesus, that no matter where man places You, You are always there to commune with us, if we will only open the door when you knock.

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