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Holy Night, Indeed Do you have any guesses about what may have been the first song broadcast from space? The crew of Gemini 6 snuck bells and a harmonica onboard. On December 16, 1965, after reporting a “strange object” moving in the skies from north to south, they played a few lines of Jingle Bells. You can click here to hear the astronauts. (1) And does anyone know the story behind “The Twelve Days of Christmas”? “Though a host of modern internet sites and some magazine articles have tried to reduce “The Twelve Days of Christmas” to a little more than a silly Christmas carol, most scholars of the Catholic Church deem it a very important surviving example of a time when that denomination used codes to disguise their teachings in order to avoid persecution. “Originally a poem written by Catholic clerics, this song was transformed into a carol at a time when celebrating the twelve days of Christmas was one of the most important holiday customs.” (2) The complete explanation of why each day’s “gift code” was chosen to represent the spiritual truth it pictures, can be found through this link, but here is what each gift represented: (3) The partridge in a pear tree represents Jesus. Two turtle doves represent the Old and New Testaments. Three French hens represent faith, hope, and love, and also the Holy Trinity: The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The four calling birds are the four gospels. The five golden rings represent the first five books of the Old Testament, known as the Torah or the Pentateuch. Each egg of the six geese a-laying is a day in creation when God “hatched” or formed the world. Hidden in the seven swans-a-swimming are the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit (as the Catholics count them). The eight maids-a-milking represent the eight Beatitudes (from Matthew 5:3-10). Nine ladies dancing were the fruits of the Spirit. Ten lords-a-leaping were code for the Ten Commandments. The eleven pipers piping signify the eleven faithful disciples. The twelve drummers drumming are the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostles’ Creed. I’m not sure this can be proven, but it’s so good I’m just gonna go with it! O Holy Night And then there is my all-time favorite Christmas song, “O Holy Night.” Can there be more poignant words than these? “Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!” (4) And the moving third stanza, with the stirring words of love and freedom, reaches deep into the human soul: “Truly He taught us to love one another; His law is love, and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother; And in His name, all oppression shall cease.” (5) Here are the words of this wonderful song in their entirety, followed by a link to “The Nativity Story” with Josh Groban’s classic version of “O Holy Night.” Do yourself a favor: find a time when you can stop everything you’re doing, and both watch and listen to this five-minute video. It is NOT just him singing. You will be glad you did. Merry Christmas. O Holy Night “O holy night! the stars are brightly shining; It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining, ‘Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth. A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn! Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born! O night, O holy night, O night divine! Led by the light of faith serenely beaming, With glowing hearts by His cradle, we stand. So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming, Here came the Wise Men from Orient land. The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger, In all our trials born to be our Friend. He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger. Behold your King, before Him lowly bend! Behold your King, before Him lowly bend! Truly, He taught us to love one another; His law is love, and His gospel is peace. Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother, And in His name, all oppression shall cease. Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we; Let all within us praise His holy name. Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim! His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!” (6) Josh Groban and The Nativity Story Click on the link below to watch the full video. _________________________________ https://youtu.be/RmsOmqf7Hso?si=0Bh8q2VG4_-czcdj https://www.christianity.com/wiki/holidays/the-12-days-of-christmas-lyrics-meaning.html Ibid. https://hymnary.org/text/o_holy_night_the_stars_are_brightly_shin Ibid. Ibid.

The Unintended Christmas Carol As we wind down our work schedules leading up to Christmas and the holidays, and perhaps wind up our last-minute shopping, I thought a change of pace might be good for our daily posts. Today, I’ll be sharing interesting facts about three of the most popular Christmas hymns of all time, along with the complete lyrics of each. We’ll end with a short prayer and a link to one of these beautiful songs. You’ll enjoy this. Tomorrow, I’ll do the same, sharing some information I’m quite certain most of you won’t know, and ending with my all-time favorite Christmas song. The video link I’ll send will move you to tears. You’ll thank me. Joy to the World “Joy to the World,” written in 1719 by Isaac Watts, has been the most-published Christmas hymn in North America. It was not written as a Christmas carol but as a poem about the reigning King, based on Psalm 98. “Stanza three…alludes to Genesis 3:17-19…speaks of Christ's blessings extending victoriously over the realm of sin…Stanza four celebrates Christ's rule over the nations…called to celebrate because God's faithfulness to the house of Israel has brought salvation to the world.”(1) Here are the words to this famous hymn: Joy to the World “Joy to the world! the Lord is come;
Let Earth receive her King; Let every heart prepare him room, And heaven and nature sing, And heaven, and heaven, and nature sing. Joy to the world! the Saviour reigns;
Let men their songs employ; While fields and floods, rocks, hills, and plains; Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat, repeat the sounding joy. No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground; He comes to make His blessings flow, Far as the curse is found, Far as, far as the curse is found. He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove The glories of His righteousness, And wonders of His love, And wonders, wonders, of His love.” (1) O Little Town of Bethlehem “Phillip Brooks was a distinguished man of faith and intellect. A Boston-born Episcopalian preacher, he'd earned a Doctorate of Divinity from the University of Oxford, taught at Yale University, and publicly advocated against slavery during the Civil War. But he's best known for penning "O Little Town of Bethlehem" after a life-changing journey. In 1865, Brooks rode on horseback from Jerusalem to Bethlehem, where he participated in the Church of the Nativity's five-hour-long Christmas Eve celebration, complete with hymns. Returning home, this experience proved so profound that he channeled it into the song sung in churches to this day. Its first public performance was held three years later, performed by the children's choir of his church [The Church of the Holy Trinity in Philadelphia] on December 27.”(2) Until then, this musical, “O Little Town of Bethlehem” was still only a poem. Brooks asked his organist, Lewis Redner, to write the music. Here is Redner’s interesting explanation of how the music came to him: “As Christmas of 1868 approached, Mr. Brooks told me that he had written a simple little carol for the Christmas Sunday School service, and he asked me to write the tune to it. The simple music was written in great haste and under great pressure. We were to practice it on the following Sunday. Mr. Brooks came to me on Friday, and said, ‘Redner, have you ground out that music yet to “O Little Town of Bethlehem”?’ I replied, ‘No,’ but that he should have it by Sunday. On the Saturday night previous, my brain was all confused about the tune. I thought more about my Sunday school lesson than I did about the music. But I was roused from sleep late in the night hearing an angel-strain whispering in my ear, and seizing a piece of music paper, I jotted down the treble of the tune as we now have it, and on Sunday morning before going to church, I filled in the harmony. Neither Mr. Brooks nor I ever thought the carol or the music to it would live beyond that Christmas of 1868.”(3) How wrong they were! O Little Town of Bethlehem “O little town of Bethlehem, how still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep, the silent stars go by. Yet in thy dark streets shineth the everlasting light; the hopes and fears of all the years are met in thee tonight. For Christ is born of Mary; and, gathered all above, while mortals sleep, the angels keep their watch of wond'ring love. O morning stars, together proclaim the holy birth, and praises sing to God the King, and peace to men on earth. How silently, how silently, the wondrous gift is giv'n! So God imparts to human hearts the blessings of His heav'n. No ear may hear His coming but in this world of sin, where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in. O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray; cast out our sin and enter in; be born in us today. We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell; O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!”(4) Silent Night “Silent Night” is the world’s most-recorded Christmas song, with more than 137,000 known recordings.(5) In 1818, “Father Joseph Mohr, in Austria, is preparing the music for [Christmas Eve] midnight mass and asks his friend Franz Gruber, a schoolteacher, to write a guitar accompaniment for a poem that he had written two years earlier. That night, the two men sang their brand new song at St. Nicholas church, and one of our best-loved Christmas carols was born. “A commonly held myth is that this was because the church organ was broken – possibly because of flooding from a nearby river. However, nobody knows the true reason why it came to be composed on guitar – perhaps it was because Joseph Mohr also played the guitar. A version of “Silent Night” recorded by Bing Crosby in 1935 sold a whopping 30 million copies.”(6) "Silent Night" is about a calm and bright silent night, and the wonder of a tender and mild newborn child, words written in 1816…not long after the Napoleonic wars had taken their toll. The priest went for a walk before he wrote it, and he looked out over a very quiet, winter-laden town. He was inspired...the town was at peace.”(7) And this provoked the classic, “Silent Night.” Silent Night “Silent night, holy night, All is calm, all is bright Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child, Holy Infant, so tender and mild Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. Silent night, holy night, Shepherds quake at the sight Glories stream from heaven afar Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia Christ the Savior is born, Christ the Savior is born. Silent night, holy night, Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace Jesus Lord, at Thy birth, Jesus Lord, at Thy birth.”(8) Pray with me: Thank You, Lord, for coming to earth and making Your blessings flow, far as the curse is found. Your right hand has gained the victory for You (Psalm 98:1), and You have made known Your salvation and revealed Your righteousness to the nations (verse 2). You tell us to “shout joyfully,” breaking forth with praise (verse 4); that the seas roar, the rivers clap, and the mountains sing for joy (verses 7-8) because Christ is coming to judge the earth with righteousness and equity (verse 9). As we ponder the wonder of Your great gift to us, Father, we thank You, along with Phillip Brooks, for the everlasting light that shone in the dark streets of Bethlehem. In that quiet town, on that night so long ago, the hopes and fears of all the years met in the birth of our Savior. Thank You for this great gift. Link to: Silent Night, sung by Chris Tomlin Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________________ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joy_to_the_World https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/60596/origins-10-popular-christmas-carols https://www.hymnologyarchive.com/o-little-town-of-bethlehem https://hymnary.org/text/o_little_town_of_bethlehem https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silent_Night https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/1xW4JCVM4y33tbZBycYmYqG/5-facts-about-silent-night#:~:text=A%20commonly%20held%20myth%20is,Mohr%20also%20played%20the%20guitar. https://www.nationaldaycalendar.com/lists/7-beloved-christmas-carols-their-origins https://hymnary.org/text/silent_night_holy_night_all_is_calm_all

The Dance of Passover In 1 Kings 18, Elijah assembled Israelites on Mount Carmel in what was to be an epic showdown between Yahweh and Baal, whom Israel was following at the time. Ahab and Jezebel had led Israel into deep Baal worship, much like America’s ungodly, immoral leaders have done. The Democratic Convention in 2012 literally booed God “off the stage” and out of their platform. Why not? They had already expelled Him from their schools. The homosexual movement in America mocked God, using His symbol of covenant, the rainbow (Genesis 9:13-16), as their symbol. Obama followed suit, again mocking God’s covenant - marriage, this time - by lighting the White House in the colors of the rainbow when the Supreme Court made homosexual “marriage” the law of the land. Biden hung their rainbow flag front and center at the White House, pushing aside Old Glory to do so, as transvestites bared their “breasts” on the White House lawn. Ahab and Jezebel would have been proud. In Elijah’s day, Israel was experiencing judgment for their idolatry and accompanying perversions, a three-year drought that was ravaging the land. America’s troubles, too, are from our rejection of God and His Word. Israel’s judgment was doing its work, and a turning was now possible. Thus, the showdown on Mount Carmel. I’m confident America’s shaking will turn us, as well. Elijah prophesied that rain was coming (18:1) and then called for the contest. As preparations were being made, he challenged Israel, “How long will you halt between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him” (18:21; KJV). But the people said nothing. They still couldn’t decide between Yahweh and Baal. The word for “halt” (pasach)(1) is fascinating. The Hebrew language is pictorial. A word or number presents a picture that can represent several things; the meaning and/or application of the picture is determined by the context. For example, picture the up and down movement of someone jumping or hopping; that is pasach. Therefore, it is the word for hop, skip, or dance. At other times, the up and down movement may not be celebratory, but painful, Thus, it is the word for limping, lame, halt (a synonym for limp), or hesitate (because to hesitate is to move backward and forward, mentally or physically, while trying to decide something). Pasach is also the word for “pass over”(Exodus 12:13, 23, 27), “When I see the blood I will pass over you.” The spirit of death “leapt” or “passed over” the Israelite homes that had the blood of lambs on the lintels of the doors. And a derivative, pesach, (2) is the word for “Passover.” Putting this back into Elijah’s question to Israel, the Lord was asking them in 1 Kings 18:21, “Why are you hesitating, halting about who you honor, serve, and trust? You could and should be dancing the dance of covenant with Me, the dance of Passover. Instead, you are limping the limp of Baal.” The Complete Jewish Bible translates verse 21: "Elijah stepped forward before all the people and said, ‘How long are you going to jump back and forth between two positions? If Adonai is God, follow Him; but if it’s Baal, follow him!’ The people answered him not a word.” Then the showdown began; Baal’s prophets went first. They tried to get him to answer by fire, but God had paralyzed the demons behind Baal. They couldn’t perform. His followers tried many things to get him to respond, including leaping and dancing (pasach). Don't miss the revealing irony that Holy Spirit is bringing by using the same word for their dancing worship of Baal as He uses for Israel’s limp. The dance of Baal always becomes the limp of Baal. Then, they cut themselves until blood “gushed” forth. Baal demands pain; he craves and demands bloodshed. Meet America. We in America danced the dance of Passover for many years. As a result, We were protected, given wealth and prosperity, and made the envy of the world. Then, we traded partners. We’ve been dancing with Baal for years now, mocking Adonai and His covenant, partying away. But like the Pied Piper, His “services” aren’t free. Baal required a price for the party, demanding the sacrifice of our children; now, he also wants their mutilation. He provoked our children to cut themselves, seeking peace they could not find. He then unleashed further violence and death in our land - murder, rape, riots, child abuse and more. We now stumble along with Baal’s painful limp, as he plays his bloody songs. God is saying to America, just as He did Israel, “How long will you hesitate between opinions, limping Baal’s limp? Return to Me. We’ll celebrate the Passover Lamb again, dancing together in the joyous dance of freedom and victory. I’ll heal your wounds, restore your families, revive the land, and reinstate your destiny. We’ll run together, taking My salvation to the nations of the earth, healing the broken, freeing the oppressed.” May 2024 be the breakthrough year for this! Join me, please, in asking. Pray with me: Father, we in America have sown the wind, and are now reaping the whirlwind. Like Israel, we traded the Passover dance for the limp of Baal. The death toll from this is in the tens of millions, and were it not for Your redemptive power and love, would ultimately be total annihilation. Mercy is being offered to us, however, not because we deserve it, but through the only appeal You accept, the blood of Your Son, Jesus. Forgive us for spurning You for demons. Forgive us for sacrificing our children and families on the altar of pleasure and depravity. Forgive us for mocking You and Your covenant of marriage. We ask for the salvation of all who have been deceived into turning away from You and rejecting Your ways. Lord, You broke the power of Baal off Israel, and You can do so for America. We ask for a reviving of America’s heart and soul, a deliverance from evil, and a return to good. You told us to ask for spiritual rain when we discerned it was possible (Zechariah 10:1). We are asking, and the rain is coming. We believe 2024 can be a breakthrough year. We ask You for this, and all we have prayed for today, in Christ’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that in 2024, America will choose the dance of Passover, rejecting the limp of Baal. ____________________________ James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. no. 6452. Ibid., ref. no. 6453. Click on the link below to watch the full video.

Once Broken, Now Beautiful Our Review Proverbs 13:12 (NASB): “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. Knowing this, God sculpted and shaped a vivid picture of failure, loss, heartbreak, disappointment, etc., in the form of a mountain - Horeb. The very name means "desolation, a waste place, barrenness, dryness" - all, not coincidentally, are also results of unchecked hope deferred. Then He placed Moses, whose life now pictured all of the above, on this mountain to live out his hope-deferred years. Or so it seemed. Moses worked and lived on and around Horeb during his forty-year exile, tending sheep and shoveling dung, instead of bathing in royal hot tubs (Exodus 3:1). There can be no more severe case of hope-deferred-heart-disease than what Moses experienced, having lost his royal inheritance and his destiny. I realize "it ain't over 'til it's over," but let’s face it, after being dead and buried for forty years, a dream can be considered over. Left unchecked, hope deferred produces heart disease, as the opening verse tells us. And just as physical heart disease kills the body, spiritual and emotional heart disease kills the soul. Hope evaporates, faith is lost, we no longer dream, and in many ways, our lives become sterile. We exist, but don’t really live. Our faith in God can help us overcome life’s disappointments before they lead to this state. But even if you have already progressed to the level of emotional heart disease, as Moses had, He can heal - and yes, if necessary, even resurrect - your spiritual and emotional heart. Christ, the great heart specialist, actually included this as part of His mission statement: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18 KJV). After all those seemingly barren years, Moses discovered that Horeb had become something else. This barren piece of rock that pictured his exile-induced heart disease began morphing into something much different. Could this really be? It could … and it was. God began revealing the diamonds he had formed from the coal of Horeb: character, authority, scepters, rivers, even pictures of Christ. When He was finished, it had become a glorious example of conquered hope deferred and healed heart disease. In fact, the transformation of Horeb became so complete for Moses and Israel, its power so harnessed by the hand of God, that this mountain became known as "the mountain of God" (Exodus 3:1) - Sinai!! His plans are for your complete victory: "I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope,"' (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB). A Holy Place God actually began calling this mountain a holy place, just as the inner sanctum of the Temple would one day be called, and as the presence of the Holy One is always referenced. Why did He do so? Because He had made it His! At Mount Horeb, Moses was told (my translation): “I've been transforming this horrible, dead place, Moses, forming scepters out of tree branches, rocks into rivers, and the greatest leader the world will ever know. Remove your sandals from your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground," (Exodus 3:5). Later, the Lord told Moses this mountain - now flashing and shaking from His power - was so infused with His holy presence that if any person or animal touched it, they would have to be destroyed. Not wanting that to occur, He said: “You shall set bounds for the people all around, saying, ‘Beware that you do not go up on the mountain or touch the border of it; whoever touches the mountain shall surely be put to death…whether beast or man, he shall not live.’” (Exodus 19:12-13) The "Horeb-ble" place became the holy place. God had assured Moses that he would come back to this very mountain and worship (Exod. 3:12). Not, "this awful place," not, "You shall come back to this mountain and curse it." No. Horeb was now conquered and transformed. God’s goodness had leeched into it like leaven in flour, overcoming its power of desolation and barrenness. It would now picture the never-ending, ever-increasing Kingdom Daniel saw (Daniel 7:13-14), the leavening Kingdom of God Jesus preached of (Matthew 13:33), and “Kingdom Mountain” spoken of in Hebrews (12:25-29), the one that can never be shaken. Yes, God now called it His mountain, “the mountain of God" (1 Kings 19:8). And Moses would indeed lead the entire nation of Israel back to this holy place and worship. Worship aligns us with Him…and His mountain. It enables us to conquer our mountain and bring it under His dominion. Beauty Out of Brokenness I know that in the dark night of the soul, hope can seem impossible. But God wins over the impossible. He takes the difficult events that brought about your hope deferred, and through His incredible wisdom and power, makes them produce something good. So good, in fact, that when your memory returns to them later, you’ll worship Him: "God, I don't know how, but in that difficult place, You proved Yourself faithful, bringing me new strength, renewed life, and restored destiny. I worship You." Moses must have thought, "For forty years, I thought this place was horrible. Now I realize it is holy." Some of the most dramatic encounters and visitations ever experienced with God occurred on this mountain once called "Desolation." God will do this for you. Out of your brokenness, your place of pain, He knows how to bring healing and make your Horeb season a holy place of worship. “At the Royal Palace of Tehran, in Iran, you can see one of the most beautiful mosaic works in the world. The ceilings and walls flash like diamonds in multifaceted reflections. “Originally, when the palace was designed, the architect specified huge sheets of mirrors on the walls. When the first shipment arrived from Paris, they found - to their horror - that the mirrors were shattered. The contractor threw them in the trash and brought the sad news to the architect. “Amazingly, the architect ordered all of the broken pieces collected, then smashed them into tiny pieces and glued them to the walls, creating a mosaic of silvery, shimmering, mirrored bits of glass. “Broken… to become beautiful! “It's possible to turn your shattered image into a shimmering testimony of beauty. It is possible to be better because of yesterday’s brokenness. It is extremely rare to find in the great museums of the world objects of antiquity that are unbroken. Indeed, some of the most precious items in the world are only broken pieces -  broken, but beautiful.”(1) You may feel that your life has been hopelessly destroyed, but God, the great architect of heaven, knows better. He knows He can form the broken pieces of your soul into something exquisitely wonderful. Never underestimate His power to repair and restore. Don't run from Horeb. Stare it in the face and tell it you will win. Tell it your God will prevail, and the two of you will commune together on top of it - not under it. Then start hoping. Hope again. Believe again. Dream again. Live again. I know you can; I believe you will. Pray with me: Father, what a reason for hope You have provided. You gave us Yeshua: the seed of the woman, the crusher of the serpent’s head, the wave over Pharaoh’s army. He’s Horeb’s conqueror, Sinai’s fire, the rock of ages, the river in the desert, and Canaan’s milk and honey. He was the widow’s oil, Elijah’s rain, David’s giant-killing stone, and Isaiah’s Wonderful Counselor. Then He became Lazarus’ resurrection, Bartimaeus’ eyes, the leper’s new skin, and our hope within the veil. When life throws us a curve, You make it straight. When it gives us rain You give us water to drink. And when it brings a storm, You cause us to soar on the wings of the wind. Through Christ, You brought life from death, blessings from the curse, and restored purpose to lost humanity. Bring another wave of the Redeemer’s salvation. Do so here in America and around the world. Do it for young and old, poor and rich, every race and creed. We call forth Your life and power into our world, in Yeshua’s name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that every Horeb in our lives will be conquered and transformed, serving God’s redemptive purpose. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ____________________________ Alice Gray, More Stories for the Heart (Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers, Inc., 1997), p. 220.

I was planning to end the posts on the subject of overcoming disappointment and hope deferred with last Friday’s post, moving onto another topic this week. But I have received such positive feedback, and so many are being encouraged, I have decided to do a couple more posts on this theme before moving on. The title of today’s post is: Rock of Ages Our Review Proverbs 13:12 (NASB): “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. Knowing this, God sculpted and shaped a vivid picture of hope deferred, loss, heartbreak, disappointment, etc., in the form of a mountain - Horeb. The very name means "desolation, a waste place, barrenness, dryness" - all perfect synonyms of hope deferred. This is the place where Moses ended up for much of his forty-year exile, shoveling dung instead of bathing in royal hot tubs (Exodus 3:1). There can be no more severe case of hope deferred than what Moses experienced, having lost his royal inheritance and, it seemed, his destiny. I realize "it ain't over 'til it's over," but after disappearing for forty years, a dream is usually over. Left unchecked, hope deferred produces heart disease, as the opening verse tells us. And just as physical heart disease kills the body, spiritual and emotional heart disease kills the soul. Hope evaporates, faith is lost, we no longer dream, and in many ways, our lives become sterile. We exist, but don’t really live. God can help us overcome life’s disappointments - hope deferred - before they lead to this state. However, if you have already progressed to this level of spiritual heart disease, as Moses had, He also knows how to heal and restore your spiritual heart. Christ actually included it as part of His mission statement: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised” (Luke 4:18 KJV). Moses eventually discovered that Horeb had treasure hidden within it. Not only would this barren piece of rock be a picture of exile-induced heart disease, but it would also become a glorious example of conquered hope deferred and healed heart disease. In fact, the transformation of Horeb became so complete for Moses and Israel, its power so harnessed by the hand of God, that this mountain became known as "the mountain of God" (Exodus 3:1) Sinai!! His plans are for your complete victory: "I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope"' (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB). Water From the Rock One of the more spectacular events associated with Horeb occurred in Exodus 17. After leaving Egypt, crossing the Red Sea, and journeying for a few days, Israel had now arrived at Horeb. In desperate need of water, Moses implored God for provision, and the Lord said (my amplified version), “Take your scepter, Moses—the old, weather-beaten staff I fashioned for you on Desolation Mountain—and strike this rock, ‘the rock in Horeb” (Exodus 17:6). Moses, by now, accustomed to Yahweh’s outlandish use of this staff and His unlimited power, did so. He smote the rock and, sure enough, water began gushing forth, a great enough flow to satisfy tens of thousands of people! An underground river must have surfaced. You never know what surprises God has buried on this mountain until you need them. A River of Life First Corinthians 10:4 tells us this rock represents Christ, who was smitten for us. The water that flowed from Horeb’s rock pictures the river of life that flowed from Jesus, the Rock of Ages, at Calvary. Just take a moment and ponder that. The forgiveness of sin, the healing of broken hearts, eternal life - all of the benefits of our salvation are pictured by this event on Horeb. It is fair to say that not just in spite of Horeb, not just when we leave Horeb, but out of Horeb itself, a river of life will flow. God redeemed this barren, dry place and transformed it into one from which a life-saving river flowed. He did this to give us a picture of how He would one day transform the "horrible" Cross into the most powerful symbol of hope in all of history. Our hope-deferred pain is no match for Him. He will conquer it, just as He did sin and death on the cross. Isaiah speaks of rivers in the desert (Isa.43:19-20). Wanting a river in the desert seems almost foolish, like Abraham and Sarah hoping against hope for a child when they are in their nineties. But go ahead and hope, because we serve a miracle-working God, and Isaac was born! You can leave Hope Deferred Mountain with a greater dimension of the power and anointing of Holy Spirit, as shown in the following miracle: “Poor health haunted Dr. A. B. Simpson, and a physician told him he would never live to be forty. This diagnosis underscored the physical helplessness the minister knew all too well. Preaching was an agonizing effort. Walking was painful, and climbing even a slight elevation brought on a suffocating agony of breathlessness. “In desperation, sick in body and despairing in spirit, Dr. Simpson went to his Bible. As he studied, he became convinced that Jesus intended healing to be part of the redemption of humankind's total being. He prayed, asking Christ to fulfill all the needs of his body, until his life's work was done. Every fiber in him tingled with the sense of God's presence. “During the first three years after this healing, he preached more than a thousand sermons, conducting sometimes as many as twenty meetings in one week. For the rest of his life, he was noted for the amazing volume of his sermonic, pastoral, and literary work. “Simpson lived to be seventy-six, but his work has lived after him. The Christian and Missionary Alliance, which he founded, is still a potent spiritual force today; his books are still being published and blessing millions of people.”(1) At his place of desolation, Dr. Simpson grabbed the “scepter” of authority found in God’s Word, and it opened for him the river of life. Not only was he healed, but the spigot he opened is still flowing and impacting lives today. Whatever may be the source of your despair or discouragement, I assure you God has overcoming power available for you. He can still bring water from the rock. Drink from His provision through Christ, the Healer of broken hearts. Pray with me: Father, thank You for transforming Moses’ “Failure Mountain” into a picture of Calvary. Thank You for using a rock found thereon to symbolize Christ and the water that flowed from the rock to picture Your river of life. Our devastation is no match for You! You conquered it at the Cross, using pain to conquer pain, loss to conquer loss, and death to conquer death. Who is like You!!!! We have placed our faith in the Rock of Ages. From His wounds flowed all that was needed to transform every Horeb into victory, every loss into gain. We ask for this now for those needing healing. We speak to diseased hearts: be healed through Christ’s provision! Hope again! Believe again! Dream again! And we have staked our faith also on the fact that this river heals nations. Your mercy at Calvary, still seen on the Mercy Seat of Heaven, forever established victory over judgment. We believe and release that faith now with our words, declaring that cleansing, healing, and restoration are coming to America. The river of life will flow, and millions will find truth, life, and liberty. Government will be cleansed from the stench of its sin; education will be delivered from ignorance and lunacy, the church will be cleansed from her complacency and religious anemia. Other nations and groups will also experience this merciful flow. The Middle East will experience it, Asia will drink from it, as will Europe, Africa, South America, Australia - all the earth will experience Your glory, as the waters cover the sea. Open the spigot of heaven, flowing from the Lamb on the throne, with full force! Flood the earth with Calvary’s flow. In Jesus’ name! Our decree: We decree that a flood of mercy is coming from heaven’s smitten rock! Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me “Rock of Ages, cleft for me, let me hide myself in thee; let the water and the blood, from thy wounded side which flowed, be of sin the double cure; save from wrath and make me pure.”(2) Click on the link below to watch the full video. _____________________________________ Adapted from The Best of Catherine Marshall, ed. By Leonard E. LeSourd (Ada, MI: Chosen Books, 1993). https://hymnary.org/text/rock_of_ages_cleft_for_me_let_me_hide

From a Staff to a Scepter This week, I have been feeling that God wants to bring discouragement, disappointment, and hope-deferred off people. Today’s post is also shared with that in mind, once again using the symbolism of Mt. Horeb, where the Lord renewed Moses’ calling. Horeb means “desolation.” It was also called Sinai. Though often disputed, it is reported that Michelangelo, when asked about the difficulties he must have encountered in sculpting his masterpiece, David, replied with the following description of his creative process: “The sculpture is already complete within the marble block before I start my work. It is already there; I just have to chisel away the superfluous material.”(1) Whether spoken by Michelangelo or not, it certainly describes the way in which God used the chisel of adversity to remove the “superfluous material” hiding the David He had hidden inside him. Whether it be Joseph in prison, Moses on a desolate hillside, or you and I facing our challenges, God makes the chisel called "Horeb" serve us, chipping off our “rough edges,” that which doesn’t look like what He destined us to be. Our weaknesses will leave us, our strengths will remain, and we will leave Horeb better equipped than when we arrived. God doesn’t create our desolation and pain, but He certainly uses it. It was on this mountain that God asked Moses, "What is that in your hand?" (Exodus 4:2). Rest assured that when God asks us a question, it isn’t because He doesn’t know the answer. He is setting us up for a lesson. Moses had asked what would happen when Pharaoh and Israel didn’t believe God had truly given him this assignment. He was about to give Moses the answer, and more. “A staff,” Moses replied, holding a simple stick he had fashioned for walking hills and tending sheep. “Throw it down,” Yahweh commanded. When Moses did so, the staff became a poisonous serpent, causing Moses to flee from it. The Lord stopped him with a ludicrous demand, “Pick it back up…by the tail!” Don’t tell me God doesn’t have a sense of humor. “Hey, if we are going to have a sign here, we may as well have a really good one!” Obeying this was going to require some serious assurance in Moses that this was indeed God speaking to him. But I suppose his reasoning was, if He can burn a tree without burning it, speak to me from the “unburnable” burning tree, and turn my staff into a snake, I guess He can protect me from it.  So Moses picked up the snake by the tail, and it became his staff once again. “Repeat this miracle, and they’ll believe you, Moses.” God had bigger plans than this regarding the staff, however. The Hebrew word for staff is matteh, which is also the word for a “scepter,”(2)  which represents a ruler’s authority. And God was planning to use this staff as Moses’ “scepter” of authority!!! A crooked, knobby, dead piece of wood, shaped by the elements on the mountain of desolation, would become the scepter Moses used to release God’s miracle working power (Exodus 4:17). Ultimately, it would become known as "the staff of God" (4:20). Now there's some serious irony for you: the staff of Horeb became the staff of God. God didn't want Moses carrying a polished, gold-plated, gem-studded scepter from Egypt as the symbol of his heavenly authority. Yahweh wanted something depicting the strength of character that only the wind, sun, rain, and hardship of Horeb could create. "I replaced the golden scepter of Egypt," God was saying, "and gave you one symbolizing humility, meekness, and no confidence in the flesh. It will be your reminder that I AM your source of authority and strength. In Exodus 4:17, God declared, "Take this staff in your hand so you can perform miraculous signs with it" (NIV). And with that old stick, once representing failure and desolation but now picturing meekness and confidence in God alone, Moses judged nations, parted seas, and brought forth water from a rock. On one occasion, when Israel was attacked by the Amalekite people (Exodus 17), God's plan for victory was for Moses to take "the staff of God" onto a nearby mountain and simply hold it up over the battle. The divine authority symbolized by this staff enabled Joshua and his army to defeat their enemies. God used the Horeb-produced "weapon" to conquer Israel’s enemies. Hope-deferred mountains can become weapon factories! What might God want to put in your hands through your place of brokenness? Character? Courage? Understanding? Tenacity? Revelation of God’s faithfulness? When you have conquered this mountain, you will find that God used it to release revelations of Himself and His ways, shaping you into what He had hidden inside. And you’ll know Him more intimately. As you do, the new revelations of his heart and nature will become sustaining forces for your future. Consider the following examples of God revealing Himself on Horeb: Moses received the revelation of God as "I AM THAT I AM" on Horeb (Exodus 3:14, KJV). Israel received the revelation that He is Jehovah Nissi, which means the Lord is our banner and victory, the One who fights our battles for us (Exodus 17:15). Later, the Lord visited Moses again, showing him His goodness and glory on this mountain (Exodus 33:19-23). Exodus 19:17 states, "And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain." What a thought - stand at the bottom of Desolation Mountain and meet with God! Consider Joseph's journey through hope deferred: slavery and imprisonment in Egypt. Though forgotten by those he helped, God was faithful, and Joseph became the second most powerful man in Egypt. "Your brothers intended to dislocate you; I used it to relocate you," was God's final verdict. Only on the other side of hope deferred, however, did this revelation come. Perhaps satan has intended to make you an outcast - God will make you a healer of outcasts. Maybe a deathbed robbed you of a loved one - God will use you to bring healing to those in grief. There are always two plans for your difficult times - satan's plan to cause them and God's plan to redeem them. Though God's purpose often isn’t seen until you emerge on the other side of the pain, He has one. It is doubtful that Susanna Wesley, in the midst of her horrible circumstances, could have ever imagined the incredible purpose God had for two of her children: “Susanna Annesley was born in 1669, the last of twenty-five children. She gave birth to nineteen children, nine of whom died in infancy. Her life was turbulent, frequently unhappy, and filled with trials. “Samuel was often gone from home, leaving her alone and almost penniless to care for her family. Unable to properly manage his small salary, he was put in debtor's prison for a time. “At one point, their home burned to the ground. Susanna suffered from many illnesses and was often bedridden, requiring household help. Many of her children were so errant that they caused her considerable grief. “Yet, her sons John and Charles became two of the greatest evangelists of all time, and their ministry shook the world.”(3) Your Horeb may seem so devastating and painful that you can't see how anything good could possibly come from it. But God can do so, and He will bring about His redemptive purposes in your life. Don't give up. One day, you will find the scepter He's shaping for you - and the you he is shaping for the scepter - on your mountain of desolation. Pray with me: Father, You are amazing! You can work all things for our good, and for Your redemptive purposes. You delight in converting our hope-deferred mountains of desolation into weapons factories. You reward our mountain conquering with greater understandings of Your heart and ways, with new strength, and new levels of authority. We are so grateful for the redemptive, sustaining work You are performing in and through us. We agree together for the full recovery of those who have found themselves at Horeb, whether through their mistakes, like Moses, or through the actions of others. Your grace and power are greater than either. We ask that strength be given them, that broken hearts be healed, weapons and scepters of authority be discovered, and that destiny be realized. And for America, we ask that You would turn our mistakes into learning lessons. Forgive our sins and heal us. Deliver us also from the inappropriate leaders we have empowered. Restore us, we pray, in Jesus’ name. Our decree: We decree that God is greater than our failures, the injustices inflicted on us by others, and our pain. Click on the link below to watch the full video. _____________________________ https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/1191114-the-sculpture-is-already-complete-within-the-marble-block-before James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, s.v. OT: 4294. Adapted from Sandy Dengler, Susanna Wesley, Servant of God (Chicago: Moody Press, 1987).

New Beginnings “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, But desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” (Proverbs 13:12 NASB) “When hope’s dream seems to drag on and on, the delay can be depressing. But when at last your dream comes true, life’s sweetness will satisfy your soul.”  (‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭13‬:‭12‬ TPT‬‬) Yesterday, I mentioned Mt. Horeb, a mountain near Midian, where Moses fled when fleeing from Egypt (Exodus 2:15, 3:1). Horeb means “desolation, a waste place, barrenness,” all by-products of hope deferred.(1) Could any place have more accurately pictured what Moses had experienced? Forty years later, Moses was tending his father-in-law’s sheep on this mountain when God encountered him at the “burning bush” (Exodus 3). Here at this encounter, Horeb is introduced as “the mountain of God” (verse 1); it is, indeed, also known as Mt. Sinai. Many incredible and significant events occurred on this mountain, several of which also pictured God’s ability to transform barrenness and desolation into fruitfulness and life. Moses’ restoration is one of them. One of the negative side effects of hope deferred can be a loss of confidence. This is especially true when you feel that your own decisions have created the situation. The resulting lack of belief in your ability becomes a straitjacket, binding your creativity and paralyzing you with fear. Moses, the great leader of Israel during the exodus from Egyptian slavery, is a prime example. Once upon a time, in what seemed like a fairy-tale life, Moses was filled with self-confidence. And why not? Saved from infanticide, pulled from a basket on the bank of the Nile, adopted by the daughter of a king, and raised in a palace, Moses lived in a bubble where he had everything going for him. But the bubble began weakening when he discovered he wasn't actually an Egyptian. It started leaking air when he killed an Egyptian in order to defend an Israelite. And it finally burst when he was forced to flee for his life to Midian. So much for fairy tales. Moses seemed to adjust fairly well, accepting his fate and creating a decent life in Midian. He found a wife, started a family, and became a rancher. After forty years, Moses seemed to have lived a contented life. But that all changed on one of his visits to Horeb. A bush started burning without being consumed, Moses began hearing a voice speak from it, and the quiet life of a has-been dreamer was rudely interrupted. "Go back to Egypt," the voice said, "and set My people free from their slavery in Egypt." (See Exodus 3:6-10) One can only imagine the shock Moses must have felt. The assignment may have surprised him more than the flame-resistant, talking bush. And when he finally realized this was actually God talking to him, Moses's responses were very revealing. “But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh, and that I should bring the sons of Israel out of Egypt?’" (Exodus 3:11) “Then Moses said to the Lord, ‘Please, Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither recently nor in time past, nor since You have spoken to Your servant: for I am slow of speech and slow of tongue...Please, Lord, now send the message by whomever You will.’" (Exodus 4:10-13) Moses's self-confidence had been crushed by the events of forty years ago. Trained as a leader by the finest minds of Egypt, he now felt confidence only with sheep, "Leave the nation leading to others," he thought, "I laid down that dream a long time ago." But God persisted with a few more miracles, some very revelatory dialogue, and the rest, as they say, is history. Moses did, indeed, go back to Egypt and was used by God to deliver a nation from four hundred years of slavery to become the most significant nation on earth. Can you imagine anything more ironic than God using a mountain, the name of which means "desolation or barrenness," to picture new beginnings? But He did; God transformed Horeb into "Fresh Start Mountain!” God can metamorphose barrenness and the pain of hope deferred into such wholeness that Horeb, as impossible as it sounds, becomes a place of new beginnings. It was on this mountain that Moses's calling was restored (Exodus 3-4). He no doubt believed his destiny was lost forever. And no place could have been a more accurate picture of this. It must have been a constant reminder to Moses of his hope deferred, adding insult to injury: "Not only is my life Horeb, but I work there." Moses was so filled with hopelessness that in these two chapters, God was never able to bring him to a place of believing in his renewed calling. He consistently insisted to the Lord that he was not qualified and didn't want to do it. Finally, God simply said, "I've heard enough! You are going to do this" (See Exodus 4:10-17). God cares more about our destinies than we do! In the New Testament, the apostle Paul's spiritual son, Timothy, was discouraged. Timothy was a young man who found himself leading what had become perhaps the largest and most significant of the early churches, Ephesus. He was facing very challenging circumstances. Timothy's hope deferred had shut down his gifts. If not remedied, heart disease and barrenness would follow. Paul, knowing he would soon be martyred, had to act quickly and decisively. He gave many instructions to Timothy, but began by telling him to "kindle afresh" his gifts (2 Timothy 1:6). The Greek word translated as "kindle afresh" is filled with insight. Anazoporeo(2) is actually composed of three Greek words: Ana(3) means “up or again"; zo traces back to zao,(4) which means “alive”; and pureo is from pur, meaning "fire."(5) This compound word means “to bring the fire back to life,” or “keep in full flame.”(6) “The present tense conveys the sense of progressive, continuous action. Keep kindling the gift afresh or make it your aim to continually keep it at full flame.”(7) Figuratively, it also means “zeal,” or “inflame one’s mind.”(8) Used by Paul in the context of Timothy’s gifts, he was telling him, "I need your gifts to come alive again!" My interpretation would be: "I need your passion to be rekindled, which will reignite your giftings." When the fire goes out, your gifts go with it. Paul reminded Timothy that he had been called "with a holy calling... according to [God's] own purpose and grace" (2 Timothy 1:9). Purpose (prothesis)(9) means "the setting forth of someone's purpose (thesis) in advance (pro)." God has a destiny for us, and He is committed to its fulfillment. He is the beginning, the end, and, when necessary, a renewing in between! But there is more to prothesis. Our English word prosthesis is derived from this Greek word. A prosthesis is an artificial body part, such as an arm or leg, constructed to restore purpose to that which was lost. Paul was encouraging his spiritual son Timothy, saying, "Hey, man, don't forget that God gave you a destiny. And when life seems to have cut off that purpose, He can restore it. Now, start burning again!" The great verse in Romans 8:28 uses prothesis. "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." This verse is saying that no matter what part of our purpose has been cut off, God has already prepared the prosthesis that will restore it. What a great promise for those suffering from hope deferred. Horeb, as much as any other place on earth, illustrates this. There, new beginnings are brought forth from the ashes of desolation and the pain of hope-deferred. In this barren place, we discover that God is bigger than our enemies, our mistakes, sins, shortcomings, and fears. There is hope, even at Horeb, for us as individuals…and for nations. Pray with me: Thank you, Father, for entering into the whitewashed tombs of our hope-deferred hearts, bringing new life, revived destiny, and renewed relationship with You. We are grateful for Your commitment to our destinies and for Your desire to fan into flame the gifts and callings You’ve placed within us. We choose to embrace the thoughts and plans You have for us, plans to prosper us, to give us hope and a bright future. Take those who are experiencing hope deferred back into wholeness, just as You did Moses and Timothy. Some have experienced hope deferred regarding our nation, which is certainly barren, also pictured by Horeb. But You transformed Horeb to Sinai, and made it a place of new beginnings. Give us a fresh start in this nation. Heal us of our depravity and brokenness, deliver us from evil, and restore us to your prothesis. In Jesus’ all-powerful name, amen. Our decree: We decree that we, like Timothy and Moses, are burning with passion once again. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ____________________________ James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), ref. nos. 2717 and 2722. Ibid., ref. no. 329. Ibid., ref. no. 303. Ibid., ref. no. 2226. Ibid., ref. no. 4442. https://www.sermonindex.net/modules/articles/index.php?view=article&aid=34322 Ibid. Thayer, Joseph Henry. A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House 1977). Strongs Concordance, Reference number 4286.

Horeb Isn’t Forever Proverbs 13:12 (NASB): “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but desire fulfilled is a tree of life.” A picture, as they say, is worth a thousand words. Knowing this, God sculpted and shaped a vivid picture of hope deferred in the form of a mountain - wouldn't you know it would be a mountain! Rugged. Barren. Its very name, Horeb, means "desolation, a waste place, barrenness, dryness" - all perfect synonyms of hope deferred. This is the place where Moses ended up for much of his forty-year exile, shoveling dung instead of bathing in royal hot tubs (Exodus 3:1). There can be no more severe case of hope deferred than what Moses experienced, having lost his royal inheritance and, it seemed, his destiny. I realize "it ain't over 'til it's over," but after disappearing for forty years, a dream is usually over. But thankfully, like many mountains, Horeb had treasure hidden within it. Not only would this barren piece of rock be a picture of exile-induced heart disease, but it would also become a glorious example of conquered hope deferred and healed heart disease. In fact, the transformation of Horeb became so complete for Moses and Israel, its power so harnessed by the hand of God, that this mountain became known as "the mountain of God" (Exodus 3:1). From Horeb, “desolate, barren, waste place,” to “the mountain of God!” Sinai! It just doesn't get any better than that! Forgive my play on words, but Horeb didn't remain horrible for Moses, and it doesn’t have to for us today. He found gold in Mount Horeb, and so will we. We, as individuals, can see its devastation transformed and we can see Horeb overcome for our nation, as well. God wants to transform the Horeb seasons of our lives so that one day, all we’ll see when we look back at them is Him. "I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope"' (Jeremiah 29:11 NASB). This became especially real to me a few years back when I found myself in a season of hope deferred, much of which had been caused by rejection and betrayal. While seeking the Lord for comfort one afternoon, He threw me quite a curve. "I need you to embrace the pain," He spoke very clearly. What a strange and seemingly cruel statement to hear from a loving Father, who supposedly had great plans for my welfare and a future filled with hope. I did not realize, however, that God wanted more than simply to remove my pain; He also wanted to use it. God never wastes our pain; before He removes it, He makes it serve us. Horeb will become our gym, and the pharaoh who sent us there, our trainer. And ultimately, like God, whose nature we inherited, we will win. He always wins, and so can we. I want to be very clear that God wasn't telling me that betrayal is good, nor that He caused it. God doesn't cause evil, but He does make it serve Him— and us. He needed me to embrace the pain, not so I could hurt, but in order to grab it, wrestle it to the mat, and claim my prize! God doesn't call evil good, as some people are prone to do. Pain isn't good; it tells us something is wrong. Death is an enemy. Emotional wounds can break our hearts. God doesn't make light of our pain, and He isn't playing weird mind games with us, trying to convince us that bad is good. He is saying, however, that no matter how great the wound and deep the pain, He knows how to heal and transform it. And not just into scar tissue. He will use its lessons to make us better, healthier, richer, wiser, and better positioned for a fulfilling future. Horeb isn't terminal! “After suffering severe burns on his legs at the age of five, Glenn Cunningham was given up by doctors who believed he would... spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair... “The doctors examined his legs, but they had no way of looking into Glenn Cunningham's heart. He didn't listen to the doctors and set out to walk again. Lying in bed ...Glenn vowed, ‘Next week, I'm going to get out of bed. I'm going to walk.’ And he did just that. “His mother tells of how she used... to look out the window to watch Glenn reach up and take hold of an old plow in the yard. With a hand on each handle, he began to make his gnarled and twisted legs function. And with every step, a step of pain, he came closer to walking. Soon, he began to trot; before long, he was running... “‘I always believed that I could walk, and I did. Now I'm going to run faster than anybody has ever run.’ And did he ever. “He became a great miler who, in 1934, set the world's record of 4:06. He was honored as the outstanding athlete of the century at Madison Square Garden.”(1) Someone once said that pain is inevitable; suffering is optional. Glenn Cunningham moved on from Horeb. We can, as well! Pray with me: Father, our nation has become Horeb, a “barren, desolate, waste place,” spiritually speaking. Our government is defiled, dishonest, and incompetent; our education system has become nothing more than a propagandizing arm of evil; our system of justice is unjust; our borders are open - we are like an ancient city without walls, and our cities are filled with violence. We kill our babies, mutilate our children, and no longer know the difference between men and women. And we are proud of this. You would have every right to destroy us and shake the dust off of Your feet as You leave. But You would rather transform Horeb into something good, bringing wisdom from the pain and good from evil. You have said You were going to save us, and we believe You. Just as Moses’ place of exile became “the mountain of God,” we, too, will see Your glory flashing from this barren place. So, we prophesy to the desolate land, “You will live again.” We prophesy to the children, “You will be taught of the Lord and transformed into passionate lovers of God’s presence.” We prophesy to our government, “You will once again come under the influence of God.” We prophesy to our education system, “You will no longer be led by fools and propagandists.” And we prophesy to our justice system, “You will have righteous judges as before.” “America, you will live and not die, and once again declare the works of God.” Our decree: We decree that America is returning to the Lord, and to her destiny. Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________ Jack Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen, and Barry Spilchuk, compilers, A Cup of Chicken Soup for the Soul, (Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc., 1996), pp. 76-77.

Finding the Old Road The great Winston Churchill seemed to have a prophetic sense regarding his destiny from a young age, though he would not likely have referred to it as prophetic. At 16 years of age, he told a friend, “I have dreams about it, seeing into the future.” Though he acknowledged that the dreams were “blurry,” he nonetheless insisted, “This country will be subjected somehow, to a tremendous invasion, by what means I do not know, but I tell you I shall be in command of the defenses of London, and I shall save London and England from disaster.”(1) No doubt orchestrated by God’s sovereign hand, Churchill would, indeed, fulfill those words. Amazing! Though Churchill was not what most would think of as religious, he was nevertheless a man of deep faith and biblical knowledge, which many, like biographer Stephen Mansfield, believe was instilled in him by his childhood nanny.(2) Churchill often referenced “Christian civilization” as one of the causes for which the Allies were fighting Hitler,(3) which the following partial list of quotes illustrates: As early as 1931, in The Strand Magazine, Churchill wrote about "our duty to preserve the structure of humane, enlightened, Christian society."(4) In a speech to the House of Commons about the Munich Agreement in 1938, Churchill said, "There can never be friendship between the British democracy and the Nazi power, that power which spurns Christian ethics, which cheers its onward course by a barbarous paganism."(5) In 1940, he said, “I expect that the battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian Civilization.”(6) As he contemplated the defense of London during the Battle of Britain, he referred to the metropolis as "this strong City of Refuge which…is of deep consequence to Christian civilization."(7) In 1944, he said, "It is no exaggeration to say that the future of the whole world and the hopes of a broadening civilization founded upon Christian ethics depends upon the relations between the British Commonwealth of Nations and the USA."(8) In his famous "Iron Curtain" speech on March 5, 1946, after the war had ended, Churchill still sounded the warning, saying that the Communist parties infiltrating postwar nations "constitute a growing challenge and peril to Christian civilization."(9) Churchill knew the war was about more than a madman’s lust for power; satan was behind it. Satan has planned many actions and enterprises over the centuries to oppose Christ’s cause, just as he did with Hitler and the Nazis, followed by Communism. Today’s Marxist wokism, partnering with secularism, is more of the same. (Secularism is the view that public education and other matters of civil policy should be conducted without the introduction of a religious element.) The intent of satan, the author of these evils, is to stop the gospel of Christ’s Kingdom from succeeding. Though his spiritual war manifests in physical wars and political beliefs, we must never forget that the roots and causes of all antichrist efforts are spiritual. The War For America The war for the soul of America springs from this battle. Raised up to trumpet Christ’s good news to the ends of the earth and having become a key player in this righteous cause, America has become a primary target of satan and his kingdom. He wants to steal our destiny because it is linked to Christ’s cause. This war over America is ultimately the same war Churchill and the Allies were fighting. Satan doesn’t care whether he rules people by force, as in Nazi or Marxist dictators, or through intellectual ideals such as paganism, secularism, or hedonism (the doctrine that pleasure or happiness is the highest good). As long as he can keep people from the truth of the gospel and the spiritual freedom it produces, he is satisfied. The same cynics who today scoff at statements regarding America being raised up for the cause of Christ would no doubt have scoffed at Churchill’s statements that he and Britain were fighting for Christian ideals and civilization. And they’re just as wrong today as they would have been then. When we pray for America’s spiritual revival, we are praying for the salvation of a billion souls around the world. Our Focus and Commitment This also means we must be just as focused and committed today as the Allies were then. Our cause is just as noble. Do not be deterred by accusations of “Christian nationalism,” “followers of Trump,” “the bigoted right,” “hate mongers,” “insurrectionists,” or the various “phobics” words they coin. We know who we are and who we are not. Don’t be distracted by liars and propagandists who oppose and try to define us. When Israel’s destiny was in peril because of their compromise, Jeremiah prophesied, “Go stand at the crossroads and look around. Ask for directions to the old road, the tried-and-true road. Then take it,” (Jeremiah 6:16, The Message). We must do the same. Knowing the United States of America was God’s idea, connected to His cause, our Founders left no doubt about this. Consider the revealing words of George Washington and John Quincy Adams. “Of all the dispositions and habits which lead to political prosperity, religion, and morality are indispensable supports. It is impossible to rightly govern the world without God and the Bible.” (George Washington)(10) “The highest glory of the American Revolution was this: it connected in one indissoluble bond the principles of civil government with the principles of Christianity.” (John Quincy Adams)(11) It doesn’t get any clearer than that. America’s old road leads back to the old road of the gospel and the Cross, the birthplace of Churchill’s “Christian civilization.” Pray with me: Father, You are leading us back to the old road, the ancient path (Jeremiah 6:16). We are re-capturing our roots and destiny as a nation, and will cast off the shackles of false ideologies and demonic strongholds. This is being enabled and empowered by the prayers of Your people, as they come into agreement with Your will. Even the coming shaking is to facilitate this return to destiny, not end it. Just as Churchill was called from his mother‘s womb to help preserve freedom and Christian ideals around the world, we have been called from our mother‘s wombs, as well. We were born for such a time as this (Esther 4:14). You determined the time in which we would live and the boundaries of our habitation, (Acts 17:26), which means we live now because You willed it. We will not be deterred from our cause, distracted by demonic strategies and assaults, nor waver in our commitment. We will see the sweeping revival You have promised, and the fruit of its redemptive power. This redemption will not only affect individuals, but the corporality of our nation and the nations of the world. We will not fail because it is not our strength or wisdom that gives us victory, but Your power and wisdom. We decree that Marxism, wokism, secularism, hedonism, paganism, nor any other mindset will prevail against God‘s purposes for America. We decree that the ungodly leaders in our land who partner with these forces also will not prevail; we pray for their salvation and deliverance. We bind every stronghold of deception working in our land and loose the revelation that brings conviction and truth. And we prophesy to the wind of the Spirit to blow on the dry bones of America. We pray and decree all of this in Jesus’ name. Amen. Our decree: We decree that Christ’s cause is our cause, and we will apprehend that for which we were apprehended. (Philippians 3:12) Click on the link below to watch the full video. __________________________ Jonathan Sandys and Wallace Henley, God and Churchill (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum), p. 4. Stephen Mansfield, “The Hidden Calling,” The Christian Post, July 19, 2012; http://blogs.christianpostcom/in-our-time/the-hidden-calling-10923. Ibid. Stephen Mansfield, “Why Winston Churchill?” stephenmansfield.tv, November 30, 2009. For background, see also Stephen Mansfield, Never Give In: The Extraordinary Character of Winston Churchill (Cumberland House, 1997). Winston Churchill, “The Munich Agreement” (speech to the House of Commons, London, October 5, 1938). The full text of this speech can be found online at www.winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1930-1938-the-wilderness/the-munich-agreement. Jonathan Sandys and Wallace Henley, God and Churchill (Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale Momentum), p. 91. Winston Churchill, “Their Finest Hour” Speech, June 18, 1940. Winston Churchill, “War of the Unknown Warriors,” BBC broadcast, July 14, 1940. The full text of this speech can be found online at www.winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1940-the-finest-hour/war-of-the-unknown-warriors. Winston S. Churchill, speech at the Pilgrims Society luncheon for ambassador-designate Lord Halifax, London, January 9, 1941. See Robert Rhodes James, ed., Winston S. Churchill: His Complete Speeches 1897-1963 (New York: Bowker; 1974), vol. 6, 6327-6328. Winston Churchill: “The Sinews of Peace” (speech at Westminster College, Fulton, MO, March 5, 1946). The full text of this speech (also commonly known as the “Iron Curtain” speech) can be found online at www.winstonchurchill.org/resources/speeches/1946-1963-elder-statesman/the-sinews-of-peace. Simpson, Douglas, Looking for America: Rediscovering the Meaning of Freedom (Enumclaw, WA: WinePress Publishing, 2006), p. 304. Ibid.

Introduction My heart continues to be pulled toward prodigals. God is definitely emphasizing prayer for them at this time. Our friend, Dr. Brenda Marlin, has written a great article regarding praying for prodigals. Ceci and I had the privilege of knowing Brenda and her husband, David, several years ago when they attended our church in Colorado. At the time, she was president of the official women’s ministry of U.S. military chapels. I know her sound and practical wisdom will help us pray more effectively. The Divine Setup Do you have an adult child who has run away from God? Does thinking about praying for them leave you with a deep feeling of weariness and despair? If you’re a church leader, do you keep the disappointment hidden to avoid judgment by others? Do you feel as though your prayers remain unheard, and you are left hopeless? Or do you feel confused and disappointed with God because you think you did almost everything right in raising your child, and they turned away from God anyway? I have experienced some of these same feelings. In the process of living through an agonizing season of watching my daughter fall away from God, and then return to a wonderful relationship with Him, I learned that He is a loving, sovereign, good, good Father. I also discovered there are redemptive treasures found within difficult seasons. The supernatural peace, joy, and growth I received toward the end of that time were undeniable. But more than that, I learned how to love God and others more profoundly and accept His love for me more fully. Likewise, your journey of praying for your prodigal will produce a season of good things if you trust God and don’t give up. Vital Truth Isaiah 61 addresses how God rebuilds ancient ruins and restores what’s been broken for generations. God wants to transform His children, so He never gets weary or tired in the lifelong pursuit of His beloved. He looks for ways to fertilize and grow the seeds of destiny locked away within the gardens of our souls. If you find yourself in the situation of loving a prodigal adult child, you’re not in the minority, and you are not alone! No one needs to hide in shame, because healing comes from sharing what we are experiencing with trusted friends and counselors. Recent survey results released in George Barna’s American Worldview Inventory 2020-2021 reveal that a meager percentage of Generation X and Millennials has a biblical worldview. Although many indicate they are Christians, they do not hold to foundational biblical truths. The way they define Christian living is vastly different from the way older generations believe. Considering this evidence, we need God to help us in a time of great need. Like the prodigal son in Luke 15, our children need a wake-up call to understand the depravity of their situation. They need a spiritual revelation, opening their eyes to see their need for the one true God. All these distressing issues are leading to a divine setup of biblical proportions. To help encourage and align us with God’s plan for this coming season, I want to suggest a few strategies to help heal your heart from past discouragement and position you for the forthcoming great awakening. If parents and grandparents join God in doing the specific prayer work I suggest, the benefits will unlock revival in our hearts that will flow down and bear good fruit for generations to come. Face fear head-on. Decision-making based on fear never takes you down the right path. Face the fearful thoughts regarding your prodigal and confess them to God. Read and meditate on such passages as 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Ephesians 6:10-18 and Philippians 4:6-8 to start the prayer strategy process. Trust the process. Many weary parents get discouraged because they don’t see a quick enough turnaround in their prodigal child. Stories about instant deliverances in the lives of others’ loved ones keep parents hoping for the same. When that doesn’t come, discouragement can set in. However, God must often take people through a process versus an instant transformation. Stand on whatever promises God has given you and trust He is at work in both you and your child, even if you don’t see Him working. Make it personal. If you think your prayers don’t matter, think again. When I was at the point of being too tired or disappointed in seeing little to no results from my prayers, the Lord reminded me of my favorite Scripture, Proverbs 3:5-6. He had me repeat it in a first-person manner, emphasizing the word “all.” “Trust Me with all your heart, and do not lean into your own understanding, Brenda.” Fear has no place in trusting God and His perfect love for you and your children. So personalize it and place your name in this encouraging Scripture. Renounce ill-spoken words. In times of frustration, we speak of things we later regret. Our words have great power. Proverbs 18:21 tells us how the tongue has the power of life and death; what you say matters. Ask God if there are any negative words you’ve spoken about or to your children regarding judgments you’ve made. Speaking words and phrases such as “They will never …,” or, “You’re never going to …,” influences and reinforces the behavior you do not want to see. Confess to God the negative words you’ve spoken, and renounce them. Then, take time to announce opposite words of truth that bring life. Ask your child’s forgiveness if they heard you say these things. Ask for fresh revelation. Song of Songs 4:12 says you are a garden locked up. Seeds of potential are buried within the garden of your soul. When we turn to God with our pain and disappointment, He can redeem everything. I learned that in the place of pressure and fiery trials, the Holy Spirit brings beautiful gems and treasures from the ashes of our lives. From the understanding God gave me of the Song of Songs, I now use this book and my artwork as a strategic prayer template for helping people move into His plan. Pray and ask God to give you a fresh revelation of something new He’s unlocking in you through this situation. Abide in the Father’s love. Spending daily time abiding with God to seek His love, peace, wisdom, and comfort helped me more than anything else. Pray that God gives both you and your child a revelation of the deep love of the Father. Pray Ephesians 1:17-18, that God would provide a spirit of wisdom and revelation for you and your child to know Him more and that the eyes of your hearts would open to see Him in the midst of your lives. Speak into another mother and father’s prodigal child. Speak life into a young adult. Even a word or two spoken to a cashier, waitress, or employee you work with can move mountains and set things in motion for their return to God. There is life in your words and the prayers of parents behind those words. In all things, praise the Lord. Thank God and worship Him. He knows what it will take to turn your beloved around. Trust Him with all your heart and lean not into your understanding. Don’t let the enemy steal your joy! Acknowledge to your Heavenly Father how you feel about your child’s decisions, and then let the joy of the Lord be your strength. Keep your eyes on Jesus and trust Him with the process. Read and pray from the book of Psalms for added encouragement and comfort during these difficult times. Find a battle buddy. God has not designed you to carry your burdens alone. I have a group of trusted friends with whom I pray regularly. Long ago, I prayed and asked God to send me a friend to pray with who had children around my children’s age. He answered my prayer, connecting me to a lady who worked only two buildings up from mine. We quickly became prayer battle buddies and dear friends who have prayed for our children through some tough times. We have seen both little and big victories, but most of all, we have seen God’s love abound immeasurably more than we asked, hoped for, or imagined (see Eph. 3:19-20). God answered my prayer for a prayer battle buddy, but I got so much more than that. Let love be your guide. Let 1 Corinthians 13 be your template for how to love your prodigal. Choose to listen to them. Since they have walked away from God, let the Holy Spirit weave together His master plan of how to reach them. We can join Him by continuing to pray for them and showing His love in practical ways. When we keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith, He helps us walk out our difficult seasons with His grace and strength. Even if you are in the painful years of agony, watching your adult child throw away everything they have learned about God, He will always be with you. You will no longer have to run and hide from the judgment of others but find help and treasures in this challenging season of your life. God can redeem, rebuild and bring beauty from the ashes of your life and your prodigal’s as well. He can make everything beautiful in its time (see Eccl. 3:11). Pray with me: Father, as Brenda reminds us, Your heart beats for the saving and restoring of all people. You rebuild ancient ruins and restore what has been broken (Isaiah 61). We lock our faith into this truth, knowing You are working in the lives of our prodigals to remove strongholds, destroy deception, and revive truth. We will hold fast to this throughout the process, casting down all fear and refusing to waver. Lord, our prodigals have been the victims of a decades-long strategy to discredit Your Word. This has occurred through our education system, our government, entertainment, and religion. We do believe, however, that You are setting things up in our nation for a great awakening of prodigals - through the coming shaking, outbreaks of power, explosions of truth, and a release of Your great love. We break the power of any word curses we or others have spoken over our children, renouncing them and replacing them with Your words: Our children are and will be taught of the Lord; their peace and wholeness is and will be great! No weapon that has ever been formed against them will prosper; this is our - and their - heritage from the Lord (Isaiah 54:13-17). Our decree: We decree that all of our children will know, love, and be taught by Father God. Click on the link below to watch the full video. Today’s post was written by Dr. Brenda Marlin. Brenda is a speaker, author, and artist. She is also a professor and former president of the official international women’s ministry of U.S. military chapels. Brenda and her husband David (retired Sgt. First Class) live in central Texas, where they continue to minister to the military and others. Find out more about her at BrendaMarlin.com.

“No Trespassing” Yesterday, I shared a little about kairos times; the word means “strategic time; the right time; the opportune point of time at which something should or must be done."(1) Kairos prayers are those prayed in response to Holy Spirit’s warnings, or during crises. Hebrews 4:16 tells us to approach God’s throne of grace boldly, obtaining grace and mercy in those times (kairos) of need. In the post, I related an amazing testimony regarding a kairos situation, a kairos prayer, and a kairos answer. Here is another amazing testimony. Gale Mummert, a member of our fellowship in Colorado Springs, shared the remarkable testimony of her family’s protection during a kairos time of danger in Lancaster, Texas. “As we were driving home in threatening weather, my husband, Gene, turned on the radio for a local report. Funnel clouds had, indeed, been spotted nearby. After arriving home, things grew strangely calm. “In a short while, the wind started to blow fiercely. Trees were bent over, and the walls of the house began to flutter. Windows rattled and hail beat on the carport. ‘Get into the hall and close the doors,’ my husband shouted. ‘Get pillows, blankets and a flashlight.’ “‘Nana, I’m scared,’ cried our five-year-old grandson, William. “‘Jesus will take care of us. Don’t be afraid,’ I told him. “Suddenly, sirens began to go off in our small town. The walls moved as though they weren't anchored to anything. ‘If we are not in a tornado, we are close.’ shouted Gene as he ran into the hall. “‘Link arms and sit on the floor,’ I said. "’I love you,’ Gene said to us as he surrounded us with blankets and pillows, covered us with his body, and enveloped us with his arms. A mighty rushing wind was all around us and sucked us together into a ball. ‘Pray! Keep praying,’ he said. "’God Almighty, help us!’ we screamed. “Explosion! “Windows shattered, glass flew everywhere. Another explosion. The walls caved in. Debris shot everywhere like arrows toward their target. "’Jesus, help us! You are our Savior! You are our King!’ my voice cried. I looked up - the roof was falling on us. A ladder crashed down on my husband. "’Now start praising Him,’ Gene shouted through the wind. “The next blast was the worst. There was nothing we could do. Only He could help us. Everything was out of control, but we knew the sovereignty of God. We knew we were at the point of death, but we shouted, ‘Thank You, Jesus! Thank You, Lord!’ “Suddenly, peace filled me like a flood. A sweet voice filled my heart, ‘I've heard your cry for help. I've bent the heavens for you. No matter what happens around you, I'm here protecting you.’ Tears flooded my face and I knew Jesus was protecting us. It seemed His arms had surrounded us. I knew we would be safe. “The tornado was over. The rain beat down on us with a force I had never felt before. We were safe. ‘Mama, I see the sky,’ little William said. "’William, that's because the roof is gone. We probably won't have any walls, either,’ Gene informed him. "’I'm so thankful we're okay,’ our daughter Wendy cried. ‘Jesus protected us, didn't He?’ Though buried under tons of debris, our hair covered with insulation and glass, we were okay. Just a few minor injuries.”(1) The Mummerts may no longer have physical walls, but they had spiritual walls! Paga, building walls and boundaries of protection through intercession, had protected them. In my book Intercessory Prayer, I relate the following testimony: “I heard a guest lecturer at Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas, tell another interesting story involving not a kairos moment, but a kairos season of building boundaries (paga) of protection. “He had a vivid reocurring dream, which he felt strongly was a warning from the Lord, of his married daughter dying. In the dream, he was not shown how her death happened, but he felt strongly that satan had a well-laid plan to take his daughter’s life. So as not to alarm her, he told only his son-in-law, and the two of them began to intercede (paga) daily for her safety. They were building boundaries (paga) of protection around her. “This minister related how several times each day - while he worked, drove his car, walked, whenever it came to mind - he would bind satan’s plan to take his daughter’s life. Then he would declare the protection of the Lord over her. “About a month later - remember, I said this was a kairos season and mentioned he prayed daily - his daughter received a promotion at work. With the promotion came a life insurance policy that mandated a physical exam. “At one point in the process, after a blood sample had been taken, a doctor addressed her in a near panic with the question and comments, ‘Lady, what have you been doing in your diet? We can find no potassium in you. There is no reasonable explanation as to why you’re alive. When this deficiency occurs, a person can feel fine but suddenly drop dead. We must get you to the hospital immediately and begin to replenish the potassium.’ “The daughter lived, of course. She had been on a strange diet for several weeks, during which she had eaten only one or two kinds of food. Though there was no medical explanation as to why she lived, we know the spiritual explanation: a boundary (paga) of protection was built in the spirit through prayer.”(3) Regardless of what may be occurring around you, you can abide in the secret place of the Most High God (Psalm 91). Post “No Trespassing” signs around you and yours daily. Refuse to allow demonic encroachment. “No evil…no plague…” the Psalm says. A while back, I read this Psalm over you, but I want to do so again today as our prayer. I am including it, so you can read along with me, out loud. I encourage you to do so daily. Pray with me: “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say to the Lord, ‘My refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust!’ For it is He who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings, you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark. You will not be afraid of the terror by night, or of the arrow that flies by day, the pestilence that stalks in darkness, or of the destruction that lays waste at noon. A thousand may fall at your side and ten thousand at your right hand, but it shall not approach you. You will only look on with your eyes and see the recompense of the wicked. For you have made the Lord, my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place. No evil will befall you, nor will any plague come near your tent. For He will give His angels charge concerning you, to guard you in all your ways. They will bear you up in their hands, that you do not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread upon the lion and cobra, the young lion and the serpent you will trample down. ‘Because he has loved Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him securely on high, because he has known My name. He will call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him. With a long life, I will satisfy him and let him see My salvation.’” (Psalm 91 NASB) Our decree: The Lord is our Shepherd; therefore, we fear no evil! (Psalm 23:1, 4) Click on the link below to watch the full video. Portions of today’s post were taken from my book Intercessory Prayer, Published by Baker Books. _______________________________ James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), reference no. 2540. Dutch Sheets, Intercessory Prayer (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books), pp. 97-99. Ibid., pp. 101-102.

As He Was Flying Through The Air Much has been said of late about the potential for terrorism here in America. The open border policies of Biden, Mayorkas, and the Dems have allowed drugs, rapists, murderers, gang members, human traffickers and their slaves, and doubtlessly many terrorists into our nation. Apart from the many practical difficulties and human suffering this is creating, the sheer evil of it is abhorrent and unconscionable. These leaders know that over a hundred thousand people are killed each year by fentanyl, that tens of thousands of children have disappeared in the trafficking, and that terrorists are coming in. They allow this for the potential of future voters, and because they want to destroy the America we knew. There aren’t words adequate to describe the evil of this cruelty. The terrorism could very well be related to the shaking God has spoken of. Regardless, it is coming, and sad to say, is the reaping from voting immoral, unprincipled, power-at-any-cost reprobates into our government. When asked about the current threat, FBI Director Wray said: “What I would say that is unique about the environment that we're in right now in my career is that while there may have been times over the years where individual threats could have been higher here or there than where they may be right now, I've never seen a time where all the threats or so many of the threats are all elevated, all at exactly the same time." Comparing the warnings to red lights, Wray said, "I see blinking red lights everywhere…The threat level has gone to a whole nother level since October 7 [the invasion of Israel by Hamas]."(1) It is very important during this season that we are alert to Holy Spirit’s warnings, and diligent to cover our families, friends, and leaders with prayer. I taught some on this a while back, but feel I should do so again today and tomorrow. In Joshua 19, the word paga (the Hebrew word for intercession) is used several times. This passage describes the dimensions or boundaries of each of the tribes of Israel. Paga is translated several ways in various translations, including "reached to," "touched," "bordered," and "boundary."(2) The Spirit-Filled Bible says paga, when used in this context, is the extent to which a boundary reaches. Applying this to prayer, we can build boundaries of protection around ourselves and others through intercession. This facet of intercession is something we should do daily for our family and loved ones. There are also specific times when the Holy Spirit will alert us to particular situations requiring urgent prayers for protection - kairos prayers. I’ve taught on the subject of timing more than once in Give Him 15 posts, but here is a quick review. There are multiple Greek words for "time." The primary word is chronos, which refers to time in general; it is the general "time in which anything is done."(3) Another very important word, kairos, is "the right time; the opportune point in time at which something should be done."(4) A window of opportunity would be kairos time, as would a well-timed attack in war, or a moment of danger. On the other hand, what time of day it currently is would be chronos time. The Scriptures speak of kairos prayers, prayer offered during critical times of need. Ephesians 6:18, the context of which is spiritual warfare, says that we are to "be on the alert ... for all the saints" and "pray at all times [kairos] in the Spirit." This verse is not telling us to pray all the time - that would be chronos - but to pray at all strategic times (kairos). In other words, in this spiritual war, our adversary wants to steal, kill, destroy, and hinder our efforts. However, if we are alert Holy Spirit will warn us of satan’s well-timed attacks (kairos), so that we can establish a boundary (paga) of protection by praying. A friend of ours experienced an amazing answer to kairos prayer several years ago. Early one morning, she went to visit her son and daughter-in-law. The son worked an all-night shift, so, awaiting his return from work, mom and daughter-in-law visited for a short while. As time wore on, however, and the son didn't arrive, Mom, an intercessor, began to feel uneasy. Something wasn’t right. Thinking that perhaps he had to work overtime and was still at work, they called his place of employment to check. "No," they were told, "he has indeed left." Naturally, they both had assumed he left work at his normal time; if so, he should have been home by now. In fact, he actually HAD worked a little overtime and had only left moments before they called. But the fact that this wasn’t communicated to them was orchestrated by Holy Spirit. Knowing her son had left work and believing he should be home by now, Mom became even more alarmed. "I'm concerned,” she said. “Something is wrong. Let's drive toward his place of work." As mom and daughter-in-law drove toward the son’s workplace on a busy Dallas parkway, they saw him coming toward them from the other direction, on his motorcycle, traveling around 45 to 50 miles per hour. At that moment, he fell asleep! They watched as he veered off the road, hit the curb, and flew 40 or 50 feet through the air! If that were not bad enough, He wasn’t even wearing a helmet. That would be a kairos moment! BUT because of Holy Spirit’s alert that something wasn’t right, Mom was there to pray! As he was flying through the air, she was shouting, "Jesus, protect my son!" PAGA! She continued praying as they hurriedly turned around and nervously drove back to him. A crowd had gathered around, and they ran to the scene, wondering what they would find. They found a miracle! NO injuries - no bones broken, no lacerations, no internal injuries. Just a dazed young man wondering what had just happened. Paga happened...Kairos paga happened! A mother picked up on the warning from Holy Spirit, was in the right place at the right time, and a boundary of protection was built. Let’s be diligent in listening to Holy Spirit’s warnings during this time of danger. Also, declare Psalm 91 over your family daily. Build walls of protection around them, declaring: “No evil will befall my family; no plague will come near their dwelling!” Ask for angels to surround and protect them (Psalm 91:9-10). In fact, why not declare the entire Psalm over them; as we shared yesterday, this releases God’s power. Live in the secret place! Pray with me: Father, thank You for the availability of the Psalm 91 secret place of safety and protection. Your name, Your authority, is a strong tower; we run into it and are safe. (Proverbs 18:10) We can build walls - boundaries of protection - around ourselves and loved ones as we declare Your word and place our faith in Your protective covering. We boldly declare that no evil will successfully harm us or our families; no violence will penetrate Your covering. You will hide us from every attempt to do so. Angels encamp about us and keep us safe in all of our ways. You are a shield around us, and nothing will penetrate this shield. Alert us, Holy Spirit, to any strategic or critical time we need to pray for someone we know. We will be alert for Your guidance and respond appropriately. We pray for our nation and leaders. Thank You for the word You gave us to paint our borders and stake our nation to its covenant with You. We have done so. We know that there is shaking coming, but we also know that there is protection, even as the shaking occurs. Keep our nation during this time. We pray, especially, for key leaders that You have raised up during this time in our history. Please protect them from all evil, in Jesus' name. Our decree: We decree that no weapon, no evil strategy, and not even an accident will prosper against us. Click on the link below to watch the full video. ___________________________ https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fbi-director-terror-threats-elevated-all-time-high-oct-7-blinking-lights-everywhere James Strong, The New Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1990), reference no. 6293. Ibid., ref. no. 5550. Ibid., ref. no. 2540.