Death's Sting Swallowed Forever 1-27-14

“And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; 

and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, 

neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.” 

Rev. 21:4

Each of us has experienced the pain of death’s sting to one degree or another, hearts wounded by the passing of a dear family member, friend or beloved pet.

We Cleary’s said goodbye to our dearly loved rescue pup this weekend.

~After an abusive initiation into this life by her 2 prior owners, our “chance meeting” caused hearts to melt and this dog’s life to change forever. We adopted “Cookie” into our Cleary pack, promptly renamed her “Kassi” (actually, “Kassia Agape” meaning Pure Love), and nuzzled one another a full decade. Her passing causes our hearts to be heavy, but we trust our faithful and loving Lord.

Isn’t it comforting to know that our Lord defeated death on the cross (spiritually) and will swallow up death forever with His eternal reign (literally)?

“Just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Rom. 5:21

“He will swallow up death forever.” Is. 25:8

One day soon we will experience no more tears, pain or death forevermore.

Until this day, we reside in a world beset with hardship. Plagued yes, defeated, no.

Defeat or victory? The victor’s crown is determined by which one controls our mind. God promises, “The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.” Rom. 8:6     ~Life and peace AMIDST hardship and heartache.

“For to us a child is born, to us a Son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.” Is. 9:6-7

So, here are a couple tough personal questions to ponder this week:

• ·      If I’m not experiencing this kind of life and peace, amidst the hardships of life, who is governing my mind?
• ·      If it’s not the Spirit of Peace…why not?

Praying alongside one another, Christ loves us so dearly.

Big hugs,  ~Shaun and Betsy

Unseen Reasons 1-14-14

“If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, but only a fearful expectation of

 judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.” Heb. 10:26-27

What is the difference between a sinful mistake, like the ones exemplified by Moses and Uzzah, and willful sin described in Heb.10: 26?

Let’s explore together:

Moses example of disobedience:

Num. 20:8; 11-12 “Take the staff, and you and your brother Aaron gather the assembly together. Speak to that rock before their eyes and it will pour out its water. You will bring water out of the rock for the community so they and their livestock can drink…Then Moses raised his arm and struck the rock twice with his staff. Water gushed out, and the community and their livestock drank….The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ‘Because you did not trust in me enough to honor Me as holy in the sight of the Israelites, you will not bring this community into the land I give them.’” (the consequence of disobedience)

Moses' disobedience, amongst other things, "ruined" a divine pictorial God had teed up.

1 Cor. 10:4 tells us of spiritual water quenching our thirst (coming from Jesus our Rock, divinely exemplified in the rock that Moses was supposed to speak to, not strike) Hence, God had to punished Moses by not allowing Moses to enter the Promised Land ...that is this side of heaven. Seems unfair? Check out God’s grace in Matt. 17: 1-3! ~God views man’s earthly life through eternal lenses, hence His priorities on earth often differ from man’s.

Uzzah’s example of disobedience:

1 Chr. 13:9-10 (7-11) “And when they came unto the threshing floor of Chidon, Uzzah put forth his hand to hold the ark; for the oxen stumbled. And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzzah, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.” (the consequence of disobedience)

Can’t you just hear our merciful God saying something like this?

"Ohhhh...no...no...no... Uzzah, don't touch...Don’t touch!.......OH DUDE, oh dear ……..Bummer.

Now, Uzzah, you know what I have to do. I have to, for My Name's sake, punish you. And understand Uzzah, people may think that this punishment outweighs the crime (as they did with Moses and as David has with you, but you AND MY people have to learn that I mean business. I will use your earthly "end" as an example for hundreds of thousands of MY saints now and throughout the centuries. And although you, my precious Uzzah, will die and earthly death today, I will usher you into heaven to be with Me and to reign with Me forever."…And God struck Uzzah dead.

Uzzah seems to have acted out of love and concern, not out of a motive of flagrant disregard for God's directive. Yet the action violated God's mandate.  For "divine pictorial sense"

God HAD to punish him, and He ushered Uzzah into heaven, into His eternal loving embrace.

Out of love, let’s choose to honor God’s commandments; His reasoning's are beyond us.

“Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price.

 So you must honor God with your body.” 1 Cor. 6: 19-20

Much love and hugs this week, ~Shaun and Betsy

Hope's Fire 1-6-14

“And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20

It’s a New Year; everyone around you is filled with joyful anticipation, still going strong with their New Year’s resolutions, except you…

…You had a vision for your life, and circumstances are causing it to go in the opposite direction. So disheartened by the downward trajectory of your life’s present path, you find yourself questioning everything. You cry out, “Come on God, I’m trying to be faithful here…would You just give me a little something tangible to let me know You’re with me?”

Can any of us relate? Well, if you are feeling this way, you’re in good company with a lot of folks in Scripture: Joseph, Job, and Paul just to name a few.

~Let’s look at Joseph’s downward trajectory and discover some “hope”.

Joseph received a divine dream from God regarding his influential future, yet quickly experienced circumstances contrary to his idea of “the plan”. Young Jo found himself betrayed, abused, and abandoned by his own brothers, then sold into slavery, framed for rape, subsequently thrown into prison, an innocent man, and forgotten by the very person who promised to help free him. (Gen. 37-40)

~One or two of these circumstances would be disheartening, but all of them put together, one after another, is outright depressing! ~And some of you are relating.

Despite all, Joseph remained faithful. The Bible tells us that God was with Joseph, delivered him, and placed him in the position of influence that He had designed for Joseph from the foundation of the world. (Acts 7:9-10, Gen. 39:2,3 21,23, Eph. 2:10)

Like Joseph, God has a very detailed purpose and plan for each of our lives. Circumstances, negative and positive, challenging and easy, disheartening and joyful, are all weaved into our unique purpose and calling.

~From heaven’s vantage point, divine tragedy transpires when a precious heir of the King (each one of us) loses faith and succumbs to hardship/heartache.

Our Lord, Immanuel, is with each of His kids. Hope is here for us today:

Call on Me, come pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart. Jer. 29:12-13

‘Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.’ Jer. 33:3

“And surely I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20

May we diligently seek Him with all we are this 2014!  Much love, Shaun and Betsy