When I visited my mother in rehab after her hip replacement surgery, I ran into Geraldine, an old childhood friend (really, my sister’s old friend), who was visiting her mother-in-law. Geraldine later wheeled her mother-in-law into my mother’s room.

With body in the grips of old age and her mind being ravaged by time, this 90-year-old woman managed a very infectious smile. She struggled to remember us as her daughter-in-law revealed who we were.

When we told her how great she looked, the woman declared with a great smile, “Ain’t God good?”

• How many times to do you have to say that in life to be able to say it at the end of life? I wondered.
• How connected must one be to eternity in order to proclaim His goodness after three years in nursing home? I mused.
• How deep an intimacy must one have with God to say he is good when your closet relative is a daughter-in-law?

When I left my mother, I saw this woman sitting in her wheelchair in the hallway among other residents, also wizened by time. I waved. She brought an arthritic hand to her mouth and blew me a kiss. “I love you,” she said.
“I love you, too,” I replied.

Such a magnificent reflection of steadfast faith! Faith tried and tested! A life filled with hardships but at the end of the day — the end of life — she can still say, “Ain’t God good!” Marvelous! Let that always be the cry of those of us who love you, Father!

WHETHER PROCLAIMED BY DON MOEN IN A FOLKSY BLUEGRASS STYLE

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OR BY THE SOULFUL DEITRICK HADDON — THE BOTTOM LINE IS . . . “GOD IS GOOD”

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I had an opportunity to speak with a gentleman today who said he was an agnostic. He said that he believed in God, but he had questions.
“What are some of your questions?” I asked him.
“Well, I am sure all believers have questions,” he said, unwilling to share any of his questions.
“Our questions would stem from not knowing God,” I said. If we don’t believe that God loves us and that He is LOVE, we will have questions. If we don’t believe that He is Righteous, we will have questions.
“What kind?” he asked.
“We would say, ‘Why is this happening to me? Why is this happening to her? If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world.”
“I am sure everyone has those questions,” he said.
Do you believe that when you pose those questions that you are questioning the righteousness of God. Greater still, that you do not KNOW that particular aspect of the character of God.
The gentleman was right. Even as believers we have questioned God. We may not have considered or realized that we were questioning him, but what is so wonderful about our righteous God is that He is big enough to handle the questions.
Let’s not sit back in our own self-righteousness and refuse to seek the answers from the only One who has them! He is not afraid of your questions! I pray you will be able to embrace the answers He gives you and discover the awesomely wonderful character of God.

To the agnostics I say, why waste your life wondering when you can get to know a loving God who wants to get to know you?!

Father, thank you for being righteous. I know I do not understand it all  — Why the prodigal son got a big party thrown for him and the older son did not (Luke 15). Why the one who had worked one hour got the same wages as the ones who had worked all day, bearing their burdens in the heat of the day (Matthew 20). Why did the master take the talent from the one who buried it and give it to the one who had ten — why not the one with the five who doubled his money too (Matthew 25)?Perplexing Questions! But what we know is that you are holy! Your reasons are your own but they are always for the fulfillment of your purpose — which is ultimately for our own good. Amen!

Enjoy this video about the unquestionable love of God for you!

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I heard a young singer once say, “My generation is tired of doing church.” She continued to highlight the way her parents’ generation “did church.” I understand exactly what she means; I really do. There are a lot of ills among the people of God in every generation. But I think of this:

• God gives a revelation of Himself to every age.
• I believe that it is all that we can take and handle as His “called-out ones” for that moment.
• For example, the religious leaders could not take the truth that was revealed to Paul
• Imperial Rome could not handle the truth given to church fathers like Wycliffe & Luther

Here’s an important point:

The truth that God has given believers throughout the century has always been enough to save, for instance:

• In my Baptist church (when I was younger) I came to salvation.
• But it wasn’t until I engaged in pentecostalism (as a young woman) that I discovered what it meant to have an intimate relationship with God; what it meant to tithe out of love obedience; what it mean to respect authority; and what it meant to worship God.
• It wasn’t until I was introduced to Messianic Judaism (as a more mature woman) did I learn the the necessity of reconnecting with the Jewish-rootedness of my faith and falling deeply in love with a Jewish Yeshua.

I think of how long I went –although saved– I had no intimacy with the Father and didn’t know Him as Daddy. I think of all my intimacy with Him and I didn’t really know His heart as it pertained to His biological children or the reality of why the Messiah entrenched himself in the Jewish culture from birth to death to resurrection!

So I understand what this young singer was saying. But I must say this — It might be easier to put down the roots of the past as opposed to thanking God for them and using them as stepping stones by which to move forward. The generations to come, I believe, can look back on the previous one and complain about it or be thankful for it and use it as a bow and become the arrow that is propelled forward by it.

Father, thank you for all of my experiences of the past, especially with the congregations you led me to and the way you moved. I know that before you return, Yeshua, you will move past the revelation that you have given each of them and move us all into perfection. Until then, Father, help us to hold on to the good and the truth that we have heard and allow it to build our faith and our trust in you. Even Paul shared with Timothy to do so: “What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus.  Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.” (II Tim. 1: 13-14) Amen.

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I went to see a film at the Jewish Film Festival held at the Roper Theatre. It was a French film entitled “The Raffle.”  French Jews were taken from their homes into a stadium waiting mass deportation to a concentration camp. It is told from the perspective of children, so we see their innocence and unsuspecting attitudes. In one scene before the round-up, a priest walks past the playground where the children are playing — he, like them, is wearing a Jewish star.
One boys says, “Hello Father.”
The man returns the greeting and walks on.
Another boy wants to know why he called the priest “Father.”

“That’s what he is called,” the boy answers.  And then he says something that I think was the most powerful line of the play: “His God is Jewish you know, and if he were here right now, he would be wearing a yellow star like us.”
That’s what we would have done to him had he lived and come pre-WWII. If when he did come we condemned him to die with thieves, would we not have condemned him to die with his own people? I guess the most powerful point is that he would have wanted to. He would have had it no other way — even if they would not have received Him.

“He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.” (John 1:11)

The priest willingly wore the star — at his own peril, of course — in protest of what the French government was doing and to stand with the Jewish people. As we stand with God and seek to follow His heart, we will be asked to stand with His people as well. You know the truth is We Are Required to Stand With His People!

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” (Romans 1:16)

“There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile;
but glory, honor and peace for everyone who does good: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile.” (Romans 2:9)

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Turn your ear to heaven and hear
the noise inside
The sound of angels’ awe
The sound of angels’ songs
And all this for our King!

I know, I have quoted this song before by David Crowder, but every time I hear it I think of Ezekiel 1. Here’s Ezekiel, standing at the Kebar River early in the morning, no doubt spending time before God. Suddenly there is a windstorm from the north of Biblical proportions. Heaven appears like a panoramic HD movie screen with surround sound. I mean heaven takes up the expanse between earth and sky. Imagine standing at the ocean and seeing the horizon. From as far as you can see east to west and north to south is a picture that is in living color with the best acoustics you have ever heard. There’s the throne . . . and the image of God . . . and angels . . . and living creatures and so much movement . . . but it is rhythmic and synchronized and powerful and awesome! Even the movement of the angels’ wings was like “the roar of rushing waters, like the voice of the Almighty, like the tumult of an army” (Ez. 1:24). That’s how Ezekiel described the sound! There are the colors of glowing metal, burning coals of fire, brilliant lights, and a rainbow! And you know what Ezekiel did? He fell down! Face down! He got more than a glimpse of the heavenlies; he got a motion picture! His frail humanity could not handle it.

When the angels stopped moving, their rushing sounds ceased and a voice spoke above the expanse over their heads! It was the voice of God telling Ezekiel to stand up! He couldn’t! Then the Spirit of God went into him and raised him up! Then Ezekiel could hear and remember all that the Eternal One spoke to him.

Here’s the point — Heaven is filled with the cadences of worship and movement and activity and energy! But God will stop the movement long enough to speak to us so that we can hear Him! Then he will pick us up, put His Spirit into us that we might hear. His always moving, always talking, always working! When we encounter Him, He will let us hear Him speak.

How greatly you accommodate us, Holy One! Thank you!

“Turn your ear to heaven and hear
the noise inside”

The question becomes, “What are the real consequences that He came in the first century?” As I stated, He knew that the moment in which he came was the greatest potential to produce a bride that encompassed as many people as statistically possible. Yeshua is the greatest Analyst! The best Statistician! The A #1 Strategist! And we are included in His strategy! Our birth was not a mistake! He knew that we would be born! He knew that we would go through what we had to go through — good, bad, or ugly — but in His foresight, He knew it! And just imagine, His coming prevented the least amount of evil per capita and brought about the greatest amount of good on this earth!

Some of you may not agree, but think about it! What would the world be without Him? Survival of the Fittest! People doing what is right in their own eyes. And the heart of God grieving!

What does this mean for us? Well, I think the church father Ignatius said it well — “The Glory of God is man fully alive”! But Yeshua said it better, “I have come that you might have life and have it to the full” (John 10:10). We must live out our destinies — lives teeming with the fullness of the life that comes from God. And when we do, it becomes contagious! People feel, see it, and want it! And we give it!

PRAYER: Yes, Father, your plans for us are good! Help me to grab the zest of life that you intended for me — really, for your own glory! I must live out the purpose of my life for which You came! Thank you for thinking of me and seeing the potential of a life lived in its fullness!

REMEMBER– HE KNOWS OUR NAMES AND HAS ALWAYS KNOWN THEM BEFORE THERE WAS ANY SPECK OF US!

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Here is what is so amazing! God is omniscient! That means he is all knowing; when he moves or works, he does it so that it will yield the greatest results. For example, Yeshua knew that the Samaritan woman would be at the well at a certain hour. So he changed his usual route and took one that was forbidden, just to get to her at that time. He knew that this woman’s conversion would have eternal consequences for the region of Samaria. He knew that she would be one of the greatest evangelists in history and many would be brought to him because of her testimony.

He knew that if He came in the first century that you and I would be born when and where we were born. He knew that His Bride had the greatest opportunity to be the fullest she could ever be if He came when He did.

And to the unbeliever, he knew that His coming in the 1st century meant that you had the greatest chance to hear the Gospel message and to accept him. Amazing!

Father, the more I think of what you have done, the more incredible you become to me. As God, You saw us before we were ever formed. As Father, you came to us when we needed you. As Savior, you died for us! We were in your plan and in your mind! All I can say is that YOU ARE AMAZING! Amen!

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The Bible says “When the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his son . . .” (Gal. 4:4) The time was right! The world was in need of the Savior. What if He had not come in the first century? What if He had come in our day? First of all — I know, I know — none of us would be here (That’s true). But it would be a very different time. The world would have been almost completely pagan with only a few believing Jews still holding on to the belief that a Messiah is coming. There would have been no 12 disciples or Paul to spread the gospel–no Protestant Reformation. Already the time in which Yeshua came was full of political tyranny, social injustice, and religious corruption. Let’s not mention the idolatry! Teraphim — gods — being bought and sold in the marketplace. Yet He came.

I’m reminded of how Adonai would tell the patriarchs not to enter a town b/c it had not reached its peak of iniquity; it was dangerously close to being judged. I think that the world was hovering dangerously close to that peak when Yeshua came. If He had come a year later, or even centuries later, we would have been a people whose sins would have been irreparable — like in the days of Noah. How would we have known Him when He came? I believe God would have suffered a much worse fate in our hands!

Thank you, Yeshua, for coming when you did. You saw us, lured by your strange love, throughout the centuries to come . . . so you came! What an awful time you chose politically . . . but you knew it would be a time that would reap the greatest consequences for evangelism. And still so many need to know about you and be lured also by that compelling, wonderful, amazing love! Help us who are here live out that reason for which you came . . . when you did.

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Introduction
This is it! The final official installment of “Walking with the Father.” My original goal was to record 30 days of interaction with the Father as He spoke to me through nature, people, thoughts, ideas, readings, etc… Thank you for sharing this time with me. As there will be other recordings of Walking with the Father, they will be unofficial. I want to eventually blog on DIARY OF A CLEFT DWELLER and MUSINGS DURING A 21-DAY DANIEL FAST. I do hope you join me as we pursue together the heart of our God.

Day #30 — “Forgiveness”
I know a young man who has given his whole heart to the Kingdom of God. In the ten years I have known him, his whole life pulsates with thoughts of the Kingdom and how to please God. While he was busy pursuing God’s heart, the enemy came in — through a family member — and dealt a jarring blow to his family. (You may begin to pass judgment on him, but I encourage you not to.) Because he wanted to please God, he forgave his friend who was used by the enemy to deal such a devastating blow. But then there were ramifications of the blow that escalated weekly. Here’s the point. We MUST forgive. Our Father commands us to — forgiveness is for us, but the initial moment of forgiveness is not often the sum total of forgiveness in most cases.

For example, I may forgive you for stealing my money. But then I have to forgive you again because your thievery meant that I could not pay my bills . . . which meant my wages may be garnished . . . which meant that my mortgage is not paid . . . which meant that I lost my house, etc… God will take us into new levels of forgiveness every day. You see when Adam sinned — we all sinned — which meant God had to send His Son — His Son had to die . . . and our guilt escalates and He forgives and forgives and forgives us! Let’s ask God for a spirit of forgiveness because the initial act we forgive may bring us to more difficult moments to forgive.

Father, thank you for forgiving us every time we ask you to. Now we ask for the spirit of forgiveness so that we can stay in a constant state of forgiveness. An act today may hurt me in ways I have not imagined. Who knew that Adam’s sin — our sin — would bring the Father such deep levels of pain as shown through the suffering of Yeshua. And we know that if we do not forgive, there is no forgiveness for us. Father, help us to be free by constantly walking in the spirit of forgiveness. Amen.

Consider this video of how one act of wrong escalates:

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Enjoy this video of walking in the joy of forgiveness:

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Day #29 — “Soiled Diapers”

During the fellowship portion of our Tuesday Bible Study, we watched a couple of YouTube videos: the boy praying for revival for the nations (his weeping brought me to tears);

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the praying girl (she prayed for all of SEVEN minutes!!!!);

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and the preaching baby (only God knew what he was saying but we could sense the spirit behind his preaching).

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One of the ladies in our group proceeded to tell the story of a baby whose amazing act she had witnessed. The child, still in diapers, went over to change his own diaper, then went to the pulpit, picked up the mic, and started preaching! I don’t know about them, but for me, that was a rhema (when something has meaning just for you) word! I know of some, who, before they enter into a time of prayer in the morning, have to wash their faces and brush their teeth. Certainly this is not a pre-requisite for prayer, but it does help. What is your routine? Whatever it is, we have to come before God as that baby did — CLEAN! That child removed the thing that soiled him, that impeded his progress. Then he moved forward into ministry. And still . . . a child shall lead us!

Father, it is true that when we come to You, sometimes we are still wearing our soiled diapers. We do not know how to shake free from the weights and sins that so easily beset us. Sometimes we don’t even come to You because the stench of our diapers is so strong and Your holiness deserves so much more. Thank You for not rejecting us and both showing us the way and making the way for us to come clean before You. Help us to be free of the dirty diapers so that we can offer You the worship and lives that bless You! Amen!

APPLICATION: Have you changed your soiled diapers? How would you go about doing that?