"POISONING THE MISSION FIELD OF THE KINGDOM"

Mary Lindow

It is really rather amazing that any of us are ever really useful the Lord
when we begin to examine the "secret sins" that are active in our lives,
sometimes in our ministries, and in the way the bride of the King has
presented herself.

HEAR THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT WITH YOUR SPIRIT FIRST...
...THEN WITH YOUR MIND.

I say this because if not discerned and embraced by the spirit first…
...the soul will immediately defend itself and bluster and spit in shock that
anyone might imply that is has the stated problem!

"ARROGANCE IS A DISEASE THAT MAKES EVERYONE SICK...
... EXCEPT THE ONE WHO HAS IT!"

IN THIS MODERN AGE OF, "IT'S ALL ABOUT YOU BABY"
… …ARROGANCE IS ALMOST APPLAUDED AS A SUPER TALENT TO SUCCESS!

Politicians boast of their greatness to lead, TV personalities shred other
individuals on live Programs and, sadly, many who have claimed to be
"servants" of the Lord have competed, slandered, and have positioned
themselves as "the most recent cutting edge" in ministry!
Little people…get out of the way!

REMEMBER! EVEN THE DISCIPLE PETER HAD TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE!
He presumed to tell the Lord what would never happen in His ministry!
The actual crucifixion!

EVEN THE RICH YOUNG RULER, WHO APPEARED TO BE A GENTEEL AND
HONORING INDIVIDUAL WAS ARROGANT enough to think that he could
travel with Jesus and gain further stature without having to lay down all of
his own well-earned endowments!

He actually thought that having obeyed the commandments since he was
a small child and being good would be the way to keep his wealth and
cushy lifestyle! This is the subtle disease of arrogance! He didn't think he
had it! In fact…he might have thought that his financial settings would
endear him to Jesus and the twelve disciples because he could provide a
more comfortable lifestyle for all of them while they ministered.

Oh! He went away sad, but not broken. He was sad that he had to choose
between his rich and public securities and…a humble life with Jesus.
Matthew (19)

LISTEN TO WHAT THE LORD PROPHESIED TO US IN ISAIAH
ABOUT THE VERY SAME ISSUE.

And the word of One will go forth, "Cast up, cast up (to throw something
away from yourself, usually with force) Prepare the way! Take up the
stumbling block out of the way of the spiritual return of My people."

For this is what The High and Almighty One has to say—
He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy:

"I dwell in the high and holy place, but I also dwell with him who is of a
thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive, to reawaken the spirit of
the humble and to reinstate the heart of the thoroughly broken bruised
with sorrow for their sin."
Isaiah 57:14-15

HERE ARE SOME THESAURUS AND DICTIONARY DESCRIPTIONS
OF THE WORD ARROGANCE:

ARROGANCE:
The act or habit of making uncalled-for claims in an overbearing manner;
that species of pride which consists in exorbitant claims of rank, dignity,
estimation, or power, or which exalts the worth or importance of the
person to an undue degree; proud contempt of others; lordliness; haughtiness

ARROGANT:
High-handed, disdainful, haughty, high-and-mighty, insolent, lordly,
overbearing, condescending, superior example

: RELATED WORDS: domineering, bossy, dictatorial; exaggerated, false,
highfalutin, assumed, ostentatious

IDIOM: too big for one's britches

IF WE ARE OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD WE ARE TO BE HUMBLE
and fully aware of our need for daily brokenness and a deep daily need for
re- consecration of our reasons to follow Jesus.

THOSE WHO CLAIM TO BE THE CHILDREN OF GOD ARE TO REFLECT HUMILITY.

IN REGARD TO SATAN'S KINGDOM,
HE IS SAID TO BE A 'KING OVER ALL THE CHILDREN OF PRIDE.'

Proverbs 21
24-Mockers are proud and haughty; they act with boundless arrogance.

WE CANNOT ARROGANTLY ASSUME THAT BECAUSE WE HAVE BEEN USED MIGHTILY FOR
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IN SIGNS AND WONDERS, PROPHETIC UTTERANCES, SPEAKING TO MULTITUDES,
GIVERS OF ABUNDANT SUMS, OR HAVE WRITTEN A BOOK - THAT WE HAVE A SPECIAL RIGHT TO BE
HONORED OR A RIGHT TO HAVE OTHERS "LISTEN UP" AND HEAR WHAT WE HAVE TO IMPART!

WE MUST DECREASE, AND HE …THE ONE…
THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS NO ARROGANCE…MUST INCREASE.

LOOK! NOBODY'S TEACHINGS OR PRACTICES ARE BEYOND BIBLICAL JUDGMENT —
ESPECIALLY INFLUENTIAL LEADERS.

Biblically, authority and accountability go hand in hand. (e.g., Luke 12:48)
The greater the responsibility one holds, the greater the accountability one has before
God and His people.

TEACHERS SHOULD BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL NOT TO MISLEAD ANY BELIEVER,
for their calling carries with it a strict judgment (James 3:1).
They should therefore be grateful when sincere Christians take the time
to question them about the teaching and yes, even possibly bring
correction to correct whatever unsound doctrine they may be preaching.
And should the criticisms be groundless they should respond in the
manner prearranged by Scripture: to correct misguided doctrinal
opposition with GENTLE instruction (2 Tim. 2:25).

THERE IS OF COURSE ANOTHER SIDE TO THIS ISSUE:

CRITICISM OFTEN CAN BE SINFUL,
leading to rebellion and unnecessary division. Christians should respect the
leaders that God has given them (Heb. 13:17).
Theirs is the task of assisting the church in its spiritual growth and doctrinal understanding (Eph. 4:11-16).

At the same time believers should be aware that false teachers will arise among
the Christian fold (Acts 20:28; 2 Pet. 2:1).

This makes it very important for us to test all things by Scripture, as the Bereans
were highly praised for doing when they examined the words of the apostle Paul
(Acts 17:11)

PRAY THIS SIMPLE PRAYER WITH ME WON'T YOU?
“Lord, help all of us as your servants to keep the subtle disease of
arrogance and it's influences, far from us. Teach us oh precious king how
to model apostolic mercy, pastoral humility, and open repentance before
those whom we instruct and serve in your kingdom.” AMEN

"ARROGANCE"
Vanity of vanities!
Why put on with foolish pride an illusion of soul's lust?
Why make yourself a statue of gold
When you're only made of dust? - Author unknown

Duplication and re-transmission of this writing is welcomed provided that
complete source and website information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank you. Copyright © 200p " THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com

__________________
The International Prophetic Mentoring Council

“Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser,
Mentor a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.”
Proverbs 9:9

Led by the Father - “THIS THING HE IS DOING!”
by Mary Lindow

ALL OF US ARE INDIVIDUALLY SOMEHOW BEING LED BY THE FATHER...

...INTO OPERATIONS OF THE HEART.


He is testing us deeply to see if we long for any power from the pull of glory, revelation, or any spiritual insights.

I TRULY SEE HIM TESTING US ALL IN DEEPER REGIONS OF OUR SOULS THAN WE EVER DREAMED EXISTED.

THIS THING HE IS DOING!
It is a precision operation that "lasers" away everything fraudulent, empty, and embellished! He is driving us lovingly to simplicity, loyalty, and Divine purposes. None of which we can achieve or fathom with our talents, educations, skills, or wit!

The Lord longs to show you His favor.
He wants to give you His tender love.
The Lord is a God who is always fair.
Blessed are all those who wait for Him to act.
Isaiah 30:18 (NIRV)

DETERMINED TO PURSUE IN OBEDIENCE
When we are determined to pursue in obedience a true faith in Christ, we will encounter those things of the soul that can so easily get us off of the track that we are attempting to run on in order to collect the crown of victory! The things that so easily overwhelm us are those we tend to be affected by. Usually it is something that we have struggles with or have been exposed to, from habits, age, or upbringing.

THIS IS A MOST IMPORTANT WARNING ABOUT DEALING WITH THOSE "PAINFUL WOUNDS" AND "DEEP LOSSES"!
They will attempt to take from us every motive for moving forward, and gives power and energy to every discouragement. When we are weary and faint in our minds, let us remember that Jesus suffered, to save us from eternal misery.

BY INTENTIONALLY LOOKING TO JESUS,
Our thoughts will be strengthened by holy affections, and keep our self loving desires in a place of intensified focus on the Presence of the Lord. We need to habitually think about Him! What are our little trials to his agonies, or even to our deserts? What are they to the sufferings of many others?

THERE IS A TENDENCY IN US AS BELIEVERS TO GROW WEARY,
and to collapse under trials and afflictions. This is because we still need to understand the mercy and full power of that thing called "grace." We are not built for a filthy world and the pressures of hellish spewing. We were created for adoration, worship and resting in the Presence of God and then, with Godly strength, to subdue the earth. But Hell is roaring it's ugly breath and venom on the earth, attempting to paralyze the believer, robbing him of Faith, Hope and Love!

Psalm 25:21
May integrity and uprightness protect me,
Because my hope is in you.

WE AS FOLLOWERS OF THE LORD OF GRACE
must come to understand that trials and yes…even accusations from enemies and persecutors may be instruments to inflict sufferings, yet they are Divinely Allowed! Our heavenly Father has His hand in all of this and His wisdom will give a final answer to all of this "sifting of out souls!"


THE OPPOSITE OF BRAVERY IS NOT COWARDICE…
…BUT CONFORMITY. ~Robert Anthony


WE MUST NOT JUST GIVE IN TO A FATALISTIC GLOOM!
That horrid oppressiveness where we feel that no help or hope is coming to free us! God may let others remain alone in their sins, but He WILL correct wrongdoing in his own children. This is what a Father would do to a stubborn or gloomy child, who mopes around in a moodiness accompanied by a big black rain cloud! Perhaps your earthly parents corrected you to indulge their anger, rather than to change your manners. But the Father of our souls never eagerly hurts or brings down His children. It is always for our benefit.

OUR WHOLE LIFE HERE IS A POSITION OF CHILDHOOD,
and we are imperfect when it comes to fully understanding spiritual things.
That is why we must we must yield- and in a real sense, "give in" to this place of loving care and preparation.

GOD'S CORRECTION IS NOT DISAPPROVAL!
When we are willing to let God walk the secret hallways of our soul and humbly allow Him to shine the light of purity and truth on all of our opinions about how things should be done in His Kingdom, this brokenness and self-exposure greatly increases personal purity!

THE CALLOUSNESS AND MEANNESS OF MEN
May we learn to trust that the pain brought on us by the callousness and meanness of men, is actually an instrument the Lord allows to show us that no one can be depended upon fully in this world. He is the Ultimate Source of Hope. This is so important for our weariness and is sent by our wise and gracious Father, for our spiritual good and maturing.

THOSE WHO HAVE NOT WALKED WHERE YOU HAVE WALKED
will have heaps of suggestions and tidbits suggesting as to what you need to do. Imagine dear Jesus, having been stripped of heavenly riches, coming here to earth, and then to be spat upon, beaten laughed at and murdered. The advice of many was to have Him rise up and prove himself right and righteous.

He did.

He suffered in the Garden, wrestling with the trauma he knew that would only get worse. And He then suffered the loss of even the last final physical bit of ownership He had by having even his clothing gambled away by his murderers.

OH YES DEAR CHILD OF GOD! HE DOES KNOW OUR SORROWS-
and pains and He will not flippantly give you an intolerant glance when you need comfort. His Mercy is one that endures with us, forever.

THE CLAMOR AND ROAR OF NOISE THAT MAN MAKES
when he needs to make a point, often exposes his weaknesses as well. All the more reason we need to be certain that we are listening to the calm, sure, still, small Voice of God. He will give us safety and direction in the most terrifying of times and in each business decision, each child's life in your care, and in each destiny point you are facing.

KEEP YOUR EYES ON JESUS.

“He who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it.
Because He never lost sight of where He was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God.
He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever.
And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God.”
Hebrews 12:2 (The Message)


Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed provided that complete message and website information for Mary Lindow is included. Thank You! Copyright © 2009 "
THE MESSENGER " ~ Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com

Tuesday, February 24, 2009

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

“TO BE LED BY MY INTERNAL FORCE

“TO BE LED BY MY INTERNAL FORCE”
by the Holy Spirit through Mary Lindow

To hear as a free Podcast go to:
http://www.gcast.com/u/MaryLindow/main.xml

When I rain down My blessings on My people, there is a
sweet fragrance that is released! Just like the smell of a
field of fresh grass when it is freshly cut! It is a clean
life-giving scent, wonderful to inhale, and it brings a
sense of vitality and freshness to the soul!

He will be like rain falling
on a freshly mowed field.
Psalm 72:6

MY BLESSINGS AND MY PRESENCE COMBINED
ARE VERY HEADY "FRAGRANCES" FROM HEAVEN!

As you share My love and mercy with those in pain,
those in sin, you too are a fragrance to those who are
living and to those who are dying in their sin!
The statement; "like a breath of fresh air" is certainly
applied when you do acts of love in My name!

I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR LONGING TO KNOW ME
MORE!

It was built into you when you came to know Me as Lord
and Master! It is a Divine DNA that drives you to press
on until you encounter Me face to face!

"Oh that we might know the Lord!
Let us press on to know Him
and surely He will respond to us!"
Hosea 6:3

MOSES WAS ALSO DRIVEN BY THIS INTERNAL FORCE
David, Deborah, Elijah as well! All of them had a homing
device inside of their spirit beings that cried out for more
of the relationship from heaven!

Never stop searching out My ways! You will see Me
Move all of creation in order for you to know just how
I long to bless you, to encourage you and to perfect you!
Press On! Press In ! I will respond!

WISDOM IS NOT FOUND IN THE COMMON PLACES
OF MAN'S EVERY DAY STATE OF AFFAIRS.

Experience is. Wisdom can teach you more in a day,
than a lifetime of experience can.

How blessed is the man who finds wisdom,
And the man who gains understanding.
Proverbs 3:13

HOW DO YOU DISCOVER WISDOM?
HOW DO YOU INCREASE UNDERSTANDING?
First, by learning to listen to those who have gone
ahead of you to pave the way for you to thrive in your
calling. They were the ones who laid the stones and
walkways for your smoother road to full purpose in Me!

When you look deeply into their eyes and hear the price
that they have paid for Me, you will then gain the
understanding you need to not slip and fall as you
move ahead as a continuing pioneer in the business
of Kingdom service.

Many are great at listening to others as if it was
story-telling time. Few are wise enough to learn from
the ones who have paid the price and have lived
the story. Which will you be?

What is it that you have my child that I might use
for my purposes in this time that you have been
granted on earth?

“The words of a man's mouth are deep waters,
but the fountain of wisdom is a bubbling brook.”
Proverbs 18:4

My child. Let us move together, pouring out hope,
promise, comfort, and Truth while you still have time.
In doing this, it is as if you have done it all for me.

“I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup
of water in my name because you belong to Christ
will certainly not lose his reward.”
Mark 9:41

Duplication and sharing of this message is welcomed
provided that complete message and website
information for Mary Lindow is included.
Thank You! Copyright © 2008 " THE MESSENGER "
~ Mary Lindow www.marylindow.com

Prayer

"Lord, help me to glorify you;
I am poor, help me to glorify you by contentment;
I am sick, help me to give thee honor by patience;
I have talents, help me to worship you by spending
them for you.

I have time, Lord, help me to redeem it,
that I may serve you;
I have a heart to feel, Lord, let that heart feel no love but
you, and glow with no flame but affection for you;

I have a head to think, Lord, help me to think of you and
for you; you have put me in this world for something,
Lord, show me what that is, and help me to work out my
life-purpose:

I cannot do much, but as the widow put in her
two mites, which were all her living, so, Lord, I cast
my time and eternity too into your treasury;

I am all yours, take me, and enable me to glorify
you now, in all that I say, in all that I do, and with all that
I have. "

In the loving name of Jesus.
Amen.

LIVING IN THE “IN-BETWEEN” “THE STILL POINT” A PERSPECTIVE ON WAITING

Dear Child of a Loving God,

As the news media and political voices (vices?) pump out fear, failure, loss, and dooming perspectives, there are also those who have a "heavenly view" of all that is occurring globally. Although small and brief, these " long-termed wilderness voices" have
insights that speak hope, grace, and the one thing that the Lord said would endure and last forever alongside of love. Mercy.

None of us need the voices of the "friend's of Job" during distressing times, whether it be emotional,vocational, relational, financial, or in grief. Even upon enduring the open and raw nakedness, the excruciating pain of the loss of all losses, Jesus reached out to the thief next to Him and offered Him comfort, and a share in all He had upon entering into Paradise.

Many voices will arise with religious damnation, platitudes, and finger pointing, while the difficult times and global devastations occur. No matter how well spoken or educated, if they have not Mercy and an honest sense of their own need for cautious speaking, the words will be lost in the roar of the clamoring voices and opinions of the day.

And yet...

... There are those who simply walk, often with a limp or slower pace than once had, who speak a dear truth.

It brings perspective.
It brings a momentary calm to the storm.
It lifts the head and eyes to the vast and glorious hope of the Power of the Comforter.

I now share with you such a dear truth, written by a cherished friend, a comrade,
a partner in accountability - an Imitator of Christ.

I know you will be touched and encouraged by it .

In His Shadow,
Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com


LIVING IN THE “IN-BETWEEN” “THE STILL POINT” A PERSPECTIVE ON WAITING
Greg Austin


"At the still point of the turning world. Neither flesh nor fleshless; 
Neither from nor towards; at the still point, there the dance is,
But neither arrest nor movement. And do not call it fixity,
Where past and future are gathered. Neither movement 
from nor towards,
Neither ascent or decline. Except for the point,
the still point,
There would be no dance, and there is only the dance."
-T.S.Eliot, "Burnt Norton"


Tom Hank’s recent film The Terminal tells the story of a man who is stranded at New York’s Kennedy Airport when his home country becomes embroiled in a coup attempt. The man finds himself with a worthless passport and isn’t authorized to enter the United States. He finds himself existing in the terminal’s international transit lounge waiting for
the war to end at home.

I spend more time than I’d like in airport transit lounges, and I can only imagine the depressing prospect of spending days, weeks or months in such a place.
Hanks’ character finds himself living, literally in the “In-Between;” at the “Still Point.” I relate with that sense of being neither at my place of departure with friends or family or familiar surroundings, nor at my place of arrival. I am so often “In-Between.”


The Church of the “In-Between”

For those who have eyes to see and ears to hear, there is a consciousness that with regard to “the church” – we are living in the “In-Between.” We have left the “home” we knew but we have yet to arrive at our destination. We find ourselves waiting, hoping, anticipating; living in the “In-Between.”

I’ve learned to occupy my time while waiting for flights. Instead of browsing the cookie-cutter shops of airport concourses, I spend the time getting organized before my flight. I eat if I’m hungry and drink if I’m thirsty. I check phone messages. I’ve found that in the “In-Between,” in the seemingly endless waiting, I can accomplish something positive and valuable with the time allotted; that I can redeem the time.

So as we await the emergence of a church that produces more of what we’ve prayed for and what Jesus promised, try doing what I do as I await the call for my next flight: Instead of simply existing in the “transit lounge” with Hanks’ fictional character, eat if you’re hungry – He “stands at the door and knocks.” Drink if you’re thirsty, “Ho every one who thirsts, Come to the waters....” Check with heaven, talk to God; redeem the time “In-Between.”

There’s also the “In-Between” of prayers prayed and prayers answered. There’s the “In-Between” of waiting for healing from sickness and disease, or the “In-Between” of waiting for a son, daughter, husband or wife to surrender their lives to Jesus.
There is the “In-Between” of a thousand problems and innumerable tragedies and impossible situations that strain our lives in so many ways.

If you find yourself living in the “not yet” of God’s timing and intervention – Redeem the time. Make use of what you have. Do what you can do. Use the talents God has given you. Invest, believe, pray, hope, prepare, grow: Prosper in the “in-between.” Moses did: He was a better leader for the years of “in-between” in the barren desert. David did: He would have been a lesser king if not for the years spent fleeing from Saul. John the Baptist did: He came out of a time of desert loneliness, subsisting on locusts and wild honey, filled with the Spirit of God.

Use the time of waiting, the time of frustration, the time of silence from heaven – whatever shape your “in-between” might take to become ready for what, though it tarry, will inevitably will come.

greg
www.gregaustin.org

"Abel – Did he know?"

Dear Readers,

The following mighty message is again, one with a poignant focus on where the heart of man can be exceedingly deceived.

The days that we are living in will be filled with what appear to be "small" losses of freedoms and purity in living, culminating into many persecutions and also in fair judgements from the Lord.

As you read the message from a lovely man of deep faith, may your heart be challenged to quickly repent of envy, the hiding of secret sins, and cowardly attempts at explaining murderous words and behaviors towards others.

We are in a serious season as believers. May Mercy become a constant companion for all of us in the days ahead.

In His Shadow,
Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com
www.globalprayerrooms.com



Abel – Did he know?

Lars Widerberg


Allow the question to remain in your mind for a moment.

The two brothers, Cain and Abel, had been seeking the Lord in the presenting of sacrifice. The sacrifice of Abel had found favour and respect before the Lord, but for Cain and his offering God had no regard. And the countenance of Cain fell, reflecting dangerous envy and anger.

Did Abel understand what was coming to him when he chose to accompany Cain across the fields for a conversation? Had Abel taken time to prepare for the heavy blows and strikes which already were pounding in the fists of Cain? How did he manage to master his heart and to stay at the side of Cain while heading for the windless hills, while heading for an inexorable death?

The altar which Abel built, the sacrifice which he brought forth was a properly defined expression of his understanding of the fundamentals of life and living, of the intercourse between man and God, an understanding of and insight into the essence and substance of life. His altar stood as a probing marker for man’s worship before a holy God, for the appropriateness and right standing in worship formulated in a manner pleasing to God. Abel’s altar speaks volumes regarding the understanding of life as a gift given to man, all men, to be generously given back to God in a perennial act of sacrifice – even unto death.

This man, indeed a proto-man, a type and a model, had already in those first days of history been targeted for an impressive imprint by the Spirit of self-sacrifice – the Spirit of God’s eternity, which was to permeate the sacrifice of the Son of God; Hebr 9:14. Abel had already handed his life into the hands of God to be spent for purposes set by God, to rest in quietness in the hand of God as a sacrifice, to be ended by God in a manner appropriate to righteousness. The sacrifice declared in solid speaking that the man behind it already had given his life away.

The way of Cain appears plainly already in his name. Acquire, procure, secure are words which describes his nature and which is perfectly covered by his short name. Cain carries already within his name an intense craving for the possessing of things not belonging to him, he lusts for his brother’s position before the Lord. He sets his mind to acquisition and self-aggrandizement.

He trusts in his own sufficiency and capacity. The quietness and beauty of holiness at the altar of the shepherd annoys and provokes every man who has chosen to follow the ways of Cain. His agenda and approach is defined in terms of productivity, activity and prosperity. A man like Cain is at every point of progress asserting and claiming his own rights according to his own understanding.

If a man like Cain approaches the realm of God’s covenant and promises, he does so in order to save his own skin, to secure advantages – even to procure pre-eminence. Righteousness, the kind of righteousness which meets his approval is a righteousness which avails itself to be easily bent and thoroughly adaptable to serve his cause – the righteousness of Abel is costly, the righteousness of Abel points out the eternal welfare of others as a primary priority in life.

The righteousness of Abel is a righteousness which is available and ready for sacrifice. It is a righteousness which declares that life is given to man to be delivered to the altar for the benefit of someone else at any proper, of God chosen moment. Man taking this position, the standpoint of the altar, will be heard and will find grace before God’s throne.

I beseech you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service, your spiritual worship. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, in order to prove and discern what is that good and pleasing and perfect will of God.
Rom 12:1-2. (MKJV and Holman combined.)

Abel had gathered insight into the reasonable service, the spiritual worship which manages to stay right in the center of the will and pleasure of God. No thing added, no thing produced, no thing expressed by any kind of effort or act mobilised by Abel was of any value at all in the service at this altar. He gave his life, he placed his life on the altar – it stood there in the early morning of history as a disclaimer. His declared God to have the right to use his life in whatever manner, for whatever purpose he found suitable in the furtherance of his cause – herein, he knew, man finds purpose, ultimate purpose for life rightly lived.

The altar stands as the nexus, the pivotal point of the temple; it is central to Christian fellowship; it carries the full purpose of any house of prayer; its demands penetrate life in all its aspects. The altar speaks about life and its purpose, its speaking regarding the giving up and the giving away aims at and includes every level of living. The days which are ours, the days which we share should be given to the altar, all of them should be given to the altar in order that all these days, every part of them, including all content, should shine by the light of the Spirit of self-sacrifice and be directed by the law of the Spirit of Life.

Man, living godly and righteously, learns to give, give every part of his life to the altar. The praying man has learnt his lessons when he brings his prayers to and presents his prayer targets at the altar to let them undergo the crisis and purification of the altar, which gives God an opportunity to answer according to heavenly purposes. The altar affirms the necessity of a dying in order to become a part of God’s cause. The altar holds its position at the nexus of all and every issue to show us the thoroughness and seriousness by which our giving of ourselves has to be conducted. The altar exhorts us to bring every issue in under its authority because there is a Lamb to be found there, a lamb slaughtered, as a precious and valuable sacrifice which holds complete capacity to cover even the most difficult passages of life and of death.

The altar directs our reading of the Word of God to a probing, to a looking into the interior of the texts where Christ, given to the altar and the glory beaming in this mystery of redemption, is hidden to be revealed. Each and every line and sentence has something to say regarding the self-sacrifice of God, something of the Spirit of sacrifice to communicate and impart, something of this Spirit which is the Spirit of Jesus Christ. These three, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit reveals themselves in all parts of the Scriptures in glory, in a light which can not be seen anywhere else – the glory which emanates from the sacrificial love in the shadow of the cross of Christ. A reading of this kind, this reading alone produces an opportunity to grasp and apprehend grace from God in order to begin to give as God himself gives.

The altar orders a journey in togetherness, it gathers a people of God who has dared to do away with its self-absorption and self-assuredness in order to walk in stillness along the ways of Zion. The mandate given to this small nation of God consists in a speaking in harmony and concord according to the mind of Christ, in a willingness to grow unto maturity which is constituted by a priestly mentality. When Heaven sings, sings with crystal clarity, it celebrates the Lamb. When Heaven presents its most precious object for all to behold, to extol and to worship, it brings forth the Lamb to stand in the midst of the throne, and of the four living beings, and in the midst of the elders – Rev 5:6. When all things are to be brought for probing and for final judgment, this Lamb, who was slain from before the beginning of the world, Jesus Christ, holds the position as judge. When Heaven gathers a people from every nation and tribe, its sole reason for existence is to testify to the altar, the Lamb and the mystery of self-sacrifice – the wisdom of God which wise men of this world are incapacitated to understand and incompetent to handle.

God acknowledges us when we relate properly to the altar. To what measure does our Christian fellowship carry the reconciliatory capacity of the altar? The altar, rightly positioned, allows the situation in which it is raised to recognize its presence and to know its power. The Spirit, which is the Spirit of Truth, works and penetrates according to the inherent veracity of the cross in order to convict the world about sin, righteousness, and judgment. The altar opens the mind to careful consideration, it awakens the conscience and arouses courage and strength unto repentance. The altar, the blood, a life marked by self-sacrifice speaks with clarity and intensity. God causes the blood of Christ to speak “better things than that of Abel”. God causes the sacrifice of Christ to speak into any situation where its value is honoured.

The righteousness which is of God recognizes the altar, the cross and the sacrifice.
Therefore, let us pray for the reality of the altar to be restored among the people of God.
Therefore, let us pray forth a thorough establishing of the concord of the altar.
Therefore, let us pray for a strengthening of the display of the sacrificial Spirit.
Therefore, let us pray for the fullness of Christ to be expressed fully among the people of God.

Therefore, let us pray for a sensitivity and an obedience like Abel’s.

Lars Widerberg
www.propheticcollege.wordpress.com

"A Real Christmas Miracle Story"

Dear Reader,

I found this beautiful and heart warming story to share with you, your children, grand-children, and friends during this "Season of Miracles." Jesus Christ came to the planet as a child, emptied, impoverished, and fully stripped of all glory in order that we might have peace in times of great distress and difficulty.

He also came to show us of the Love the Heavenly Father has for all of mankind so that they might be saved.

The following story echos all of this, and ever so beautifully expresses how the Lord knows where we all need to be in His plan to lead those around us who do not know Him...

...Home.


Enjoy!

In His Shadow,
Mary Lindow
www.marylindow.com



IS ANYONE MISSING BABY JESUS?
Jean Gietzen


About a week before Christmas, the family bought a new nativity set. When they unpacked it, they found two figures of the Baby Jesus.

"Someone must have packed this wrong," the mother said, counting out the figures. "We have one Joseph, one Mary, three wise men, three shepherds, two lambs, a donkey, a cow, an angel and two babies. Oh, dear! I suppose some set down at the store is missing a Baby Jesus because we have two."

"You two run back down to the store and tell the manager that we have an extra Jesus. Tell him to put a sign on the remaining boxes, saying that if a set is missing a Baby Jesus, call 7126. Put on your warm coats. It is freezing out there."

The manager of the store copied down mother's message and the next time they were in the store they saw the cardboard sign that read, "If you are missing Baby Jesus, call 7126." All week long they waited for someone to call. Surely, they thought someone was missing that important figurine. Each time the phone rang, mother would say, "I'll bet that's about Jesus.", but it never was.

Father tried to explain there are thousands of these scattered over the country, and the figurine could be missing from a set in Florida or Texas or California. Those packing mistakes happen all the time. He suggested to just put the extra Jesus back in the box and forget about it.

"Put Baby Jesus back in the box! What a terrible thing to do!" said the children. "Surely someone will call," mother said. "We'll just keep the two of them together in the manger until someone calls."

When no call had come by 5:00 PM on Christmas Eve, mother insisted that father just run down to the store to see if there were any sets left. "You can see them right through the window, over on the counter," she said. "If they are all gone, I'll know someone is bound to call tonight."

"Run down to the store?" father thundered. "It's 15 below zero out there!" "Oh, Daddy, we'll go with you," Tommy and Mary began to put on their coats. Father gave a long sigh and headed for the front closet. "I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered.

Tommy and Mary ran ahead as father reluctantly walked out in the cold. Mary got to the store first and pressed her nose up to the store window. "They're all gone, Daddy," she shouted. "Every set must be sold."

"Hooray" Tommy said. "The mystery will now be solved tonight!"

Father heard the news still a half block away and immediately turned on his heel and headed back home. When they got back into the house, they noticed that mother was gone and so was the extra Baby Jesus figurine. "Someone must have called and she went out to deliver the figurine," my father reasoned, pulling off his boots. "You kids get ready for bed while I wrap mother's present."

Then the phone rang. Father yelled "answer the phone and tell 'em we found a home for Jesus." But it was mother calling with instructions for us to come to 205 Chestnut Street immediately, and bring three blankets, a box of cookies and some milk..

"Now what has she gotten us into?" my father groaned as we bundled up again. "205 Chestnut. Why that's across town. Wrap that milk up good in the blankets or it will turn to ice before we get there. Why can't we all just get on with Christmas? It's probably 20 below out there now. And the wind is picking up. Of all the crazy things to do on a night like this!"

When they got to the house at 205 Chestnut Street, it was the darkest one on the block. Only one tiny light burned in the living room and, the moment we set foot on the porch steps, my mother opened the door and shouted, "They're here, Oh thank God, you got here, Ray! You kids take those blankets into the living room and wrap up the little ones on the couch. I'll take the milk and cookies."

"Would you mind telling me what is going on, Ethel?" my father asked. "We have just walked through below zero weather with the wind in our faces all the way."

"Never mind all that now," my mother interrupted. "There is no heat in this house and this young mother is so upset she doesn't know what to do. Her husband walked out on her and those poor little children will have a very bleak Christmas, so don't you complain. I told her you could fix that oil furnace in a jiffy."

My mother strode off to the kitchen to warm the milk while my brother and I wrapped up the five little children who were huddled together on the couch. The children's mother explained to my father that her husband had run off, taking bedding, clothing, and almost every piece of furniture, but she had been doing all right until the furnace broke down.

"I been din washin' and ironin' for people and cleanin' the five and dime," she said. "I saw your number every day there, on those boxes on the counter. When the furnace went out, that number kept going' through my mind... 7162... 7162."

"Said on the box that if a person was missin' Jesus, they should call you. That's how I knew you were good Christian people, willin' to help folks. I figured that maybe you would help me, too. So I stopped at the grocery store tonight and I called your missus. I'm not missin' Jesus, mister, because I sure love the Lord. But I am missin' heat. I have no money to fix that furnace."

"Okay, Okay" said father. "You've come to the right place. Now lets see. You've got a little oil burner over there in the dining room. Shouldn't be too hard to fix. Probably just a clogged flue. I'll look it over, see what it needs."

Mother came into the living room carrying a plate of cookies and warm milk. As she set the cups down on the coffee table, I noticed the figure of Baby Jesus lying in the center of the table. It was the only sign of Christmas in the house. The children stared with wide eyed with wonder at the plate of cookies my mother sat before them.

Father finally got the oil burner working but said, "you need more oil." "I'll make a few calls tonight and get some oil."

"Yes sir, you came to the right place," said the woman...

On the way home, father did not complain about the cold weather and had barely set foot inside the door when he was on the phone. "Ed, hey, how are ya, Ed? Yes, Merry Christmas to you, too. Say, Ed, we have kind of an unusual situation here. I know you've got that pick-up truck. Do you still have some oil in that barrel on your truck?"

"You do?"

By this time the rest of the family were pulling clothes out of their closets and toys off of their shelves. It was long after their bedtime when they were wrapping gifts. The pickup came. On it were chairs, three lamps, blankets and gifts. Even though it was 30 below, Father let them ride along in the back of the truck.

No one ever did call about the missing figure in the nativity set, but as I grow older I realize that it wasn't a packing mistake at all. Jesus saves, that's what He does.


By Jean Gietzen
Based on her writings on the internet from the book "If You're Missing Baby Jesus". Published by and available at Random House (www.randomhouse.com) and other online booksellers.