"And Israel had rest from war." (11:23)
Rest. From war.
I so look forward to that time. Heaven. Peace. Joy. No conflict. No Struggles. No Pain. No Suffering. No Lies. No tears. No more death.
No Doubt.
Rest. From war.
I so look forward to that time. Heaven. Peace. Joy. No conflict. No Struggles. No Pain. No Suffering. No Lies. No tears. No more death.
No Doubt.
Living in this small valley, during the storms you can hear the strong winds whipping about our home, as it comes down through the pass. The wind chimes responding to the forces, ringing out their melodies. Lightning flashes across the sky, thunder booms, and the rains pour down from the heavens. I love standing at the window watching the power of Him on display. Being inside, where I am safe, warm, protected.
As I am "in" Him.
Thinking of the day ahead - this day - I am reminded of times when watching the rain and think about how it represents our ABBA's many tears. Tears He sheds over each of us when our hearts are heavy. Are breaking.
Today - this day - called "Good Friday".
His family, we will come together, remembering The Sacrifice of our Savior. I am reminded of all the funerals I have attended in my lifetime, thus far, the words which were spoken, the songs being sung. I have sat and watched as the burden of sadness could be seen upon those who loved the deceased person so deeply and shared day to day living with them. I have sat and fought back the tears as memories came through. I have smiled as I could see their smile or some other precious memory in my mind. I have been comforted knowing how much those of His enjoyed life, because they lived for our ABBA. I have prayed thanksgiving for having the honor and privilege of knowing my siblings who have gone Home before me. Of calling so many not only friend, but "brother" or "sister".
Sitting in the room of sadness. Holding back the tears. Hugs with words we pray will bring some comfort, all the while knowing they will never fill the void those we love leave when they go on before us to Home. This isn't what our ABBA planned when He created Adam and Eve. This isn't the Eden He laid out before them. Death was not part of His plan.
Good Friday was not on the calendar "in the beginning".
And because of sin - because of the free will of man to choose sin - death came into our world.
The spiritual warfare began at that moment and will not be finished until our Savior comes again to take all of His Beloved - Home. Home - where there is no death. No rooms of sorrow. No tears. No pain. Nothing that is not of Him.
And while on this earth, the winds of war will swirl about me, at times my spirit will become bruised from the debris flying about. But "in" Him, my soul is protected. Until Heaven, the only place of "rest" is "in" Him. satan wants more than anything for me to focus on the lies and not on my ABBA. he wants me to pick up doubt and go with the winds of destruction.
And while on this earth, the winds of war will swirl about me, at times my spirit will become bruised from the debris flying about. But "in" Him, my soul is protected. Until Heaven, the only place of "rest" is "in" Him. satan wants more than anything for me to focus on the lies and not on my ABBA. he wants me to pick up doubt and go with the winds of destruction.
Forgetting after Good Friday came The Resurrection of our Savior.
Forgetting our Savior conquered death.
Falling before Him on my knees, I pray and His Word washes over me, shields me from the lies that are blowing over me, trying to penetrate into my self. My fingers are in my ears, shutting out the sounds from outside and I am able to hear only His Voice from within me, whispering over and over from one of my favorites:
"You have searched me and known me.
You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off.
You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways.
For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.
You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it.
Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
If I say, "Surely the darkness shall fall on me," Even the night shall be light about me;
Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.
For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb.
Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.
My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret,
And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.
And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.
How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand;
When I awake, I am still with You.
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting." (Psalm 139)
His Word.
Another Taste of Heaven He gives me as "rest from the war".
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