Saturday, December 1, 2018

December 1

My friend was given the gift of a massage for her anniversary. Massage feels like such a luxury, but there can be more to it than that. As the therapist began massaging her feet, she pointed out areas of concern within her body. She could tell right away the she had a few health issues. I was intrigued by it because it was so telling, and it didn’t seem real. After digging around on the internet, I found that it’s called reflexology, and it’s a Chinese method of healing. Whatever it is, a foot massage always feels amazing! The Bible mentions the earth being the Lord’s footstool, and in Ezekiel, he mentions the temple as the place of His throne, and the soles of His feet. I feel there is something significant about Him mentioning the soles of His feet, especially in this portion of scripture where He speaks of Israel burying their dead kings next door to His temple. Our world is so defiled right now that the Earth is not worthy of His feet, however, when Jesus sets up His new Kingdom, we will then become a soothing massage for our King.


While the man was standing beside me, I heard one speaking to me out of the temple, and he said to me, “Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the people of Israel forever. And the house of Israel shall no more defile my holy name, neither they, nor their kings, by their whoring and by the dead bodies of their kings at their high places,"  Eze 43:6-7

Friday, November 30, 2018

November 30

On November 30, 1995, my son’s father succumbed to the disease that had taken over his body. His ashes are now buried in a family cemetery. He didn’t die in vain, he was a seed that was planted; people heard about Jesus because of him. He was zealous for our Savior, and thankful that He had forgiven him of all his sins. His memorial service was packed, and the gospel was presented. I watched as hands went up all over the congregation. It was a testament to the power of Jesus. When someone dies and you know that they went to heaven, the sting of death is not as harsh or as hard to bear. You still grieve, but it’s more about yourself than the one who’s in the presence of the almighty. What will be said of you when you die? Will people know that you followed Jesus? If you don’t know the answer to that question, you might need to make a change. Set your heart toward Him, and allow His power to flow from you like living water.


"Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’”  John 7:38

Thursday, November 29, 2018

November 29

As I continue to read and study Ezekiel, I see practical lessons for today, and for the gentiles, those of us who are not Jewish. Any who come against the nation of Israel will not stand! God is very clear about that, but what about you and me? We have accepted Jesus as our Savior and are called by His name. Most of the Jews have not taken on the name of Christ and still have hardened their hearts towards Him. Paul says we are adopted, and are blessed with every spiritual blessing. Though most of Ezekiel was written to the Jews, we can still glean quite a bit of food from these scriptures. The correction the Jews have faced comes because of their disobedience, but those who come against them face His wrath and annihilation. How much more will He protect and defend those of us who love His Son? You can take every promise written in the Word as truth for you! We are blessed and privileged to be called by His name.


Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, Ephesians 1:3-5

Wednesday, November 28, 2018

November 28

The Lord is for you, not against you! Though sometimes it seems that He is slow to react on your behalf, it may not be slow at all. There are pieces to the puzzle that must fall into place in order for that plan to work. When we have to wait, the results seem so much sweeter. I’ve had people come against me in the past, causing me anxiety, and an overall sense of turmoil at that time, only to watch as God’s plan for them unfolds before my eyes. Woe to those who come against God’s beloveds! He will not let your case go unavenged. He is sovereign over all that He has given you, and over what he has left in your care. He will take up your cause, though it may not be instantaneous, or in our timing. Know that if you’re going through troubled waters now, the storm will pass, the seas will calm, and you will be able to swim out of it, and you might even get to watch as your enemy is defeated!


"Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”"  Romans 12:19

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

November 27

Discouragement sets in after you have tried and tried to help turn someone around. You’ve talked until you’re blue in the face to get them to change, but nothing happens. They are like the dry bones that Ezekiel saw in a vision. Just as Ezekiel was commanded to prophesy over the dry bones to hear the word of the Lord, we must do the same. Command those lifeless people, dry bones to hear God’s word! Once they’ve heard the word, they become modern day zombies, alive but dead. So, if you think about it, zombies are real! Anyone who has heard the Word, but doesn’t believe in Jesus is the walking dead. Ezekiel was also commanded to prophesy to the breath to come from the four winds and breathe on these lifeless bodies to live, and they came to life! Maybe that’s what we’re missing, maybe we need to command breath to come into their lifeless bodies, that they may know Jesus. Now, how you do that without looking like a freak, I’m not sure. I’ll let you figure that part out! I’m sure Ezekiel looked like a freak too!


Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the LORD”... "Then he said to me, “Prophesy to the breath; prophesy, son of man, and say to the breath, Thus says the Lord GOD: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these slain, that they may live.” Ezekiel 37:4 & 9

Monday, November 26, 2018

November 26

I watched my three year old grandson while his mom enjoyed some time with other adults. He’s just like his pawpaw in so many ways that it’s a little scary. He loves heavy equipment, and cranes his neck to see construction sites as we drive pass them, just like his pawpaw. He doesn’t mind getting his hands dirty and doing a little work. Richard and I had filled his truck with fire wood and hadn’t unloaded it, so I had Trey help me. We got out the wagon and I began handing him some of the cut wood from the truck. He was so proud that he got to use his muscles. There are good things that are passed on to our children and generational things that they may need to overcome. With our help, we can accentuate their positive attributes, and teach them how to overcome the sins that get repeated that can sometimes derail their lives. This may be an ongoing process, so we need to pray for them to become a new creation in Jesus.


"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come."  2 Corinthians 5:17

Sunday, November 25, 2018

November 25

As I’m trudging through the book of Ezekiel, I use the word trudging because every day I want to put it down and start another book. It’s a prophecy, and a warning to Israel, and very little of it has to do with me or you. Then I come to chapter 34, which seems to go quite well with Psalms 23, still a warning, but to the shepherds. Then God orders Ezekiel to speak tenderly to His sheep and give us a hope for the future, and a promise. Finally, there is a  bright spot in this doom and gloom, and that bright spot is the promise of a good shepherd, Jesus. He is our promise of peace, He fills our bellies with the knowledge of the Holy, and His precepts, which is what God had intended for His shepherds, but they just fattened themselves and let the sheep go hungry. This is an important note, share what you know about Jesus! Don’t just fatten yourself with knowledge, share your food. Don’t be a fat sheep!


I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I myself will make them lie down, declares the Lord GOD. I will seek the lost, and I will bring back the strayed, and I will bind up the injured, and I will strengthen the weak, and the fat and the strong I will destroy. I will feed them in justice. Ezekiel 34:15-16