Blue, Grey, Green

Don't worry mama: he's comin' for you.
He's gonna lift you up, beyond the blue.
Don't mind the darkness; just look for heaven's dew.
The earth is breaking open now; up springs life so new: he comes for you.

Look it's rainin' mama; a thousand tiny worlds well they can't keep away.
The earth, it pulls them down, reaches up, empties the skies of grey.
Sometimes it whispers; some-times it floods. What do you hear them say?
I hear them sing to me of love, falling to rise another day: a thousand worlds can't keep away.

The trees make peace with gravity.  They fight and they rise; they thrive on the life that dissolves the stone.
Up top they build houses for birds, and hang fruit for the ones down below.

They sing every one, and they clap their hands. Through winter and spring, be sure they will stand for the sun's return.
He was, and he is, and he comes: our hearts come alive as he burns.

He was, and he is, and he comes.

Don't worry Mama: he's comin' for you.

Raven Lochs

black, as the ravens
boast her hair, her tears
swimming on her bed
darkness, with the lights on
writhing black.

sees no counsel for this pain
such that cruelty could not plan.
seven lines of sorrows cannot hold
anguish to its end, but may suggest
another sees.

We

He, in his time of terror meets me
   Baptized into darkness greets me
   Where I had sealed my tomb.

I, hear the cry of separation
   His descent to condemnation
   Which was before my own.

We,

We sing together in the Evening
   Sorrow's joys, and Rest in grieving
   Until the morning comes.

His.

The world was to me a wife wandering from her husband, only as much as I had forgotten him. Every golden vein flowed black when it was my name I thought she called. Her purest fountain turned to wormwood as I counted it mine, and threatened the end of my thirst.

Beauty remains while we are his. Only if I pluck the flower do I dread its fading.

Instead let me sing in his fields, and drink from his vines, praising his radiance in the creatures he calls forth, and resting in his constancy as they lie down.

The Holy Spirit Reveals and Exalts Christ

I am speaking to the point of discerning whether or not a given word or spirit contradicts the testimony of Jesus Christ.
I think it's clear that satan lies mainly by improper application of truth, not predominately by outright contradiction. The enemy's message will often affirm many biblical principles, while leading a person away from dependence on Christ. To avoid deception, we have to look at our heart with God, recognizing our inability to judge correctly apart from his Word with the help of his Spirit.

It's practically very simple.  Lord, you see me. You see how I feel about this. (good or bad) Jesus, I'm coming to your throne for judgment. It's your answer that gives life, independent from my understanding or feelings. Let me walk with you. It's you I need, far beyond anything. Let me see that you hold it all, and let me hear only your voice.  Let me have your purposes and plans toward these things, and ideas, and people, and not my own.  I care (most of the time if we're honest) too much about this - let my rest be in your ordering of things. Free me from desires even for things that are good and right, when they are contrary to your leading. Let me go out with joy that is completely free from my say on any matter, because I'm so delighted in yours. Let me be led forth with the peace of your ruling all things, no less our hearts.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

  Legitimate prophecy, stands on the testimony of Jesus Christ. This is its foundational message, the point from which it gains its strength, and it's apex, the glorious vista which it spreads before you.  Here it bestows all honor and praise, and it is here that it calls for roots to be struck down deep. Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, raised from the dead, presently building his church, coming soon to delight in her perfection. He's fully pleased and overflowing, the perfect object of the father's joy.  Well meaning messengers may effect emotional response without drawing your confidence toward Christ. Our enemy wants you to feel good about yourself without regard for how the father feels about Jesus. But we're meant to look to the fulfillment of scriptures, the exaltation of Jesus Christ as the true Messiah, our currently reigning King and accessible friend, not to the word of so called prophets who prey on the desires of our flesh.  Did the word exhort you to look to Jesus, the living Christ?

 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.” 10 Then I fell down at his feet to worship him, but he said to me, “You must not do that! I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God.” For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.

 It seems clear to me also from this passage in Revelations, that prophecy is given so we might rejoice in Christ having overcome and brought us to be filled at the Father's table, having been ransomed by him. Prophecy should celebrate the certainty of his coming as the bedrock of our joy, freeing us to submit requests and believe for particular events or specific manifestations - because our hearts are set on him, not these outcomes.  I remember Jesus telling his disciples not to let their rejoicing or rest or fulfillment be found in having received even spiritual blessings such as the demons having been made subject to them, but instead to rejoice that their names were written in heaven.  All our fountains are in him.  Jesus alone is our prophet, priest, and king.  Please take to him all I have said, let him confirm it, and let us praise him together.

A Holiday at the Sea

     It had become clear by the end of the summer that my life was turning a corner, and the last thing I wanted to do was to start this new season without a plan.  A long-time acquaintance, now a good friend, invited me to vacation with his family and friends for a week or so.  I thought to myself, "Great, I can go to the beach, and just relax, and seek the Lord for direction."  Such was the graciousness of my Host, that He left me with no doubt: I should not seek him for direction.  The Lord was inviting me to enjoy simply being with him, at the beach, with friends.  


     "He loves Thee too little, who loves anything together with Thee, which he loves not for Thy sake." -Augustine


     Having my first and fullest delight firmly set in who he is, it was finally OK to enjoy things, not for their own sake, but as tokens of his love.  It had been only months since I had come to understand that we may take pleasure in the things of this world without compromising our faith.  Having found rest in him, I had begun the practice of receiving all things for the significance he brings to them, as context for relating us to himself.  We walked along the beach at night, maybe seven of us, but none was closer than he.  We climbed and sat upon a small lifeguard stand, (all of us!), and sang over the dull roar of the ocean: hymns, and songs from our favorite musicals, and Disney movies, unashamed.  The voices in harmony were beautiful, the childlike regress, magical.  His song over me was far better. 

     The next morning I had a conversation with one of the bright young ladies vacationing with us at "Papa's Palace."  She was quiet and reserved, but I wanted to hear about her faith!  I asked her questions like, "What excites you?" and not knowing my boldness, "Is there something in particular that deeply troubles you?"  In response to the latter she drew back and said essentially, "I hardly know you. What are you after?"  It was no secret that I'd made her quite uncomfortable.  I explained that I was merely trying to get right down to the marrow in which all of her happiness rested.  Red-faced and aghast she talked about trust and building relationships over time.  She made plain how abhorrently foolish it is to skip right to dessert, my words, and though I really could not believe her at the time, I was blessed with the humility to listen.  Praying about this that night, I was enveloped in his rest like never before, again.  Yes, it was true.  She was right!  Why had I not seen this?  

"The best surfer out there is the one having the most fun." -Phil Edwards

     My 'now good friend' is part of a ministry he refers to as "surf church", and was glad to teach me the basics of surfing during this trip.  This. Was. A. Blast!!  It was loads of fun, and I learned something of the overwhelming power of the wave.  They come to shore so fast that in order to catch a ride, you have to paddle toward the beach with all your might!  This comes after having paddled out to the break point, against the incoming surge.  This was exhausting.  In fact, it was impossible in the beginning.  I paddled and paddled and paddled and paddled trying to get out to where I could catch a wave, to no avail.  I wasn't strong enough.  I didn't have the proper form, nor the strength, nor the stamina.  I had to practice in the shallow water, where the waves were already breaking, where I could push off of the bottom with my feet and gain momentum before paddling to catch the wave.  This worked!  I learned how to catch a wave, to stand up on the board and ride it in.  I was able to rest between sets, I learned to paddle correctly, to some degree, and I gained the strength needed to paddle out over the once formidable breakers. 

     Satisfied in the Lord, I really enjoyed the process of learning to surf, and not getting it right, and that being OK.  Besides, there never was the smallest chance of experiencing the joy of the depths, without first appreciating the fitness of the shallow.  Likewise, gratefulness to God for the people he places in our lives, without respect to particulars, is the path to rightly treasuring their complexities.  There is great joy to be had in kindness shared among acquaintances, sometimes because much remains unknown.  The relationships I have, just as they are today, are his gift to me.  These are part of the context through which he's inviting me to enjoy his pleasure, and there's no pressure to get out to where the waves are breaking.  The rich, intimate friendships I long for, in which great magnitude of thought and emotion can be shared without hesitation or discomfort will come about after lots, and lots, of paddling!  

"The hard working farmer must be first partaker of the fruits." -2 Timothy 2:6

     In prayer that night, I saw for the first time how perfect all of my relationships are each day, provided I receive them from a loving father.  Even with the tensions which burden some of them, there remain abundant opportunities for our good and His glory.  I saw something else that night, a glorious treasure: I saw his full enjoyment of the current depth of our relationship.  That is not to say I saw the full extent of it, but that there wasn't a lack of satisfaction on his part because of my difficulty in opening to him.  Jesus had held nothing back, offering him full intimacy, and there's no question of whether I'll be made like him.  He is secure in his own goodness, and in his commitment to bring me to recognize and embrace it.  This is peace.  This is patience.  This is kindness.  My rest in him is enriched by his pleasure being independent of the present maturity of this rest.  In like manner, now he makes us alive to the service of others.

     The power of the sea is both frightening and majestic.  It's enough to know a surfer who's willing to bring me as far as he's gone, at the right time.  We'll play in the deep once we've grown.  

The Witness in the Sky is Faithful.

“REMEMBER , THAT JESUS CHRIST, 

THE SEED OF DAVID, 

WAS RAISED FROM THE DEAD, ACCORDING TO THE GOOD NEWS I PREACH.” (2 Timothy 2:7)

“Timothy, remember this living man, the king, our friend, Jesus.”  He’s the oldest living descendant of King David, which makes the throne his.  “Yeah, yeah, I know, King of kings and Lord of lords. I’ve got it, next...”  Well, Paul could have left this little bit out of the letter to the famous Timothy, yet it remains.  In fact, he sandwiched it between “Jesus Christ,” and, “was raised.”  I think he’s making an important point, but what?  “Remember, you that teach others, Jesus is the living King.”  He’s in charge.  He’s running things now. 

"Once I have sworn by My holiness; I will not lie to David. His descendants shall endure forever And his throne as the sun before Me. It shall be established forever like the moon, And the witness in the sky is faithful." (Psalms 132:35-37)

He’s faithful, that is, he judges righteously.  “Ooooh, hmm, I don’t know if I want a judge.  I liked it when you said friend.”  Who is the king, but the final and supreme judge?  If you don’t like the king’s decision, there is no higher authority to which you may appeal.  “Um, I don’t care much for the A-word either.”  Don’t forget that this is the Good News.  Our friend, the king, has power to give us justice! Maybe that’s exactly what we tend to shrink back from, with good reason.

“The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.” (Acts 17:30-31)

We really want justice for ourselves, but definitely not justice for the ones we have wronged!  It's clear though that we can't separate his forgiveness for us, from his forgiveness of our enemies.  This is what has torn us to pieces, but we have hope.  The man he appointed is Jesus, who said,

 “Come unto me, all you who are weary and weighed down, and I will give you rest, Look to me for your strength and see me for who I am, because I don't despise the weak, I treasure them, and you will find rest for your souls.” (paraphrase of Matt. 11:28-29)  

         His judgment is mercy and forgiveness for our past, and gentle leading into the affections of God for our future.  Anything contrary to these he devours with a sword that comes out of his mouth.  He is a judge to be feared.  He laid down his life to demonstrate his resolve: for us to come to him, which is what we must do in order to receive him as our king and friend.   We come to him seeking relief in his good judgment, and he continues to call.