A Gentle Breeze

I was pondering the difference  between a gentle breeze and a fierce wind. A gentle breeze is cooling and refreshing. It is constructive. Most often a mighty or fierce wind is a destructive force. Think of tornadoes, hurricanes and thunderstorms with high winds. Satan is the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy. Jesus (Yahshua) comes to give us life and that more abundantly (John 10:10).

Isaiah 40:11 is a beautiful description of  our Good Shepherd's gentleness. It tells us, "He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in his arm, and carry them in his bosom,and gently lead those who are with young." Now that's tenderness! Being carried in his bosom is a safe place where healing takes place.

We are also told in Mathew 12:20 that a bruised reed he will not break. Jesus is here to bring wholeness to every area of our lives. Satan longs for just the opposite. He loves it when we are broken and defeated.

What our Father longs for most is ever deepening relationship with his children. As his sons and daughters, he wants us to taste and see how good he truly is (Psalm 34:8). Building a relationship takes time. Trust can't be coerced, but rather it is earned. Healing and deliverance must take place for us to be able to trust. Trust involves honesty and vulnerability. Our loving Father never rushes the trust building process, but gently leads us one step at a time to quiet waters and green pastures (Psalm 23).

Time spent in prayer, praise and Scripture study is the key to an ever deepening relationship. It is through time spent conserving with someone, sharing your heart and attentively listening as they share theirs that you learn to know their voice and distinguish it from other voices whether friendly or hostile (John 10:26). To be able to discern the enemies voice and not follow him builds trust and deepens our relationship with Jesus. I consider my prayer time sacred and usually do it first thing in the morning when I'm most alert and can give my precious Savior my best.



A GENTLE BREEZE

A gentle breeze,

Or a gentle rain,

Slow,

Calm,

Cooling,

Refreshing,

Contrasted with...

A mighty wind,

Or rain,

Rushing,

Boisterous,

Overwhelming,

Fatiguing,

Like him,

God’s spirit is gentle,

Not forceful,

Persuasive,

Not dictatorial,

Earning trust,

Not controlling you,

Respecting free will,

Not demanding compliance,

Building relationship,

Not coercing submission,

Always honest,

Not deceptive,

Affirming,

Not condemning,

Healing wounds,

Not inflicting them,

Setting people free,

Not causing bondage,

Unlike Satan’s harsh spirit,

Which is a destructive wind.

The Year of Jubilee

Earilier this year, I had the priveledge of hearing the Isaac's sing. They travel with the Gaithers. They sang a song they had just written called "The Year of Jubilee." It really touched me and inspired me to write this poem. 2016 is a Jubilee year. Leviticus 25:8-12 describes the Year of Jubilee.

Wars and rumors of wars, the list is long. I really believe that even though no one on earth knows the day or the hour, only those in Heaven, we are in the last moments of history (His story). In May,1948 the fig tree budded when Israel became  a nation. I was born in August of that same year. That begin the end of time as we know it.

Like me, you have undoubtedly had people tell you that you need to be careful not to be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good. But what about being so focused on the nasty events taking place on earth daily that you are no heavenly good? Honestly, the wickedness going on all around can be depressing. Thank God for the good that is here also. Our Savior's second coming is our blessed hope and  also our anchor for the soul (Hebrews 8:19).

Very soon we will have a new heaven and earth, ruled over by a righteous king, our Messiah. It's an eternal kingdom. There will be no more wars or rumors of wars, no more sickness and disease, no more sin, no more power hungry despots.  The list of eternal blessings is awesome (Relation 21:1-7). 

As I shared with the gals at jail, this can be your personal year of Jubilee. Your year of release from any bondages or besetting sins in your life. Satan comes to steal and kill and destroy. Jesus (Yahshua) comes to give us aabundant life (John 10:10).  Enjoy the poem.

IT’S THE YEAR OF JUBILEE

It’s the year of Jubilee,

The prison doors are opened,

The captives are set free,

Relatives purchased debtor’s land,

The price was figured,

By the years left,

Until the next Jubilee cycle,

One Jubilee cycle,

Was forty-nine years long,

Seven, the number of completion,

Tmes seven,

Year fifty began a new cycle,

Was the year of Jubilee,

In the seventh month,

On the fifteenth day,

The Day of Atonement,

The Book of Life was opened,

Last years sin’s dealt with,

Jubilee begin,

A holy year,

One of great celelebration,

Liberty proclaimed throughout Israel,

To all the inhabitants,

No crops were planted,

Or harvested,

They ate last year’s excess,

Debtor’s land was returned,

To the original owner,

Our Messiah will soon return,

Totally heal his people,

Set the captives free,

Return their stolen inheritance,

In the year of Jubilee.