The Month of October

 

The month of October will be a busy one. You will see people wearing pink and having mammograms, parties and costumes, and candy. Plans being made for the holidays and more. I will be doing my 31 Day Writer’s Challenge about angels.  I just found out it’s also ministry appreciation month.

This is a post dear to my heart because before I start posting angels, I want you to know that I understand fully the need for them. I know that there are those of you who see no way out of your predicaments. I can tell you there is a way, He is the way, Jesus.

Put your head on the pillow of rest tonight, His rest. He knows, where you live, your name, your children, and your abuser. That’s right, I said abuser. Are you married to him? Living with him? Or just dating? It’s not going to matter to Jesus, for I’m praying He makes a way where there is no way for you. He has done it for me, time and again. Be honest with God, yourself and others. And I know everyone doesn’t want all their trials or personal experiences known. But you can trust God.

My problem was more in health overcoming fear, verbal abuse. Spiritual battles. I know you hurt, your heart aches or breaks for someone you love but live in fear of. You can’t talk or reason, perhaps it is that bravado, that won’t let him admit he is wrong or tell you his hurts, maybe he’s just a liar a cheat or an addict. You could be unequally yoked, your burden is heavy, Jesus wants it lighter.

October is also Domestic Violence Awareness month, and you may be one of those people who are like the women on television who are well dressed but go home and are hoarders. They don’t look like they keep trash but they do. You may hide your bruises with sleeves, black eyes with makeup or sunglasses, Jesus knows.

He has heard your cries, caught your tears and is strengthening your heart even now. Grace belongs to you as a believer. If you are living in a sinful lifestyle, ask forgiveness and leave. Leave in a way to be safe and to make sure your children are. There are places to go and people to help. God will be putting angels in your path.

In the mean time don’t argue, don’t let anger and bitterness eat away at you. If you have to step outside and look at the moon, do it and know that all over the world other women will be looking at it too. I wrote a poem called the Children’s Moon. The daytime moon is called that. So let’s hold the night moon as a light to women, a call to prayer, to pray for each other, to lift each other’s burdens up to God, to call forth His holy angels. I will make sure I write a prayer for us.

I want you to be quiet and still before Him and thank Him even if you don’t see a thing happening, God is at work behind the scenes, He rewards faith, step out in faith and not fear, and His love will find you. You are not lost.

Jesus is the way and the redeemer and He will make a way, He is aware of abuse and violence, you don’t have to participate or be a victim as long as victory is in Him. Be blessed and safe in October as He releases a flood of angels over the earth and especially over women. Rebecca Jones

https://alsoadaughtersgiftoflove.blogspot.com/2017/09/halo-moon.html

Living In The Book of John

 

If you asked me about favorite verses I could give you some, Psalm 34:8 and Zephaniah 3:17, Psalm 116:2 come to mind. But with all the Psalms, Proverbs and passages in the Bible. I do have a favorite place to read and rest, the book of John. I love the book of John. Jesus is revealed in the book of John and I am at home in the book of John. I could live in the book of John.

That said, let’s talk about it. It begins with the Word being flesh and dwelling among them. That Word was Jesus. John tells a lot of the same stories as the other gospels, though they all differ a little. There are parables and healing. John 14 stands out when Jesus tells you not to let your heart be troubled nor afraid. That is a comfort, and I have to constantly remember that one as the enemy would steal it from my very heart and soul.

He goes on to explain the Holy Spirit and His role in coming to teach us, why it is better for Him to go. Why? As a man Jesus could not be everywhere, but when He sent the Holy Spirit back, He would teach the world from inside their spirits. He says the Holy Spirit would show things to come and guide into all truths.

He also talks of praying for us. And of asking the Father to love us as much as He loved Him. I know, He sent Him to be crucified but He took our place and we are crucified with Him. So we have a new life at the moment of salvation, and further experiences as we grow and receive spiritual gifts.

And of course John gives a defining account of how Jesus spends His last hours. He mentions Jesus declaring Himself the I Am, and that power knocking over guards who came to get Him, he also names Malchus whose ear was cut off. And how He was bound and taken to be crucified, even though stoning was the usual method of execution, and prisoners received either scourging or crucifixion, Jesus received both. It was finished.

John called himself the disciple Jesus loved, even though He loved them all, even the traitor, Judas. He even calls Him friend as He is betrayed by a kiss. John understood Jesus. He is the one leaning o Him in the Last Supper paintings. John got it. And if we want to get it, this is the place to start reading. If 1 Corinthians 13 is the love Chapter and it is as Paul describes Jesus, then John is the love book. Who wrote the book of love? John, and three others, and the Book of Revelation.

As I said, He loved all His disciples, look what He forgave Peter of, I’m sure He wanted to forgive Judas had He asked, His sacrifice was once and for all, deep and complete, but a person has to be sincere, and not disgrace His grace. John suffered a lot, was even boiled in oil, ended up in exile and received visions of Revelation which is encoded.

That’s where a lot of people want to start reading. I tell them to go to the Book of John. Most people have a limited Bible knowledge and yet go there, you do need to know some ancient history and the Bible first, so go to John. As for Jesus loving John, it was his choice of words. Jesus, whether just teaching them, or preferring their company, is often with Peter, James and John. He was human. and may have preferred their company, aren’t we all like that? He has walked in our shoes, and we attempt to walk in His, another John felt unworthy to lace His sandal, that gets into our heads as well. But John got Jesus.

And we too, want to get Jesus. So let’s read all the gospels, study them, but let’s rest and relax in the Book of John before jumping into Revelation, spoiler alert. The devil loses,again. But you knew that, right? Go ahead and read, memorize verses, journal, or whatever you do.

But please read and really absorb John. Soak it in like a sponge. We may not be disciples, because post crucifixion we are sons and daughters. And we want to be loved by Jesus and like the Father loved Jesus. And He is our High Priest. The beloved Bridegroom who has gone to prepare a place for us and is soon to return. I want to live in heaven, so I live in the Book of John. Rebecca Jones

Toss Jezebel Out The Window

 

I have been hearing so much about a Jezebel spirit lately. I have seen it in action. I know it is not wise to just assume people are oppressed or possessed of the devil. You can’t just run around rebuking everyone and casting out the devil. You must be led by the Spirit, because He’s doing the casting out anyway. And some people repent and take it right back up. What is a Jezebel spirit?

It is a demon, and it didn’t originate with Jezebel, it just worked in her and she was a wicked queen who went up against Elijah. She had many prophets killed, she was a servant a Baal. She controlled a weak king Ahab. That spirit is working now to destroy families,churches and businesses, the Jezebel spirit will walk all over you to get ahead, and not care who it hurts. It affects both men and women.

It is self centered, religious to a point and but more given to self adoration. Jezebel’s feelings and hurts matter, are over exaggerated and your don’t mean a thing. It is narcissism at its finest. It will feign love but always blame, belittle and condemn. It is never wrong.You are, no matter what you say or do, you won’t please Jezebel.

She has an allure, over power, seduction, weak men and women, even Christians are oppressed by her, as opposed to possessed like the unbeliever. She uses money, sex and the deception of power, to manipulate and control. You do what she says out of fear, and just getting tired of hearing the same diatribe and excuses.

It is time to take a stand and save marriages, families and lives, business and churches. I have asked women to pray about this today and everyday and ask Jesus to pull down that power or principality or whatever spirit she is. Do not try this at home! This should be in a body of believers in a spirit filled church setting. Don’t argue, if you suspect it. If you know Jesus ask the Holy Spirit to guide you, if you can pray  in the Spirit, do so.

The person affected will not want to be counseled, there’s a nothing wrong with me, it’s you attitude. But I want us to act together as believers in prayer to a loving Lord to break this off the backs of believers once and for all because it is a heavy oppression, and His burden is easy and light. We want His rest instead of conflict.

Also we do not want to operate in witchcraft prayers. I had never heard of those. But witchcraft is the same as rebellion. It is also rooted in drug use. I used to pray for someone on drugs to sober up, go to work, take care of their children. But they have a free will and I cannot control them. Now I pray, for them to know the love of Jesus and His grace. I know people that should be dead or in jail, and it is by His grace they are not. And are they thankful? I’ve never heard it. So disgracing grace has a limit before you are cut off.

If you need money, don’t pray for the Lord to make the boss give you a raise. No, pray that the boss see how favored you are and what an asset and for the Lord to bless him that he may bless you. Don’t pray for this guy or girl to fall in love with you. Ask the Lord to bless you with the right person and wait for them. You get the idea. You can not control others, God doesn’t or we would all be robotic little angels. He wants us to choose Him and to love Him.

When I was younger people were opposed to make up. Wearing it made you a Jezebel. It’s not make up, it is your heart. Do not let Jezebel in, as a believer, if you think this spirit is oppressing you or attacking your mind, ask forgiveness,renounce Jezebel and her ways, Jesus will free you. And if you suspect it in another person, ask Him to bring them to deliverance. Do not get into conflict. I pray this has helped someone. Rebecca Jones —  A BOLD PRAYER

JEZEBEL SPIRIT, YOU ARE DEFEATED! WE CANCEL EVERY ASSIGNMENT THAT HAS BEEN SENT,  IN THE PROCESS OF BEING SENT. WE DEMOLISH, DESTROY AND CAUSE A BACKFIRE ON THEM, JESUS SEND THEM BACK TO THE ORIGINATOR. WE LASSO THEM IN THE SPIRIT, WRANGLE ALL OF THESE COHORTS TOGETHER AND BANISH THEM INTO OUTER DARKNESS FOREVER AND PUT THE ANGELS OF HEAVEN AS GUARD OVER THE GATES THAT SHUT THEM OUT OF THIS HEMISPHERE FOR ALL OF ETERNITY. IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF JESUS CHRIST – THE NAME ABOVE EVERY NAME – BOTH NOW AND FOREVER MORE. THIS IS IN AGREEMENT WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND SEALED WITH THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST – THE SON OF THE EVER POWERFUL, LIVING GOD. AMEN.

I have saddened to hear that some women in ministry are being called Jezebels unjustly, this is a wicked spirit that causes division and you should never judge a persons calling, except by the Word. God is not a respecter of persons.

The Accuser of My Heart

 

So you are a born again believer, child of God, daughter of the King. What’s wrong then? Why do you have so much worry and despair, you feel guilt and shame over things long ago forgiven by Jesus, and take blame for others, and problems not even caused by you. You have a lot of self doubt or confusion, your confidence is gone, even if you have confidence in Him.

You are not alone. Jesus is pouring out spiritual gifts upon believers. Not all of them are listed in His Word. These are anointings that are falling out upon us as part of His love and favor, He is grace, itself.

It is the love that is lavished on us by a loving Father who wants to  break down cycles of abuse, even if it us allowing the accuser or the brethren to accuse us unknowingly. We all recognize certain lies. But after a while we can grow weary, of waiting for answers to prayers and just in our well doing or our daily lives. By doing so we can allow the enemy to accuse us.

Let me tell you that he accuses you in your thoughts and it is a lot easier to cast down as long as you have sound knowledge of the Word. If he says, you did so and so, you can thing but I have been forgiven east to west and that was…years ago.

But there are words that just are a weigh on your heart, almost the proverbial millstone. there are days you are crushed under them, and days you brush them aside. But you may not know what the day will bring. Even Jesus said there would be a certain amount of evil in the day. We have to over come the day. And not ;let the day overcome us.

Many, many women suffer from diseases that some probably think are in their head. I think maybe, some are in there heart. You know whether you truly repented before the Lord and meant it, confessed Him as Lord, risen and coming soon and how you’ve tried to do as He taught or you know if you are not sure and need a real encounter with Jesus and to receive His Spirit.

As a believer, we have a real enemy who would destroy our souls if possible. And he causes a lot of mental and physical fatigue and plagues the minds and hearts of women with worry and restlessness. We tend to repeat behaviors, fall into patterns of sleepless nights, even half hearted attempts  to read the Word or listen to music. I get it. I gave in before, but now I know that there are many blessings that He wants to shower us with.

So ask Him, spend intimate time with the Lord, talk over anything and everything, just love Him and thank Him, and seek His rest, His peace. And He is our confidence, we know He answers prayers.

Only He can erase the past and make us look ahead to brighter days and new beginnings and O believe He is doing that with me. The breastplate of righteousness has always been a part of our armor, and yet it is as if the fiery darts are quenched but words are slipping through somehow and the devil has been able to accuse our hearts.

He is greater in us, Jesus, who resides there. And He is the Prince of Peace, He is our peace. Let’s receive it into our hearts by faith. And breathe the sweet peace of heaven as shallow, selfish and vain words fall to the floor. And angels walk beside us with their feathers sweeping them away like so much dust, back into the devils’s mouth.

May He silence the accuser of the brethren, this Yom Kippor. I am willing to let Him. I will receive special blessings and favors as the ten days of awe wind down. I am thankful He has silenced the accuser of my heart. Rebecca Jones

God’s In The Details

 

I have always loved taking pictures. You would think with phones and IPads I would be right back at it, well I may be when I get the hang of it. I don’t need all those weird pictures you see floating around, not of everything I’m doing, cooking dinner, the neighbors roses, no, I’m more the professional.

I like staging things, I don’t want everything photo shopped, I think you can be still, or you won’t hear God. Psalm 46:10 I like the dressed up, the Hollywood glam makeup. Will it be perfect? If God is in the details. And He is in the details. You know that silly expression, ” the devil is in the details. ” Forget it! God is! He’s the greater one and He knows everything!

I can file that one under old wives tales because God has always had a plan and a purpose and He is in the details, every detail of the life of the believer. He is in your work, He is in your home, your family and your marriage, if you let Him be. And we can live life day by day in His abundance of grace.

Still not convinced? Well, maybe I can help. If you want Him to be a part of something ask Him, love Him and invite Him. I have a chair set aside just for Him. He is welcome with me. I used to think so differently, the enemy battered my thought life. But God restored my writing and creative soul.

I studied the word and got a little caught up in end times and prophecy but i went back to John and how much He loves us. I studied Hebrew. Hebrew is very symbolic. each letter has a word picture. YHVH, the tetragramaton of  God the name, Yahweh has the symbols that read, The hand, behold, the nail, behold, as far back as Genesis or even before, God planned redeem us through Christ.

Let’s look at Shaloam, peace the word symbols read, sheen, lamed, vav and mem. The letters for sheen are like flames or fire. Jesus said He would destroy the temple and raise it in three days, the word is destroy, lamed is a hook or shepherd’s staff, the vav is a nail and mem, which is water.

Jesus willingly gave His life, His body destroyed for us an offering, He was and is the good Shepherd, nailed to cross, the blood and water came from His side, an atonement  and the water is a type of Holy Spirit, He left us His peace in John 14:27

It literally reads destruction of the shepherd who shed blood for our peace. The word ahavah, love is that God watches over His house or family.  There are so many great truths in studying Hebrew, I will do some more as we move on after we get through our month of angels.

Next time you start thinking that the devil is in the details, forget it. God is in control and in command of our lives if we let Him be, He is in the details and He described Jesus in every detail, even His coming in Word pictures. Rebecca Jones

Grace Notes

 

I happened across that phrase, grace notes. I immediately went back to my piano lesson days and remembered the small, nonessential notes. That they are small, above the other notes and sometimes have a slash.  They may or may not be played and do not affect the melody or harmony of the piece.

Grace notes are often left to the discretion of the performer and can range from pianist to voice. They can be held a little longer or just very quick, or even overlooked. Today, I feel like a grace note, for I have held onto things, good things, a longer longer than most. And also some, I should have probably let go of before, still hoping prayer would change things, and it does, but not all people are receptive. And I have felt the slash of the accuser’s words, and of heartbreak and grief, I know loss. I know what it is to be lost and found.

I had pianist desires, I wasn’t very good. No matter how hard I tried. But God gift’s are not something we have to struggle for or with. I wish I’d known that when I pounded out Somewhere Over the Rainbow. And when the Little Drummer Boy couldn’t quite make his last rum pah pum and drew laughter. I backed out a church performance once even though I could do it. I kept thinking surely they won’t boo me off stage.

But I never really had any stage fright, just the not good enough mindset. A mindset put in by the enemy and not by Jesus, who loved me and blessed me with many gifts, some I never realized or even the potential of. I never thought I ‘d blog or minister to women this way. It’s all about Him, for His glory.

So maybe, He has a lot more little grace notes around. We don’t affect the harmony or the melody of His amazing grace. To a lot of people we may appear non essential or with no purpose, sometimes what we do or say or pray and the difference we make is held, and someties it is quick but powerful. It depends on the performer. I made it clear in an earlier post that I now have to play to an audience of one, Jesus. Because I was a flop at people pleasing, I just can’t agree that He might heal you, He might not, and that you never know what He is up to.

No, I know Jesus is my best friend, sticks with me. He loves me more than anyone, and will never leave me. Nor I Him. I know He heals, I have been in need of it. He protects and delivers. He is my music and I am merely a grace note, not that I don’t matter, because even if I didn’t matter to anyone, I would matter to Him.

And if He is the singer of the song of my life and He rejoices over me in song, Zephaniah 3:17, then His performance can also be for an audience of one, me. Even though Jesus belongs to the world. He has enough love and grace and peace, joy and truth to go around and still treat us as individuals.

We, grace notes are love notes, sung by the Master, played by the classical pianists of heaven, Angelic choirs gathered round His throne. No, we may not affect the harmony or melody, but He certainly affects ours.

Praise Him, praise Him, in the heights, sun and moon. Praise Him all you shining stars. What a glorious wonder our sweet Lord is. And I am proud to be a grace note, it’s still amazing. Rebecca Jones

The Second Adam

 

Adam, the first man, was made from the dust of the earth, while Christ, the second man, came from heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:47

I wrote about Adam. So it’s about time I wrote about the second Adam. It took a long time for God’s plans to come to fruition in order to redeem mankind. The devil tried to thwart is lots of times. Certainly, he still thought he could be God. but this man didn’t cave to his every whimsy. He never bowed His will or knee to the wicked one.

Women take a bad wrap for giving Adam an apple, though I think it could have even been a pomegranate. Why, because of the number of seeds and Jewish law, but that’s only a supposition. It stuck in his throat, hence the phrase Adam’s apple. When I was younger, the joke about Adam’s phone number was I812, and that friends is long before cell phones. even before my time.

And men take a ribbing, pun intended. Where were you? Why didn’t you say no? You should have repented. People, any of us could have been deceived. It would take Jesus to come and bring the plan of salvation, if only we would receive. And yes, He brought grace and truth, but let’s not abuse the grace by continuing in sin and counting on forgiveness. Don’t disgrace grace.

Adam was a perfect man and walked with God, probably Jesus. Jesus was a perfect man, but also God. Adam failed, Jesus didn’t. he came to redeem both men and women, and He looks at them as equals in Him. He has a strong cord in a Godly marriage. he honors marriage between an man and woman. He made a plan for a reason.

Adam was disobedient, Jesus was obedient unto death. He died to save us, He literally took out place. Isaiah 53 is the perfect passage to explain it. God finished creation. Jesus finished salvation. I could sit here and parallel Adam and Jesus  even more. Whatever deceived Adam, we may never know. But Jesus was never fooled by the adversary, and teaches us through the Holy Spirit, how to avoid it.

But I write this blog to encourage women. Jesus gave  women a place, a hope, their freedom. The perfect couple in the garden were asked to leave for their protection, not to live forever in sin. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us, we are neither widows nor orphans, He;ll gladly hold us as we cry out to Him for help, He is never far away, when the enemy prowls. He see our tear, our hearts, our fears. He did not give us that fearful spirit, but He understands, and covers you with righteousness.

He may say, ” I love you, come to me with your prayers, make any request or demand of me. There is nothing I can’t do for you. Nothing is too hard for me. If you believe, believe with all your heart and not let it be troubled or afraid. The mistakes you made are covered by blood, I will not remember. Do not listen to the enemies lies about your or me. For he is weak and I am a strong tower to run to. Embrace my love, not lies. ”

” If his voice is a whisper, mine is softer still. And I will calm you, quiet you, let you be still in my love and rest. The wicked one roams and would have you weary with no rest and instill fear, falsely accuse you and attack your faith in me. But I am with you. If he begins to roar, do no listen, for he is not a king. I am the Prince of Peace and King of Kings, and my roar is mighty and defends you. If he is subtle, suggesting bad ideas, impressing worry, depression, illness into your soul, then I am sustenance, and I took upon mt head a crown of thorns, to crown you with my peace. ”

” If he is permissive and persuasive, I am your shepherd, do not follow. You know my voice. It is like honey and myrrh, it is healing and calm, and a balm of ointment and contentment. I am your only rest, will you come and rest in my words. I will not deceive you, I do not want you to fall, or turn from me but from the wicked ways and the wicked one, who would destroy beauty if he could. ”

” If he calls to you from the darkness, do not listen and do not obey and walk into darkness. If I call you from the darkness, hear me, I will bring you into the light of my love and you will not fear the terror by night. I created the night and called it good. It is a place of rest with a moon for light and I will bathe your nights in the light of the Son. There is no darkness in me, even if I stand in dark. My voice is protection, his is affliction. I offer life, he brings death. ‘

” Know little ones that the adversary is not an equal, he has no rights concerning you, if you belong to me. I want you to belong to me. I long for you to belong to me and be beloved and to walk again with me in the garden of God some day. I came and gave my life to give you life. Walk with me, rest with me, if the enemy comes, I will protect you, I am your Adam and I am your Lord. ”

All it takes is one wrong move, one wrong decision, one bad apple. I’m going with Jesus. Rebecca

 

Pearls Before Swine

 

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6

Jesus is speaking again in parables, you know the moat and beam. This is pretty much the same thing. I like the NIV translation of this from holy to sacred. I have been guilty of this, but you know, He was also talking about the religious people. Religious people can be so difficult to talk to, they are defensive and even rude. They will stick to their guns about what they were taught.

I don’t blame them, so do I. But I had to be like Peter and step out of the boat. Immediately, I went under, but Jesus got me back up. I can’t walk on water without Him, and I don’t really. It’s all about Jesus. I can’t do anything without Him. The Lord had to teach me about being quiet and still. He didn’t answer every accusation, He didn’t get flustered, He was focused on what His Father was  telling Him to do.

Jesus never failed, we do. He relied on the Holy Spirit, so why wouldn’t we have to? We aren’t greater. Even if He said we’d do greater things. He meant we would go farther around the world, what could be greater that what He did? Let me give you some examples.

Joseph, told his brothers things he shouldn’t have. You say it was God’s plan. Yes, but He turned around the situation for His good. I don’t think he ever meant for him to be sold or in prison. he is a type of Christ. I’m sure some may disagree. And I know Jesus said to shout what he tells you from the rooftops.

Get out and declare your healing if you are crippled to your neighbors. They will think you’re a crackpot. Healing is a holy thing, bought with the body and blood of Jesus. It is sacred, don’t throw it to the dogs. Marriage is a holy thing, affairs and not spending time together as a couple and in His Word are also ways of casting pearls. If you don’t value marriage, hold on to the threefold cord, it will break easily.

So healing and marriage are holy. What else? Your relationship with God is holy. You can appear to be bragging to some who just don’t or won’t understand. There may be some who can’t understand because of some spiritual hindrance, but not everyone is going to believe that they can be oppressed of the devil. Surely, not me. Jesus said He came to set us free, but Acts 10:38 says He went around doing good and healing all who oppressed of the devil. People can get offended quickly by that one.

Oppression can be sickness or financial or a number of things. It is not possession. You would have to be unsaved. And also unwilling to repent, I had the Holy Spirit use the phrase ” willing sinner ” to me once as I opened the dryer and wasn’t even thinking of a girl I had tried to help, I realized she was, sure enough, her lies continued.

You have to be careful about being accusational. The devil is the accuser and he will do it night and day. Let me tell you that a gift of the spirit can deliver you from oppression of any kind. Follow after love, desire spiritual gifts, the Lord wants you to prophesy, to receive spiritual gifts, He will help you as you step out, a little at the time,if necessary.

Whatever you do, don’t toss your gifts to dogs, those who won’t or refuse to understand. Try to meet people on their level, but remember those dogs are ready to rip you to pieces, unfortunately, you may lose some people along the way as you grow in faith but you gain real friends, and beside the Holy Spirit is the best teacher and Jesus, your best friend.

I try to share Godly wisdom, faith and healing. If you disagree, you don’t have to read it. Proverbs 9:8 says that wise people love instruction. Scoffers, no. I’m glad you are wise. Enjoy the pearls. Rebecca Jones

 

To Drip With Myrrh

 

Esther went through six months of beauty treatments including the use of myrrh. Six months of that, and six more of other cosmetics and spice. It was used as a perfume, perhaps, even a bath.  Esther is an interesting study. The King tosses out Queen Vashti for refusing to dance for a lot of drunken party goes. Even though he probably regretted it, it was done and then he issues orders to fill a harem with prospective brides.

Esther was one, a beautiful girl, an orphan, taken in by Mordecai. I’m not sure if he was an actual uncle or just a family referred to as an uncle. Anyway God placed Esther there for such a time as that in order to save the Jewish race. He ordered her steps and she found favor with the king.

She fasted three days and found out just how much favor as she entered the court without his permission. One commentary reads about how weak she was from hunger and thirst and after being devoted to prayer, it says she was actually helped to dress by servants, imagine pushing back huge palace doors and risking your life, God’s fragrance was upon her.

Now let’s talk about myrrh and Jesus. Jesus drank a cup of death in the garden, He was offered wine mingled with myrrh and gall. It was not an act of mercy as myrrh had pain killing properties, it was in a sense, ladanum, given to suffering prisoners. Jesus didn’t just not drink it because He had to endure the full brunt of the agony of the cross, though that is, in effect, true enough, He was also was not going to be bitter with the gall of others about sacrificing His life.

Myrrh must have been valuable, the wise men brought it to Him, the Bible is rich in symbolism. I will research that one. While the while the magi were wise men, it is important for us to be wise women and understand that God rewards those who seek. Was it the perfume of the alabaster box? It was used also for embalming. Mary of Bethany prepared Him for death.

And we know it is in the Song of Solomon. The Lord is literally dripping with the fragrance of offering, whether in use in the temple, for sanctification, healing, to cover spiritually ” dead ” things in our lives. Jesus is our myrrh, our fragrance, if you ever doubt His love, remember His hands and feet.

His blood dripped into a spiritual vessel and He later sanctified the Holy of Holies, so that the devil can no longer come and accuse but we can come boldly to the throne of grace, the Holy Spirit rent the veil of the temple, His flesh was rent for us. Now we can come and make our requests known.

That is pure love in the one they pierced, He drips with the fragrance of myrrh, His hands and feet, and His side, from His heart. The place from which woman was created for Adam, Jesus, referred to as the second Adam, our atonement, Jesus with a heart for women, the perfume of our souls, Rebecca Jones

• I just found out this is actress Katie McGrath, someone else has altered the photograph, I did remove a couple of shadows, so this is not her actual photograph. She’s even lovelier.

To Testify of Love

 

I was praying for my mother, I heard these words drop into my spirit. ” I need her to testify of love.” I knew it as the Holy Spirit. We have all been under attack lately, prayer warriors, myself, my mother, and perhaps a lot of you as well. And these words are not less true for any of us.

It took me back to an episode of Touched By An Angel, about a dying little boy, his mother, played by Wynona Judd, writes a song she calls Psalm 151. There isn’t one. The lyrics include, ” For as long as I shall live, I will testify of/to love. ”

I have not seen that in ages but it made an impression, obviously. The Holy Spirit used those words to relay His plans for my mother, a good plan, a plan to prosper her, because we are in a time so close to the coming of the Lord. This is the generation that could see the return of Christ for a glorious and spotless church, unlike the little boy in the show, many people will not see death.

We will receive a glorified body at the catching away, the dead in Christ rise first, and we who are alive and remain, will be caught up to meet Him. I realize this is a doctrine a lot of people are not familiar with or do not believe, nevertheless it is Scriptural.

The key to this is those of us who remain. What does that mean? It doesn’t just mean remain as in being here. It means ” remain ” in just as in the term Jesus uses about prayer, ” that if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you can ask what you will in my name and I will do it..” John 15:7 and without  looking it up I think is says for the Father’s glory.

Jesus also says that He wants ” Joy ” to remain in us and that no man takes it. So how do we let go of that? He doesn’t let people take it, but we do, in many ways. We let people dissuade us away from faith, when we know God cannot lie, if He promises it, He will do it. He is faithful. John15:11, chairos, to rejoice.

We let what I call, sci’s…satan comes immediately’s, ruin whatever it is we have prayed about, for indeed, he will try to delay, distract and deceive. So don’t let him steal your joy either, even through fellow believers. The devil will come immediately in an attempt to copy Jesus, but he is a liar and a thief, he’s no match for Jesus. And he is always a defeated foe.

And John says in 14:27, that Jesus left us His peace. Not just any peace, but His peace. That is extraordinary peace in the face of disaster, amid the chaos, in spite of that it may look like is going to happen, we must let our hearts remain in His peace.

So I am very much expecting to be a living and remaining witness to the love of Jesus and his healing touch. I will never give up the ability to testify of love, even though the song says for as long as I shall live, Jesus gave us ionos zoe, eternal life, not just a life full of days or lots of thing we accomplish or or even a large family. No, it’s not that. It is life more abundantly, it overflows and it shines with the love of Jesus, we are to be so brimming with His glory and grace that it overflows the cup of righteousness that we drink from, Jesus drank the cup of death in Gethsemane.

I didn’t realize how much the enemy despised that love, something he will never know again. For sin didn’t enter in the garden, it began in a prideful angel, who thought he could do better and never has, all he does is destroy. Death and hell are meant for him and those who would follow him, not the people Jesus died for, so why can’t they believe?

I know my mother and God had good plans for her, she will be around a long time and she will remain in love, she will testify of love. So, knowing my mother, she is strong in faith, and I know she taught me love, and helped me hold on to it in my darkest hours. I know she will testify of love. Rebecca Jones