God’s beauty on display in the heaven-breathed artwork of my precious sister in Christ, Becky. Her, her husband and her son’s beloved gifts from God, Faith and Eden, were born into the arms of Jesus. Becky is also the daughter of my dear friend Bettie, who I invited to share any Scriptures God laid on her heart for today’s post. The three God gave her are published below. [Artwork published with Becky’s permission]
“The Spirit of God has made me, And the breath of the Almighty gives me life.
Job 33:4
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.
Colossians 3:1, 3-4 NIV
In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
Romans 8:26-27 NIV
Today’s blessing over us comes to us through my dear friend Debbie, whose beloved youngest son, Roma, went home to Jesus.
I bless us to understand and embrace God’s redemption for us in all our brokenness, to know in Christ that the world will not always be as it is now, but made new. I bless us because Jesus told us that in this world, we will have trouble. I bless us to know and experience for ourselves the Promise of Jesus to us that He has overcome this world.
I bless us to lean into God’s provision in our every need. I bless us to know our only mandate is in Christ, in trusting in the Word and His provisions, fully submitting by His power at work in us to His perfect will. I bless us to know we are blessed because God is always beckoning, and as His sheep, we hear His voice. I bless us to lean into Christ’s longing to yield us to the Father’s good and perfect will for us.
BREATH OF HEAVEN
Do you see the many leaves Crushed and broken, torn, Barren tree Weeping shittim wood Arms stretched heavenward Waiting?
As manna then from heaven Falls Bare they do remain But in praises sway Many branches, side to side As One.
Firmly planted In love's strong roots Swaying now in Holy Spirit's Breath of Heaven Beauty in all barrenness Life where no life Man could ever find.
And in their swaying They beckon Come Come, all barren, weary souls Come find Life in death Resurrection in arms stretched high As manna falls.
This feather find is from almost 2 years ago, but lately, I have seen one feather after another and it makes me think of John 3:8 my dear friend Bettie and I had recently lingered with. It also reminds me of what Chaim Bentorah, a Hebrew teacher, shares about the meaning of Jesus being our portion as not so much being an inheritance that is passed down to us as heirs, but rather a living stream that is already flowing down to us, making us glad, even when we are materially impoverished or looked down upon in this world (source: https://www.chaimbentorah.com/2019/09/hebrew-word-study-my-portion/).
The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
John 3:8 ESV
There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy habitation of the Most High.
Psalm 46:4 ESV
But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!
Amos 5:24 NIV
I bless us to grow in every way into Him who is the head —Christ, by speaking the truth in love that we may promote the growth of the body for building up itself in love by the proper working of each individual part. I bless us, the whole body, in Jesus to be fitted and knit together by every supporting ligament.I bless us to see ourselves and others through the eyes of Jesus, to have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them.
I bless us to take joy in the wind of the Spirit blowing us where it wishes, and people hearing its sound, but not knowing where it comes from or where it goes. May the seekers around us notice that we are differentfrom anyone they have ever known. May they take note of the Spirit of God in us. As we continue to boast in our weakness and the changing of our minds to these seekers, may their hunger and thirst grow to know this compassionate and gracious God of ours and the infilling of His life-giving Spirit.
I bless us to notice and thank God for His streams of living water making our body – His holy habitation – glad. I bless us to relish in the sweet stillness at Christ’s feet, that as the storms of accusations hit us, we’ll find His love and grace washing over us there. I bless us to rejoice in our affliction, knowing that the weaker we are, the heavier we lean upon Jesus and His grace for us. May we see how through our weakness He has been carrying us into His love and compassion for His whole Body.
I bless us all to know, more and more of the depths of God’s love, compassion and mercy for us all – the Body of Christ. May we all continue to depart from what the Son of God died to deliver us from. May we shake off the dust as we leave, fully embracing the joy of the LORDeverset before us.
Do you hear those voices too? The ones that tell you You're not enough You'll never change All you do is make things worse?
Do you hear the voice that follows then? The one that tells you Defend yourself Hold on tight To who you wish you were Lest he rips it from your weary Tight-clenched hands
Or the one that pushes you To lie there in that bed A bed that covers you in blankets Grief, despair and loathing cruel Chaining you to who You believe you truly are Lost Forevermore.
Now, stop And still Feel Christ's hand Clasping yours Earthquake shaking And flaming fire Are but shaking off the old And burning all the dross To reveal His gold in you.
Do you hear Him too? Glorious Truth Kissing the kind, sweet Gentle Voice of Grace.
Feel those Rushing waters pure Pouring now Upon your shoulders hunched Let them wash away What's not of you All that's died Upon the Cross To now reveal instead The lavish gift Of Christ.
Hear His gentle Tender Voice Unveiling The many gifts Hidden in His heart For you.
Beloved Chosen Holy Pure Purposed True You are His Masterpiece.
Created anew In Christ Jesus You shall perform The good works HE Has long Prepared for You.
Unashamed Confident Sinking in His royal cloak Be strengthened Your feet firmly planted Appointed, upon the Rock Now rise and stand As new.
Let Christ reveal His arms stretched high His unclenched hands His heart, mind, Body Worshipping In Spirit and truth His love flowing From you.
No, no lying tongue Has power there Where Jesus stills Our hearts to hear The Voice of truth Kissing Grace.
For God Himself Has cast these columns This Temple Not of human hands But with His own He establishes He strengthens For, He alone Is the Great I AM.
Our One and Only Slayer of all sin Stiller of all accusations Defender True.
May this song my dear childhood friend of now 28 years in New Zealand (who I will be hugging in person in a little over a week: thank You, Jesus!!!) sent me through the waves of Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in 2015, sharing the comfort God had given her in her own weakness and need with me, bless and comfort you too:
And may you too, like me, experience the blessing of God’s Body as you see how God is weaving you and others together, through the Word you share with each other.
Shalom Aleh 