customs vs disciplines

I wrote that last one in a state of jet-lag from being on the other side of the world - then my back went out!

YOU BET I NEEDED REST, RECOVERY=HELP AND REFUGE - from all forms of "back-lash".  Still do, as always.  But it's all much better.  Thankfully.

On my journey, I was pondering the different customs of cultures.  (As for the process of going through "customs", it was a disordered mess and I missed a gate change at a particular US airport - cost me a whole extra day of travel!)

I realized that in my personal life, I have customs also.  It is my custom to commune with Elohiym in the early morning.  That is a pleasant thing.  It is natural for me.  Yet many, many years ago it started as a discipline.

I could have chosen many different uses of that time.  But I NEEDED to press in to HIM because things were...not easy, to say the least.  Still aren't, really.

Customs develop over a long period of time.  It's not that they are some sort of LAW that restricts you and you have to STRIVE to abide by it.  It is just a natural way of being, and doing follows.

I am again speaking to myself because I tend to overdo attempts at DISCIPLINE which makes the thing HARDER.  You beat yourself up for not sticking to it!  Whereas a custom is a pleasant thing that CAN FLEX with circumstances.

My "list" for the day can become more customary than a set of Requirements!!

My life just got EASIER!  (now to make more of my disciplines a custom!:)

Three Comings

There are many places in Scripture where we are invited to "Come".  What does this entail?  Simply our soul and spirit approaching Elohim, God, by intent: will or desire.  This is prayer.  Not hard.

The classic is in Matthew 11:28.  Come to Me, all who labor and are heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Do we really believe and receive that?   Take some.

Draw near to the throne of grace, confidently, that we may receive mercy and help in time of need.  Hebrews 4:16.  Drawing is Coming near.  Take some.

Then there is: we who have fled for refuge in laying hold of the hope set before us.  Hebrews 6:18.  This is running into His presence, for shelter.  Take some.

Rest, help and shielding.  I need all these very often!  If you Come near to God, you have to believe that He exists and ACTUALLY gives you the thing you need!  Hebrews 11:6.  I think I am not the only one who can use encouragement to grasp this REALITY FULLY.

A state of DWELLING in these realities is the desired result of constantly COMING to Him in daily need.  
Believing is the only stipulation to transact receiving.

Seems so simple, so why are so many of us wiped out, striving alone and vulnerable to attacks?  Umm.. we forgot, in our rushing around, to take some.  I need them all RIGHT NOW!  This is for me, I know.

Deep Things

This morning I was given lovely confirmations as pondering how Holy Spirit = Ruach Elohiym -(Breath of Most High)- searches the deep things of Yahweh.  These are the REAL depths!  His rain had been a topic of meditation also.

A light rain shower hit my skylight at that moment.  When I stepped out of my studio there was a full rainbow to the Northwest.  The sun had emerged.

In Revelation it calls the enemy's deep things "so-called".  It is the same Greek word for both.  Yahweh's are genuine; the enemy's, a convincing counterfeit.
(Bathos: profound and mysterious).  (1 Corinthians 2:10 / Revelation 2:24).
Romans 8:26 portrays the deep groaning of the Spirit in intercession through us and in the 11th chapter the depth of His riches is described, unfathomable in wisdom, knowledge and right judgements.  Incomparable to any others.

Protection/Power

We stay inside Yeshua (Jesus) for protection.

He stays inside of us for power (enablement).

(Of course there are many other functions in these placements, also).

John 15 is His discourse on the necessity of remaining in Him, Him in us.  Otherwise we may not fare as well in this battle we face daily.

Wait Longer to Heat UP.

Waiting on Yahweh is good.  Waiting longer can be even better, as when a pan stays on the stove longer:  IT GETS HOTTER!!  Duh!

In any given session of waiting, once attention is focused on Him, see how long you CAN wait.  Say, substitute for a one hour T.V. program.  He will heat up your spirit/atmosphere, take you places.

Our many "doings" tend to blur focus, block power.  If the pot's not on the element, it can't heat up.  Or, you may be walking in the fire, so stay in it as long as you can by grace.  It gives you an advantage.   Kingdom First @ all xx.  He'll show you when to move forward.

 *Turn up the fire, to go higher!*Let's hope that just means waiting longer, not hotter circumstances!  Uh, hope is good:)

Midnight Oil / Preparedness

PREPAREDNESS.  Oswald Chambers says, It's preparation AND preparation!  John Sanford says we who heal earth need this walk.  We know it in our minds and in our spirits.  The 5 foolish virgins were short on this.  Are we READY TO WAIT LONGER ~ AS MIDNIGHT APPROACHES?

Midnight darkness is deep darkness.  We will need all the supply we can get!

Should the Bridegroom tarry.  What does that Darkness look like?  Evil.  What is the preparation?

Mentally:  expect the unexpected.  Your theology might have to bust the box it's currently in.

Spiritually:  We are ALWAYS to focus on the UNSEEN.  As we do, we become what we behold: empowered by Yah whose Kingdom is to Come to earth, as in Heaven.  WORSHIP Most High.  REMAIN IN His Son - THAT IS ALWAYS OUR PLACE OF spiritual SAFETY!

Physically: Go ahead and store food/water, have emergency shelter.  But BETTER IS: press in to operate in the "powers of the age to come".  Do what Yeshua did:  Multiply food.  There is also water available coming out of the Spirit realm; divine oil emerges: supernatural supply.   

Best to not give up if He delays.  Evil may wax worse, but that doesn't mean He isn't STILL COMING!  If the oil is HOPE, we MUST maintain that, be ready to need/use extra supply.  On the other hand, His delay is no reason to go all fleshy and act out junk.  But that's another parable!

Miraculous Oil. (Guess I better start blogging again!)

Chanuka is celebrated because the Macabees during warfare ran out of oil for the temple lamp, which was to be kept burning always.  Miraculously, the oil did not diminish for 8 days!

The 5 foolish virgins ran out of oil waiting for the Bridegroom.  Yeshua taught that parable in the new covenant.  

He would have celebrated Chanuka when He was on earth.  The running out of /supernatural oil in the temple happened BETWEEN the old and new covenants.  Applying that now, oil portrays Holy Spirit SUPPLY.

Unfortunately, the unwise virgins could not access the miraculous!  They went to try to buy oil and missed the main event: coming of the Bridegroom!  The 5 wise virgins were well-equipped.  Plenty of oil!

BE READY TO ACCESS THE SUPERNATURAL IN THE LAST DAYS, which are NOW.