They're On the Move....Are You?

I’ve found the best sleep aid yet, and I mean no offense to the inspired and captivating preacher John Piper. Now that I have my I-Phone I can easily listen to a sermon in the middle of the night. I find the more focused I try to be, the more quickly I fall asleep! It’s also a very good way to judge how long I actually do toss and turn - usually far less time than I think.

Anyway, last night was one of those nights. I have been in deep discussion with mom and daughter about predestination vs. free will. I contend that it is from whose perspective you are looking at – man’s free will is really his response to the gospel seeing there is absolutely nothing he can do to save himself. Response seems an agreeable term to predestination loyalists. Man has a “responsibility” to believe, or it is man’s “duty” to honor God, vs. crediting man’s decision to do either. Our very limited mind cannot even comprehend the absence of time, but God is not limited to that as is man, therefore, I have felt that it’s really just a time perspective. “We see through a glass darkly, but then face to face.” 1 Corinthians 13:12.

Well, last night while sleeping I heard in my spirit, “You fool! You are mine – you HAVE the mind of Christ – I know all things, including those who will be saved! Predestination assures you that all I am seeking will come and frees YOU. You needn’t worry about the decision everyone makes! Preach the gospel – scatter the seed without regard to whether it’s sown upon a rock, sand, or fertile soil, whether it’s snatched or settles – the gospel always accomplishes what is intended.”

Then I contemplated the parable of the sower (Mark 4:1-8) and understood the parables show that we DO have the mind of Christ – “unto you, it is given to know the mystery of the kingdom of God: but unto them that are without, all these things are done in parables: that seeing they may see and not perceive (perception!); and hearing they may hear and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.” Thus I realized that before conversion, my perspective is one of response; but after, I have the mind of Christ – God’s perspective – and he knows his sheep – he’s gathering up his flock – or rather, seeking those who were predestined to be saved.

“Stop worrying about the semantics of the term – you were all predestined for hell without Christ - but in Christ…..life.”

But my night was not over yet.

Then I had a vivid surreal dream of my son Jon and I in a beautiful, colorful field much like the African savanna. In the distance was your typical lone savanna tree – it flickered with glowing neon yellows and greens – vaguely, I could make out the shape of two snakes wrapped on two branches. Jon went off to explore while I watched the serene scene from the top of a picnic table - even the snakes seemed to love their perch and offered no threat. I then casually walked toward Jon and, immediately the snakes untwined from the tree and like lightning, one went after Jon and the other toward me. My heart panicked as I realized they were cobras and there was no escape. I forgot about Jon and stuck my foot out realizing I was about to die. The cobra bit my foot – but I had on high tops, much like mom’s, and the snake kept trying to bite me, but kept hitting the shoe; he was MAD – meanwhile I was terrified that he would strike my bare leg at any point – I again heard, “You fool, put on the WHOLE armor of Christ!” I looked at Jon and he was in exactly the same stance with the snake biting his shoe, and I wondered WHY DIDN’T I BRING A WALKING STICK like dad always told me to! I had nothing to shake this snake off and kill it! But then I heard, “I’m the only one that can crush the head of the serpent with my bare foot!”

It wasn’t until recanting this dream to Nana that I realized one connection God wants me to see. It’s all about the gospel. That is the predestined plan (that saves in time) and MY feet are to be shod with the gospel of peace because HE has already defeated the enemy.

But the night extended to the late morning. Three hours after me my son Jon got up. He came down agitated and said, “Mom, I have to tell you my dream.”

All your family was gathered at Mumsy’s house. As I walked through the backyard to get my friend to come over, I noticed the trash can under the tree. Do you remember the tree I used to climb? I was staring at it for a while and I frighteningly realized this bulge I was staring at was a huge snake wrapped around the trash can and up into the tree. My cousins, two sisters, you, dad and nana were out there. Karlie knew from Uncle Bert to hit it on its head, but was afraid and instead threw a leaf upon his head – this made the snake mad and he slithered into the pool. Mom, this snake was huge– monstrous size; it had a huge bulge in the middle like it had eaten something, but its head was pretty small and he was mad. He couldn’t find a way of escape. He lunged first out of the pool at Allison, who dodged him, then he lunged at Tricia and she was able to dodge him, then he went to get me, but you stood in front of me and grabbed the snake by the head and crushed him like a sumo wrestler and daddy said, “you’re going to hurt your neck!”

I couldn’t believe it. I am certain the Lord had a message in our night’s dreams. But that message came in the form of an email later. My husband, who had only heard my dream in the morning, listened to Jon’s dream that evening and said, “You have to see the email Bert sent me.” The ending words of the email are below:

Please be really careful to watch out for snakes. In this drought, they are coming in closer, looking for water. They just mentioned today that local ER's are noting a substantial rise in snakebite cases. They're on the move...

"The Plan Sent To Ya"

"For in Him, we live, and move, and have our being." Acts 1:28

Yes, my mother is a reality TV addict. She particularly is drawn to those shows that include children, family, or surgery. Each day she updates us on the latest episodes of John & Kate Plus 8, the Little People, or the Health Channel's heart-wrenching stories of dramatic births, surgical rescue or demise. Right now she is sooo looking forward to the debut of the Octomom show. Can you imagine? Sometimes I think, "how in the world can you watch this stuff (or admit it? haha)? But then she produces a gem. The connection to reality.

Recently she watched a bloody instructional dissection of the placenta on the Health Channel. At dinner - yes, at dinner - she described in great detail the absolutely amazing functional design of the placenta, while my husband pushed his food around on his plate contemplating its safety. I guess you medical people are used to this scene.

In truth, I was fascinated. It IS amazing - this perfectly designed cooperative system through which a baby in utero receives all it needs to grow and survive from its mother - extracting nutrients, hydration, and oxygen while discarding the waste products of this exchange. All the while, each remaining its own separate unique system. Mom likened this to our spiritual growth. God has fashioned for us a placenta - or, in her words "a Plan Sent To Ya" - revealed by Him. Paul introduces this analogy in Acts 17:28 when he says, "For in Him, we live, and move, and have our being." Our spiritual growth follows this same premise. Relying upon Jesus, the plan sent to ya, for our sustenance, connected by the umbilical cord of the Holy Spirit, we receive from the Father the milk of the Word - in it is everything we need to live, move, and have our being, and the means to discard what we don't. You might think that we lose that umbilical cord connection at birth, but according to my mom, we don't. Yes, it is cut. But we are not cut off. Now our cord is akin to a bungee cord. Still connected, we experience the exhilarating highs of the stretch but also the painful lows of the snap. But, in faith, we take that plunge into the world - with a scream, which as in birth shows life - believing that the cord will do what it is designed to do, pull us back.

I am grateful for this system. I am grateful for the nourishment, the salvation that I cannot get on my own. I am grateful for the ability to cast my cares upon Him and the strength I obtain from that. I am grateful to have shared in the growth and development of eight amazing miracles, experiencing firsthand being the nourisher, experiencing the beauty of their development (& how I love them all). I am grateful for the witness of spiritual growth in so many lives. I am grateful for the fellowship I have with my mother. I am grateful to you, O Lord!

Today, if you hear His voice, it's your mama calling with the plan sent to ya.

“The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.” Matthew 4:16

1 Samuel 15:1-16:23

Here we have Saul, God’s anointed king over Israel, failing to obey God’s explicit command to kill ALL of the Amelakites: women, infants, young, old, cattle, sheep, etc. But instead he keeps the best of the cattle and sheep, and does not kill Agag the King of the Amelakites. I remember being shown how the Amelakites represented sin and that unless sin is totally wiped out, its insidious growth, like the comparable yeast in bread, will grow and permeate the whole structure. So today I’m wondering, “why in the world would Saul keep alive Agag, the king?” Perhaps he desired to show his superiority over Agag; perhaps he was convinced of his own capacity to curb Agag (who was Saul’s equal in rank); but perhaps it was really to have a trophy that showed how great his conquest was. A slight temptation that we keep to show just how victorious we are - like the alcoholic who keeps a bottle of liquor on his shelf just to demonstrate his triumph over it, or the adulterer who keeps his exposed lover’s notes or number sequestered in his secret place. Saul didn’t realize God meant what He said. He justified the keeping of the prime cattle and sheep by saying he was just bringing them up to sacrifice to God! What games we play. God wants obedience, not sacrifice – in essence, there is NOTHING we can give to God, and to give back to God in honor the very thing over which He’s given you victory - is an abomination. Here, God, have my alcohol – it’s my best that I can give you. Not! Our best is obedience. Our best is humility. Our best is at best filthy rags as Paul said.

So, the kingdom was taken from Saul and given to David, God’s choice. The interesting thing is that when confronted with his sin, Saul does not realize its gravity. He replies with the right words, “I have sinned….” But goes on to say, “but please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the Lord YOUR God.” Compare that with David’s reaction to Nathan’s’ exposure of David’s sin of adultery with Bathsheba and subsequent murder of her husband: “Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ And Nathan said to David, ‘The LORD also has taken away your sin; you shall not die.’” 2 Samuel 12:13. Where Saul tried to justify his sin, David sought justification by grace. (Romans 3:24 “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”)

Astounding as it is, the Lord subsequently removed his spirit from Saul and sent instead an evil spirit to torment Saul. Crazy, isn’t it? An evil spirit from the Lord? Yes indeed. But today I realized that when we experience the absence of God in our lives and evil is left to darken our world, we have a greater “hit me over the head” opportunity to see the light when it pierces. How great is the light when darkness abounds or more specifically, “Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound…” Romans 5:20. This fact I’ve missed in all my previous readings - mercy was sent by God during Saul’s torment. Right under Saul’s oblivious nose, God sent his anointed (read, Jesus), to play the harp each time Saul was tormented and the evil spirit would leave him. Didn’t Jesus tell us the same thing?

“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” James 4:7

“I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4

Onion Skin Garden

To blog or not to blog, that is the question.  Once the decision is made, choosing an appropriate name is even tougher to commit to.  Everyday I get to eat from the bounty of my mother's garden - not your vegetable type, though analogous to it - but the thoughts and insights of years of spiritual growth and study in the word of God.  My long-distance sister would like to share in this - but often it is too spontaneous to begin a conference call.  So....I decided to write about our studies.  I'm calling it the "Onion Skin Garden" because mom always compared reading the Bible to peeling away the onion skin to reveal layer upon beautiful layer.  Both pungent and sweet.