In His Time

Falling plates.  This sounds like an odd topic, but it won’t be after you watch this link…  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGlx11BxF24

Having used this clip as a teaching tool, I’ve watched it over and over repeatedly to grasp as much of what its creator had attempted to communicate.  It speaks volumes, but I choose to focus only on a few.  In my presentation, I chose to focus on the first portion because all in our Prayer Group are fully aware of the sacrifice Jesus made for each of us.

Would you consider watching the clip again until 2:10?  There are two items which I would encourage you to look out for.  Look for the glass of water and the computer power level once the device is unplugged.

The single drop of ink in that crystal clear glass of water intrigued me.  A mere drop of ink was sufficient to taint the entire glass of water!  That was exactly what happened in the Garden of Eden.  It was a single disobedience, a choice to mistrust God, that caused mankind to fall.  God and man originally had a beautiful friendship, but once both woman and man consciously chose to turn their back on God, that friendship was severed and the consequence of that act caused concupiscence (the tendency for man to sin) to enter into the nature of mankind.  Drawing back to your memory of the glass of water, did you notice how that drop of ink began to swirl and then to disperse and contaminate the entire content in that glass?  That glass of water represents us.  “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23 We’re all tainted.  Thankfully, we have a compassionate, forgiving and a patient God who willingly forgives us time and time again when we come back to Him each time we fall.

As we studied through the Book of Judges, Bible instructor Jeff Cavins taught… “everyone did right in their own eyes.”  Sound familiar?  That concept runs rampid today.  The definition of what is right is now more often based on each individual’s discretion. Unfortunately, when God left man to himself, the ugliness and evil within man became his own snare and adversary.   Jeff adds, “when you enter into sin, sin becomes a snare for you.  The more you sin, the more ensnared you become to that sin.” Jeff also points out that the Israelites repeatedly went through cycles, repeating the following pattern…

1)      SIN (do what is evil in God’s eyes)

2)      ENSLAVEMENT (to sin)

3)      SUPPLICATION (cry out to God: help us, we know we’ve sinned)

4)      SALVATION (God brings a deliverer/deliverance)

5)      SILENCE (man begins to forget what God has done and he loses his relationship with God)

… and the cycle begins again.

Does that speak to you?  It does to me.  Sadly, I see myself falling into the same cycle the Israelites had fallen into.  Thankfully, through God’s grace, it doesn’t take that long for me to realize I have done wrong and I immediately ask for His forgiveness and He quickly gets into step with me again.  However, I do still recall those times when it took a longer time for me to admit the wrong I was engaged in.  Agony, anger, frustration, helplessness and hopelessness are only a few of the words that describe the state I found myself in until I was ready to acknowledge that I needed God in my life once again.

While watching, did you notice the man spinning a plate on a stick?  That represents us too.   Do you recall how the plates began to fall when man chose to cut himself away from God?   We try to keep our plates (lives; dreams) upright and spinning, but as we focus on that, we are unable to enjoy the beauty surrounding us and we have to keep on spinning and spinning the plates around regardless of how tired we are.

Did you notice how quickly the power source dwindled the moment the computer was unplugged?  That’s us too.  The programs are still intact in the computer, but the power quickly runs dry.   Although the computer is still functional, it becomes useless because its power source has been depleted.  Our body continues to exist, but the drive is gone; the purpose, joy and fulfillment no longer exists…

Are you tired and weary?  Have you accidentally tripped over the wiring and unplugged your “computer”?  How many plates are you twirling at the same time?  Have you spent sleepless nights attempting to keep those plates upright and twirling?  I think you’ve got my message.

Watch the clip again and this time, please watch it to the end.  The Solution is there, waiting for you

God bless,

Melissa – November 14, 2014

From time to time, when God reveals something to me, I am left scratching my head… With the lights dimmed and as we praised and worshipped God, in my mind, I saw balls of fire falling from the dark sky on to open fields. The town’s people noticed them too and they ran to every landing point to see what had caught on fire. To their dismay, nothing did.

Having time to reflect, I am not surprised of what I “saw”. Our prayer group was singing “Come Holy Spirit, let Your fire fall. Let Your fire fall…” I believe God was showing that His Holy Spirit was being poured out, but I couldn’t understand why no one caught the fire. Fervent prayer revealed it later.

A few days later, I came across the following Scripture verses:
Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.” John 12: 35-36

I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. John 12: 46-47

A childhood song called “This Little Light of Mine” came to mind and the 2 stanzas “This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine.” and “Don’t let Satan blow it out” kept repeating in my mind.

The following day, the 9:00 Mass Choir sang …

Alleluia! Alleluia!
Receive the Power, from the Holy Spirit!
Alleluia! Alleluia!
Receive the Power to be a light unto the world

… the lyrics from one of the World Youth Day theme songs called “Receive the Power”. As they sang the refrain, the dots began to connect! You can’t catch the fire of the Holy Spirit through human effort. It is a gift from God! It is through our friendship and our relationship with God the Father, God the Son (Jesus) and God the Holy Spirit (the love exchanged between the Father and the Son) that the gift and the power of the Holy Spirit is anointed on one so that you and I can and will be a light unto the world!

The revelation brings joy as the mystery of the vision is solved, but the truth revealed brings a lot of heartache. Much of our world is in darkness and people are looking for the light. From time to time they see glimpses of the light coming from Heaven, but only few are being set on fire. They see that the source of light comes down from above, but they continue to choose to turn their backs on Heaven. Many have turned to themselves, being their own god, each doing what is right in their own eyes. “They live in darkness and they do not know what they are doing.”

Father God, forgive us for turning our backs on You. You are the source of our life. You have created us to function so efficiently that we don’t have to exert any effort to breathe or to make our hearts pump. Unfortunately, because of this self-sufficiency, we take for granted Your gift of life and our need for a relationship with You. We have become complacent, Lord, and we take the easiest route in life.

Lord, You have allowed our technology to grow in leaps and bounds, but Father, the products that arise from these advancements are the very things that keep us away from You and Your people. We are afraid to face our shortcomings and our errors, and instead of making every effort to improve ourselves, Lord, we hide behind the comfort these advancements have brought.

The silence that we need to know ourselves and You are filled with the noise and the distractions of the latest gadgets. We continue to run to these things to fill the emptiness that grows within us, thinking that these temporary fixes will be able to accumulate and fill the depth of emptiness within. And Lord, when reality sets in and we are hit by the waves of deep emptiness and loneliness, we blame it all on You. Forgive us Lord. Open our spiritual eyes and hearts so we can grasp that You are the Only One who can fill that emptiness that You had created in Your shape. We are created in your image and likeness. We forget that because of this, your spirit calls to our spirit. We try, Lord, to fill the void with the created, but no one can fill the space that was meant to be filled only by the CREATOR. Fill us with You Lord and renew a right spirit within us. In Jesus’ name we pray, AMEN.

God bless,

Melissa

p.s. – This Little Light of mine

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine. (3x)
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.

All around the neighborhood, I’m going to let it shine. (3x)
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.

Hide it under a bushel? No! I’m going to let it shine. (3x)
Let it shine, all the time, let it shine.