When the Apostle Paul writes to the Colossians, he expresses his gratitude for them because of their faith in Christ Jesus and their love for all of God's people.  He writes, The faith and love that springs from the hope stored up for you in heaven..." (Colossians 1:5)  Isn't it great to be reminded that we have hope stored up for us in heaven?  How we need hope right now!
 
I feel compelled to share a wonderful testimony from Paul Wilbur, Messianic worship leader.  He shared his epiphany of hope at Glory of Zion's Shabbat Service at the beginning of the year.  During a difficult season in his life, he was inspired by a Scripture that has been one of my "war Scriptures."  In Zechariah, Chapter 9, Verses 11 and 12, the Lord encourages Israel:  "As for you, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will free your prisoners from the waterless pit.  Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you."  What an exciting promise!
 
Let us look at how this Zechariah Scripture undergirded Paul Wilbur.  He and his pastor led 72 pastors to  Auschwitz during Purim at the end of February 2020.  The group sang and declared God's truth to reverse the curse in that part of Poland and in the crematorium where over a million were killed.  They returned to the United States just before the borders were closed because of the Covid breakout.  When Paul got home, he discovered that he had lost his voice.  The doctors told him that his vocal cords were burned and blistered.  The burning was so severe that he could barely talk.  March was the first of several months that Paul could not speak, and discouragement and doubt set in.
 
Paul Wilbur was inspired to research the words of Zechariah 9:11-12, especially the word hope.  We must look at all the phrases in these verses, starting with "because of the blood covenant with you."  The first time we see God make a blood covenant is in Genesis 15.  He instructs Abram to bring him a heifer, goat, ram, dove, and pigeon.  All were cut in half and arranged by halves opposite each other.  The Lord passed through those animals and told Abram what to expect in an unbreakable blood covenant.  He and his descendants would inherit the land of Canaan.  Through his blood, Jesus made a better covenant with us, one where we receive His promised eternal inheritance. (Hebrews 9:15)
 
Because of the blood covenant, God promises to release us from the "waterless pit."  During Bible times, dry cisterns or pits were used as places of bondage or imprisonment.  Remember how Joseph was placed in one of these cisterns? (Genesis 37:22)  I imagine it would be easy to lose hope in one of these dry, hot places unless you trusted the Word of the Lord from Zechariah:  "Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope."  The song "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" tells us He is a "bulwark never failing."  Here is how the Psalmist sees it:  "He alone is my rock, and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken." (Psalm 62:2)
 
If we follow God's lead, we will be rescued, and what was stolen from us will be returned two-fold.  As we trust in the Word of the Lord, His blood covenant and His faithfulness, our belief in God's promises will be rewarded.  Paul Wilbur was encouraged by the story of Rahab when the spies from Israel paid her a visit.  The spies promised to save her and her family from the pit on two conditions: (1) They could not leave the building.  (2) A scarlet rope had to be tied to the window.  Paul was reminded of a Scripture that comes from Ecclesiastes 4:12 that says, "A chord of three strands is not quickly broken."  Perhaps Rahab's rope had three strands.  Paul asked the Lord the significance of each strand.  Here is what he senses:  Strand 1 represents the Promise or blood covenant.  Strand 2 represents the patience that we must have while we wait for the promise.  Strand 3 represents the appointed time.  We must trust in the promise and remember that patience must have her appointed time.  Paul says, "Do not let the rope slip out of your hands!"
 
Wilbur's voice did return.  While he waited in his waterless pit, he wrote new songs as he played his guitar.  One that really touched my heart was inspired by 2 Chronicles 20 when it looked like all hope for the Israelites was gone.  But the Lord prevailed when the praisers went out ahead of the army.  Here are a few lines from the song:  "I will dance in the midst of the fire.  I will sing in the eye of the storm.  I will shout you are faithful forever.  The victory is mine 'cause the battle is yours."  Remember that we have hope stored up for us in heaven.  Make it yours, and do not let go!

​Even though we are in a new year there is spillover into 2021 from the year 2020.  There are obvious challenges for all of us, some more pressing than others.  The problems of the world affect the mental and physical wellbeing of many individuals.  Lack of understanding, depression, loss and sorrow all contribute to a mindset that does not make for good health in individuals.  Here is where our Healing Room and Mashah teams come in.  At The Crossing we believe that healing is for today, and it is "By His stripes that we are healed."  Physical and mental healing go hand-in-hand.  All of our team members minister God's love to those who visit us.  We pray that healing will take place and that will receivers will be strengthen and empowered. 

Pastor Amy has been scheduling Healing Room and Mashah sessions for us through Zoom sessions.  This venue has taken some getting used to but everyone has accepted that this is the only way to minister at this time.  We look forward to the day when we can meeting a person again.  Please pray that time before then will be accelerated.  Pray that the teams will be effective in their ministry.  Pray for breakthrough for those who come to us for prayer.  Ask the Lord to make His presence known in our meetings.

Healing teams are meeting with people twice a month.  Mashah team appointments are scattered throughout each week, however, training occurs twice a month.  We have four brand new and several moderately new team members who will be trained in the basics over the next six months.  More seasoned team memebers will help with the training.  We expect to begin some more advanced training for everyone in a month.  So, our teams are busy, and we covet your prayers for encouragement, wisdom and perseverance.  Ask the Lord to visit all of us in an intimate way.

I believe we all need to be encouraged about the Lord's faithfulness during this season.  I had an experience last week where I listened to a negative report that took me to a place of worry.  The Lord spoke to those fears through His Word and then back it up with a fun confirmation.  "Do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you wear..." (Matthew 6:25)  "He provides for those who fear Him; He remembers His covenant forever." (Psalm 111:5)  "For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations." (Psalm 100:5)

As I was reciting these Scriptures, two ravens flew into the Maple tree outside of our sliding glass door.  This was an unique experience for me.  Since God speaks to me through nature, I looked up the verses on ravens.  The two most impactful ones included Luke 12:24 ("And Jesus said, 'Consider the ravens; they do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them, and how much more valuable you are than the birds!'") and 1 Kings 17 that is the story of God's care for Elijah during a season of turmoil and one of the worst kings in Israel's history.  He is fed by ravens at the Kerith Brook and by a widow at Zarephath.  There was never a moment when Elijah was not cared for.  I encourage you to read the story in 1 King 17.

Wednesday night, 1/13, Healing Room and Mashah teams will meet on Zoom for a night of worship and asking the Lord for direction for our futures.  Please pray along with us.  May the Lord direct and guide you, give you provision and peace and rest, and build up your faith in every area of your life.

​One of my great joys is watching the sunrise from our east-facing bedroom window.  It is always unique and can be counted on to give me an outstanding display of beauty as it rises.  The changing eastern sky pulls me in as I watch the deep orange-red line of light close to the horizon change.  Next the sky is touched by pinkish-orange, wispy clouds.  Eventually, the orange sun rises in the sky to become a golden white, radiant ball ready to send its warm rays to earth.  My soul is soothed as I remember the faithfulness of God.  He never changes! He is dependable and always shows up at the right time just like the sun.
 
The Bible is filled with God's promises that bring us assurance of His presence and action on our behalf.  A "go-to" Scripture that reminds me of the faithfulness of God gives us these instructions:  "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." (Proverbs 3:5-6)  This is such a word for our season!  It is extremely difficult to understand what is happening in our days and easy to get discouraged by the bad reports that come to us daily.  But discouragement is not our portion.  God told the Israelites, "Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." (Joshua 1:9)
 
It is critical that our trust in the Lord is solid.  Look at Psalm 125:  "Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endure forever.  As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore.  The scepter of the wicked will not remain over the land allotted to the righteous, for then the righteous might use their hands to do evil.  Lord, do good to those who are good, to those who are upright in heart.  But those who turn to crooked ways the Lord will banish with the evildoers.  Peace be on Israel!"  We must hold on to God's promises.  As He has been faithful to Israel, He will be faithful to us.  As the sun rises in the eastern sky, the Son rises to our defense.  He is trustworthy!
 
Remember that we are heirs to the promises of God and that the Lord confirmed His promises with an oath.  He holds out hope to us so that we may be encouraged.  Hebrew 6:19 tells us, "We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure..."  We are assured by the Lord that "hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom He has given us." (Romans 5:5)  Isaiah prophesied to Israel:  "...You will know that I am the Lord; those who hope in me will not be disappointed."  (Isaiah 49:23)  Let the assurance of the rising sun give us hope and remind us of the Son's position on our behalf.
 
The Lord is known for His faithfulness.  The prophet Jeremiah writes during a time of great turmoil and affliction:  "...My soul is downcast within me.  Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope:  Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.  I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore, I will wait for Him.'" (Lamentations 3:20-24)  We can count on the faithfulness of the Lord just as we count on the rising of the sun each morning.    
 
The bottom line is that we need to let the peace of the Lord fill us.  Here is a promise from Isaiah 26:3 that we should grab hold of:  "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in You."  Later in the book of Isaiah there is another promise of peace:  "'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the Lord, who has compassion on you." (Isaiah 54:10)
 
It is time for us to focus on God's promises rather than the world's problems.  Begin the new year by declaring the Lord's promises of trustworthiness and hope.  Let's allow His peace to settle on us and our hope to rise just as the sun rises every morning without fail.

​Long ago the prophet Isaiah told of one who would be the hope of all humanity:  "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders.  And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.  Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end.  He will reign on David's throne and over His kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever.  The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this." (Isaiah 9:6-7)
 
We move from Isaiah's description of our God in the Old Testament to Peter's explanation in the New Testament of why we should have hope.  The author of The Passion Translation Bible titles the book of   1 Peter as "Triumphant Hope."  That hope is described in Verse 3 of Chapter 1:  "Celebrate with praises the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has shown us His extravagant mercy.  For His fountain of mercy has given us a new life--we are reborn to experience a living, energetic hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."  
 
O how glorious!  We are not forgotten.  Our merciful God knew that we would need a Savior who would bring us hope through His multiple offerings.  He comes as a Wonderful Counselor to help transform our fallen world by His saving grace.  As a Counselor, the Holy Spirit guides and advocates for us.  The Psalmist asks, "O Lord God Almighty, who is like you?  You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you." (Psalm 89:8)  We can take comfort in the truth written in Zephaniah 3:17.  "The Lord your God is with you; He is mighty to save.  He will take great delight in you; He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."  Let us take in what Psalm 90:2 tells us about our Lord:  "Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God."  He is our God for eternity!  Only through the Lord Jesus, our Prince of Peace, can we receive the true tranquility we so desire. Through every aspect of His being, He carries us on His shoulders and encourages us with hope.
 
I would imagine that throughout the ages people have thought that the times they lived in were more difficult than any other and that they had a greater need of hope than any other generation.  Isn't that how we are thinking today?  Chaos, sickness, death, persecution of Christians, financial need, and insecurity about the future all converge in our day to make us wonder if we can have hope for our future.  The answer is a resounding Yes!
 
We just celebrated the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.  He came that we might have life and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)  We have a new year upon us.  How will we walk into it?  Hebrews 6 has words of great encouragement for us:  "And now we have run into His heart to hide ourselves in His faithfulness.  This is where we find His strength and comfort, for He empowers us to seize what has already been establish ahead of time--an unshakeable hope!  We have this certain hope like a strong, unbreakable anchor holding our souls to God Himself.  Our anchor of hope is fastened to the mercy seat which sits in the heavenly realm beyond the sacred threshold and where Jesus, our forerunner has gone in before us..." (Verses 18-20-TPT)
 
Let us walk into the new year with our heads held high and our confidence in the Lord secure.  He is still sitting on the throne.  He is still Almighty and All Powerful.  He is inside us, encouraging us and reminding us that He is the God of Living Hope.

How far would you travel and how much difficulty would you endure if you were really hungry and knew you could receive bread from a certain place?  Our nation is living through hard times caused by the plague called Covid.  Many are sick and finding themselves living in poverty from the ramifications of this virus.  On the nightly news we see people in cars lined up for hours as they wait for a bag of groceries.
 
Through the centuries many populations have gone through times of hunger—both physical and spiritual.  The prophet Amos talked about a day when "a famine of hearing the words of the Lord"  would come. (Amos 8:11)  When people find themselves without something they are used to or need they begin searching for a way to obtain it.  Scripture is full of stories of individuals who were set on going to a place whose name means "House of Bread" or Bethlehem.  Their journeys were directly connected to the life of Jesus--"The Living Word," "The Bread of Life," "The Redeemer."  The prophet Micah prophesied about the significance of Bethlehem:  "But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who will be ruler over Israel, whose origins are from old, from ancient times." (Micah 5:2)
 
The tribe of Judah received Bethlehem in their inheritance from the Promised Land.  After they became established in this territory, there was a time of famine.  The family of Elimelech and Naomi left Bethlehem and moved to Moab so that they could get food.  Their sons married Moabite women while there.  After 10 years in Moab, all the men died, leaving their women as widows.  Naomi's daughter-in-law, Ruth, insisted on staying by her mother-in-law's side even though Naomi was returning to Bethlehem.  Ruth told her, "Where you go, I will go, and where you stay, I will stay.  Your people will be my people and your God my God." (Ruth 1:16)  They arrived in Bethlehem during the barley harvest.
 
Because Ruth was willing to make the journey, there was a new life waiting for her, filled with promise.  She was noticed by Boaz from the clan of Elimelech as she gleaned in his field.  Boaz became her husband, and she became part of the genealogy of Jesus by bearing a son named Obed (Servant of Worship) to Boaz.  He became the father of Jesse who was the father of King David.  When God decided to appoint a new king to replace Saul, the prophet Samuel was instructed by God to go to the city of Bethlehem to anoint David as the king of Israel.  David went from tending sheep to tending God's people.
 
From David, 14 generations passed to King Jeconiah, meaning "Established of the Lord."  During his reign, the Israelites were exiled to Babylon, after which 14 more generations were birthed. (See Matthew 1)  At the end of that run of 14 generations Jesus was born of the virgin Mary from Nazareth.  His earthly father, Joseph, was a descendant of David.  When Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census would be taken of the entire Roman empire, Joseph and Mary had to travel to Bethlehem exactly at the time when Mary gave birth to Jesus. Because there was no guest room for Joseph and Mary, Mary gave birth in a room meant for animals.  She wrapped the Son of God in cloths and laid Him in a manger. (Luke 2:7)
 
Shepherds who were tending their flocks in the fields nearby were told about the birth of a Savior in Bethlehem by an angel of the Lord.  They made the trip to Bethlehem and were filled with praise and glory for God after seeing the baby laying in a manger.  Magi from the east also took a long journey to Bethlehem to worship Jesus.  After seeing His rising star in the sky, they followed that star to the place where Jesus was.  Being overwhelmed with worship, they gave him their treasures.
 
Much fruit came from every trip that was taken to Bethlehem.  In fact, the region of Bethlehem is called Ephrathah, meaning fruitful.  The trips required sacrifice however, all were rewarded.  "The House of Bread" fed every visitor.  During this season, I believe that we are being called to make a spiritual journey to Bethlehem.  Our year has been difficult.  A "famine," so to speak, has overtaken us.  However, God wants to prepare us for a new season—one of blessing where we will be filled with the Bread of Life that revives us and brings us into a time of greater intimacy with the Lord.  We can visit The House of Bread by calling out to the Lord and asking Him to nourish and sustain us with the Bread of His Holy Presence. We must tell Jesus we are hungry for more of Him.  He is the answer to every difficulty and the source of eternal life.

​A small army of dedicated Jews is all that was needed to take back the temple in Jerusalem from the Syrian Greeks.  King Antiochus Epiphanes, ruler of the Greek empire, had a goal to unify his kingdom by making Hellenism the only acceptable culture.  Judaism was outlawed.  Jews were executed for observing their Sabbath and Feasts or for circumcising their baby boys.  The Temple became a place where pigs were sacrificed to the image of the god Zeus.
 
A priest named Mattathias and his five sons led the Jewish rebellion against the Syrian Greek empire.  One of the sons, Judah, was nicknamed The Hammer or "Maccabee" in Hebrew.  Consequently, the revolutionaries became known as The Maccabees.   It took the rebels over three years to obtain victory.  When they re-entered the Temple, they found only a one-day supply of consecrated oil to light the Menorah.  The Maccabees decided to light the Menorah even though it would have taken eight days for the priests to consecrate more oil.  Miraculously, the Menorah kept burning for eight days.  Since that time, the Jews celebrate Hanukkah, or the Feast of Dedication, or the Feast of Lights for eight days beginning on Kislev 25.
 
If we look back in history to 323 to 171 BC, we see that some of the Jewish people were adopting the more liberal lifestyle of the Gentiles around them by ignoring Torah and inciting others to join them.  The pattern of moral decay within Israel led to severe oppression and persecution of the Jews.  What started as an alternative lifestyle for some of the Jews became a state-mandated way of life.  There is so much to learn from history!  Do you see the repetition of the pattern of moral decay in our own society?  There is a warning in Hebrews 2:1 against drifting:  "We must pay the most careful attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away."  Almost without perception, the Church has embraced worldly ways in an attempt to increase their following.  The results are devastating.  We see the ways of the world becoming normal.  Compromise is the order of the day, while we need to be more firmly rooted and built up in Jesus. (Colossians 2:7)
 
The enemy of our souls has been at work.  The time that we live in is chaotic and volatile.  Our freedoms and rights to worship the Lord are being stolen from us.  We are in a season of darkness.  What is being done in the dark must be exposed to the light.  Could there be a more perfect time for us to carry the light of Jesus into the world?  Jesus used the time of the Festival of Dedication to reveal that He is the Son of God.  When He spoke to Nicodemus about salvation He said, "This is the verdict:  Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.  Everyone who does evil hates the light and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.  But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God." (John 3:19-21)
 
While speaking to the crowds of people, Jesus said, "I am the light of the world.  Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life." (John 8:12)  We who believe that Jesus is the Savior of the world carry His light.  Our prayers for our lives, our churches, and our nation can change the course of history.  Let us use this season to keep the fires of our prayers burning.  Ask the Lord to help us focus on Him and to remove the old mindsets that keep us in bondage.  Pray that our churches will be cleansed and restored in purity and power.  Pray that our nation and its leaders will walk in the truth and take a stand against the enemies of God.  Ask the Lord for HIs miraculous provision of light and truth and His guidance on the path of righteousness.  He is faithful to those who dedicate their lives to Him.  We can be assured that light will be victorious over darkness.
 

​It was not until God breathed the breath of life into the nostrils of Adam that he became a living being. (Genesis 2:7)  Acts 17:24-25 explains, "The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by hands.  And He is not served by human hands, as if He needed anything, because He Himself gives all men life and breath and everything else." 
 
I have contemplated the importance of the breath of God as I sing the song, "Great Are You Lord" by James Ingram.  Think about these words:  "You give life.  You are love; You bring light to the darkness.  You give hope, You restore every heart that is broken.  And great are You Lord!  It's Your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise, we pour out our praise.  It's Your breath in our lungs, so we pour out our praise to You only."
 
Job has much to say about the breath of God.  "In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." (Job 12:10)  "The Spirit of God has made me; the breath of the Almighty gives me life." (Job 33:4)  "If it were His intension and He withdrew His Spirit and breath, all humanity would perish together, and mankind would return to dust."  (Job 34:14-15)  Likewise, the Psalmist recognizes how the Word of the Lord and His breath created the world we live in.  "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of His mouth." (Psalm 33:6)  "...Each man's life is but a breath.  Selah.” (Psalm 39:5)
 
We were made in God's image. (Genesis 1:26, 9:6)  His intent was and is that His children partner with Him in creating.  How do we do this?  We co-create by our breath, speaking life into the world around us.  God wants us to bring heaven to earth through our spoken words.  God also realizes that the enemy of our souls will do anything possible to stop our agreement with the Kingdom of Light.  So, we are in the middle of a ferocious battle to stop us from speaking or even breathing.  Covid 19 literally takes away our breath!
 
God explains His provision for us in the area of battling against the powers of darkness in Ephesians 6. There are five defensive weapons in our toolbelt:  the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the helmet of salvation, and the shield of faith.  However, the Lord has given us two offensive weapons:  the sword of the Spirit and prayer in the Spirit.  Both weapons require us to use our breath and speak out truth.  Jesus demonstrated how to use the sword when the devil came after Him in the desert.  As Jesus spoke out the truth of the Word, the devil had to flee from Him.  In his book, Spiritual Warfare, Joseph Prince says, "It is not enough to just know God's Word in your heart.  You have to speak it out.  That is when latent power becomes actual power...God's Word in your mouth is like God speaking." (Page 83-84)  "When you declare the Scripture aloud, the Word of God fights for you. The devil has no defense against the Word of God." (Page 86)
 
We must not allow the enemy of our souls to keep us from declaring the truth and the praises of God Most High.  Remember that Jesus brought the breath of His Father to earth.  When He was getting ready to return to His Father in Heaven, He breathed on His disciples and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit." (John 20:21)  The breath of God is in us to bring about life.  Much territory has been stolen from us during this past year.  We have been equipped with weapons for warfare.  God wants us to use them so that we not only recover what has been stolen from us, but we also take plunder from the enemy camp.  Start taking plunder, dear ones.  That is our inheritance!

The harvest feast shared between the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag Native Americans in 1621 may have been one of the first Thanksgiving celebrations in our country.  The second Thanksgiving celebration occurred in 1623 at the end of a season of drought.  It started with a religious fast called for because the drought had been so long.  It was during the Civil War, in 1863, that President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed that the United States should celebrate an annual Thanksgiving in November.  Lincoln entreated all Americans to ask God to "commend to His tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners, or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife" and to "heal the wounds of the nation."
 
As we sat at our Thanksgiving tables this year, I wonder how many of us remembered to ask God to care for the mourners and sufferers and to heal the wounds of our nation.  What we have lived through in the year 2020 has brought much suffering and loss.  We certainly do need to lift to the Lord our fellow men and women for God's tender mercies to be poured upon them.  Between the plagues, election intrigues, economic instability, and the necessity for people to quarantine from one another, the stress is over the top.
 
Let us remember that one of the best ways to deal with stress is to give God thanks!  There is always something that we can give thanks for.  The Old and New Testaments are filled with admonitions to give thanks.  "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." (1 Chronicles 16:34)  "I will give thanks to You, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds." (Psalm 9:1)  "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift." (2 Corinthians 9:15)  "And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God's perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.  (1 Thessalonians 5:18 - TPT)  When we give thanks to the Lord, we activate His action.
 
I recently listened to Chuck Pierce of Glory of Zion International speak on what happens when we come before the Lord with grateful hearts.  Let's look at 2 Kings 4:8-37.  Here is the story of a well-to-do woman from Shunem.  (Shunem means two resting places.)  The woman invited Elisha to stay at her home for a meal.  Realizing what a blessing Elisha was, the woman and her elderly husband decided that they would build a small room on their roof for Elisha with a bed, table, chair, and lamp.  This was the woman's way of honoring Elisha and thanking God for his presence.  Elisha desired to show the Shunammite woman his gratitude and prophesied that she would have a son the following year.  This happened just as it was said.
 
The boy grew until one day he experienced an awful headache and died.  His mother carried him up to the prophets room and "laid him on the bed of the man of God, then shut the door and went out." (Verse 21)  She saddled a donkey and rode him to Mount Carmel (fruitful field) to talk with the man of God. Elisha returned to Shunem and found the boy "lying dead" on his bed.  Twice Elisha stretched out on top of the boy laying "mouth to mouth, eyes to eyes, and hands to hands." (Verse 34) The boy awoke and was returned to his mother.
 
In her acts of kindness, the Shunammite woman not only prepared a place for Elisha to rest but also "prepared the way for the Lord."  Elisha's bed was built because the woman had a heart of gratitude.  She wanted to bless the man of God.  Chuck Pierce tells us that we must be like her in preparing a bed of thankfulness to the Lord.  Not only will this bed glorify the Lord, but it also gives us a place to lay all our distress.  Lay all your distresses on your bed of thankfulness and watch as the Lord breathes life back into them.
 
The prophet Ezekiel watched as the Lord brought new life into the dry bones of Israel.  God told Ezekiel, "...I will put breath in you, and you will come to life, then you will know that I am the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:6)  It is time for us to prepare our beds of thankfulness.  Let's join the Psalmist in declaring, "You turn my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent.  O Lord my God, I will give you thanks forever." (Psalm 30:11-12)

​Chuck Pierce of Glory of Zion International says we are in a season of "RE."  God is resetting, re-firing, and renewing His Church.  If you follow the Hebrew calendar, you know that we moved into the ninth month called Kislev, meaning trust, rest, and security.  It is associated with the letter "SAMEKH" which is a picture of a circle.  This month we come full circle from last year and can have a second chance at missed opportunities.  In addition, we should be on guard so that we break out of any old cycles that are unproductive.
 
The constellation Sagittarius (the archer) is in the night sky and reminds us that it is time to fight against empires and cultures that are not in agreement with the Kingdom of Light.  Here is a celestial reminder that Benjamin, Jacob's youngest son and the only one born in the Promised Land, was a gifted archer.  Although this is a month for rest and hope, we must develop our war strategies.  These will come through prophetic revelation, dreams, and experiences that guide us into our call.
 
Observing the battles presently being fought in our country, we could be easily discouraged.  According to the news media, Covid 19 cases are increasing and fighting, caused by political differences, abounds. But whose report do you believe? (Isaiah 53:1)  The month of Kislev points us in the right direction.  As we develop war strategies to take down our enemies, we take an offensive position so that we can maintain peace amid conflict.
 
One way that God encourages us is through dreams.  Reading through the Torah portions for this month (Genesis 28-44), we see that two major dreamers are highlighted:  Joseph and Jacob. Dreams are not always easy to understand.  God's desire is that we pursue Him for revelation.  Daniel 2:28 tells us, "There is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries."  Just like He revealed Jacob's true identity as Israel through a dream so that he would birth a nation, He will reveal our identities and the purpose for our lives as part of the Body of Christ.  ("Show us, O Lord, how to make a difference in this world for the glory of Your Kingdom during this season.")
 
I wonder!  Could this be the season God is using to redeem His Church to bring her back into full agreement with Him?  Is He rekindling our desire for prayer and worship that brings us into greater intimacy with Him and puts us into His army to transform our nation?  All of us must shine the light of the Lord brightly so that we dispel the darkness.  We are part of a mighty army to re-establish justice and righteousness.
 
Ephesians 6:10-18 describes how we are to prepare for spiritual warfare.  Here are these verses in The Passion Translation:  "...Be supernaturally infused with strength through your life union with the Lord Jesus.  Stand victorious with the force of His explosive power flowing in and through you.  Put on God's complete set of armor provided for us, so that you will be protected as you fight against the evil strategies of the accuser!  Your hand-to-hand combat is not with human beings, but with the highest principalities and authorities operating in rebellion under the heavenly realms.  For they are a powerful class of demon-gods and evil spirits that hold this dark world in bondage.  Because of this, you must wear all the armor that God provides so you're protected as you confront the slanderer, for you are destined for all things and will rise victorious.  Put on the truth as a belt to strengthen you to stand in triumph.  Put on holiness as the protective armor that covers your heart.  Stand on your feet alert, then you'll be ready to share the blessings of peace.  In every battle, take faith as your wrap-around shield, for it is able to extinguish the blazing arrows coming at you from the Evil One!  Embrace the power of salvation's full deliverance, like a helmet to protect your thoughts from lies.  And take the mighty razor-sharp Spirit-sword of the spoken Word of God.  Pray passionately in the Spirit, as you constantly intercede with every form of prayer at all times.  Pray the blessings of God upon all His believers."  May the message of this passage become a reality in our lives.

​"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth...and God said, 'Let there be light,' and there was light." (Genesis 1:1, 3) What is light?  John 1:4 says light is life.  "In Him was life; and the life was the light of men."  According to the dictionary, light is something that makes vision possible.  It is "visually perceived radiant energy."  Light is called electromagnetic radiation because its wavelengths vary and carry different amounts of energy.  Western Washington University's website says, "Our brains interpret waves by assigning different colors to different wavelengths,"  Violet and blue carry short wavelengths and more energy than long wavelengths of red and burgundy.  
 
The colors blue, red, and purple are talked about frequently in the Bible and represent different aspects of God's nature.  Red represents passion and speaks to us of sin and redemption.  It is the color of blood that Jesus shed for our forgiveness.  Blue is seen in nature—the sky and water—and represents the Holy Spirit, divine revelation, and peace.  Purple is the color of royalty, majesty, nobility, and kingship.  This past week I was reflecting on the significance of these colors and how the combination of red and blue create purple.
 
Exodus 39:1 says, "From blue, purple, and scarlet yarn they made woven garments for ministering in the sanctuary..."  This refers to the clothes of the priest who ministered to God.  When the priests of Israel asked for gifts to construct the Tabernacle one of the prescribed offerings was "blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and fine linen."  They were used in the making of the Tabernacle curtains and veils.
 
In his devotional, The Book of Mysteries, Jonathan Cahn gives us an interesting perspective on the three colors used in sewing cloth for the priests clothes and the Tabernacle curtains and veils.  He says, "The Tent of Meeting was the place of the joining, the reconciliation, the meeting of two realities, God and man...Blue is the color of the sky, the heavens...representing the heavenly, God...In Hebrew, the word for man is Adam.  Adam comes from the Hebrew word for red.  Red is the color of the Middle Eastern earth from which man came.  The scarlet red is the symbol of sin and guilt.  Red is the color of man...Purple is the joining of blue and red.  And so, it speaks of the joining of God to man, heaven to earth...the joining of all that is holy to all that is not...so totally joined that God will appear as sin."  Jesus came from heaven to receive our sin.  He joined humanity to make us one with Him.  How fitting that He was covered with a purple robe by the mocking soldiers (John 19:2) as He made heaven and earth, God and man, blue and red one—purple!
 
As I look at the chaos in our country and the division among people with different beliefs, my heart is grieved.  Our two main political parties have claimed red and blue to represent them.  There is little hope for seeing the joining of these parties. Differences in beliefs create friction while demons desire to cover us in darkness so that no colors will be visible.  Where does the Body of Christ fit into the drama that is being played out in the United States today?  We must call forth the light!  We must take our authority as children of the Most High God to break off every curse and trauma laid on humanity.  We must release the sound of our voices to call forth God's healing and restoration.  We must remember that we were made in God's image and are co-creators with Him as we release the sounds of worship to our righteous God.  We must affirm God's original plans and purposes for us to be a people of love and a godly nation that shines forth His light and life.
 
With God's help, there will be a way where their seems to be no way.  Call forth an awakening that sets the captives free and brings them into their destiny.  Join with the chorus of Believers to declare, "I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God.  For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness..." (Isaiah 61:10)  I wonder...Could the color purple prevail?