Process of Purification

The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. John answered them all, "I baptize you with water. But one more powerful than I will come, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Luke 3:15-16)

Though there has been fire and water surrounding us here in Colorado this past summer, we are safe and dry and blessed; it has not come near us. It causes me to think about that reassuring phrase in Psalm 91: "A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you."  It leaves us feeling incredibly blessed and grateful to our God that we have somehow been spared the terrible suffering of so many around us.

The fact that these "500-year floods" have happened on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement really struck us as significant. We attended a beautiful Yom Kippur service this morning in Denver and one woman who was rescued by air lift from her flooded home in Estes Park last night, got up and gave a powerful testimony. She spoke about watching the rain fall unceasingly since last Monday night and seeing the waters around her raise higher and higher until she knew they were in great danger. Finally, when she realized they may not escape the rising river, she said she heard the Lord instruct her to go out and stand on a high rock and blow her shofar as loudly as she could. After she did this she and her husband left everything they owned behind and made their way across fallen trees and debris, until they successfully climbed to safety where they could get airlifted out. Some hours later, meeting up with various neighbors who were also rescued, she tearfully told us how these neighbors spoke about the sound of the shofar: "It was the most beautiful sound I ever heard," they told her. "It gave us hope and courage and we sensed it was the Voice of the Lord calling us to come back."

That is what I believe this is all about, really. The beautiful land of Colorado has been scorched with fire and now immersed in water; it is, to me, the Lord's process of purification. I noted that the Boardwalk in New Jersey was immersed in water last year, and now destroyed by fire. Again, I believe it is a message of purification of our land, as well as a call to the people of this nation to repent and return to the God who has so abundantly blessed us through all our history.

Yom Kippur is the Day of Atonement. It is the day that the High Priest went into the Holy of Holies to offer sacrifices that would make atonement for himself and for the whole nation of Israel (read Leviticus chapter 16). It is a foreshadowing of Messiah's atonement for us, as he offered His own blood as a covering for our sins. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but He enetered the Most Holy Place once for all by His own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. (Hebrews 9:12)

The news reports tonight warn of another 3" of rain over the rivers of our area in the Colorado Rocky Mountains tonight and tomorrow morning. Pray that the Lord will have mercy and lead many to safety. Pray that the spiritual sound of His shofar will awaken many to their need for a Savior, and cause them to turn to Him in the midst of these great trials. Pray that the people of this nation would enter into a true repentance as this time of "the beginning of sorrows" comes fully upon us.

Our God is a merciful and just God and I believe He is doing a truly purifying work in America because of our uncleanness. Our part is to submit to this purification in repentance and draw nearer to Yeshua with all our hearts and all our minds and all our souls.

Godliness with Contentment

My sister sent a picture of our parents today, which greatly lifted my spirits. She had managed to get them both together outdoors in their wheel chairs today, to enjoy the sunshine and the gentle breeze in the trees. I was blessed by the smiles on their faces, and as I began to pray for them I said, "Father, I thank You that they are learning to be content, even in their difficult situations and their painful separation from one another." I waited, and in the quiet I heard Him reply, "Yes, and you must learn this contentment also."

Paul said, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in every situation." (Philippians 4:12).  He further stated, "...godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)

What is this "godliness with contentment?" Godliness here is the Greek world eusebeia, which means piety or holiness - in other words, choosing to be set apart unto God. Contentment is translated from the Greek word auterkeia, which means satisfaction, contentedness, or sufficiency. It means one is entirely satisifed with what he has, content that his circumstances are fully sufficient.

Is that how you feel about your present situation? Or are you continually striving for more, convinced that the "grass is greener" somewhere else, never really satisfied with what you have or where you work or where you live?  I felt the Lord was impressing upon me to take this word to my own heart and to send it out to many others. We are in a season of much chaos, violence, negative news, and fear. Can we, like Paul, choose to find the great gain in "godliness with contentment?" Can we, like my Mom and Dad, decide to be content with whatever situation we are in, and give God praise for the small moments of joy we can find in each day?

Paul says he found the "secret" of being content in every situation. If it is a secret, then it is not something everyone knows, not easily discovered. It is one of those secrets we can only find by digging deep into the heart of God. His heart reveals the fruit of His Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness and self-control. If we learn to practice and focus on these things, we have learned the "secret" of being content in every situation - whether in need or plenty, whether well or sick, whether together or apart. When we set ourselves apart to Him (godliness), He is always, always sufficient for the day (contentment)!

Selah