We are back to Colorado. I cannot utter the words "we are home," because we just left our true home! The transition is difficult. From walking the ancient paths of Israel to modern life in America is like some vast time warp, and my mind and emotions struggle to readjust. I watch the news reports of the vicious fires in California and see the unbelievable photos of entire neighborhoods melted by heat and I am astonished at the complete devastation.
This morning God has me reading in the book of Hosea and I stopped as He quickened this one verse to me: "Then I told her, 'you are to remain in seclusion for a long time and be mine.'" Hosea 3:3. Hosea the prophet has had to suffer the pain of a wife who betrays her husband and prostitutes herself with other men. God has asked Hosea to endure this as a parable to His own relationship with unfaithful Israel. In this part of the story, Hosea goes to find his wife and he literally buys her back for himself with silver and barley - and then gives her this instruction: "You are to remain in seclusion for a long time and be mine."
I heard Yah's voice speaking to ME when I read this verse - and I felt He instructed me to send it on to you also. It is His loving instruction for each of us during these days of fiery trials. If we take time each and every day to get into seclusion with HIM, to hear Him, to know Him - we will be HIS, marked with His Name, sheltered in His strong tower.
Let us leave whatever activity has been separating us from time with HIM and remain in seclusion.
