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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Thurlow Switzer: Stirring Up Your Spirit


It is important for God’s people to significantly commit their lives to the service of God within the context of local communities of faith. I want to draw some lessons out of the Book of Haggai. The man Haggai spoke strongly as a prophetic voice to Zerubbabel the governor, to Joshua the high priest in the days, and to the remnant of God’s people about rebuilding the temple (Haggai 1:1-2; Ezra 5:1; 6:14). Some call his writing, “Haggai’s Tale of Three Temples,” – Solomon’s Temple, Post-exilic Temple, and the New Covenant Temple.

Haggai 1:1 – “In the second year of King Darius, in the sixth month, on the first day of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, saying,

Leadership is important and we see in this passage a strategic teamwork alliance between the governor, the priest and the prophet. True leadership seeks to respond to the word of the Lord.

Some were giving excuses for not rebuilding the Temple in a timely manner, but the real reasons for their passivity was non-commitment, laziness, and greed (1:2-6). They were earning wages but putting their wages in bags with holes.

Haggai 1:2-6 – “2 Thus speaks the Lord of hosts, saying: 'This people says, "The time has not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built."'" 3 Then the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying, 4 "Is it time for you yourselves to dwell in your paneled houses, and this temple to lie in ruins?" 5 Now therefore, thus says the Lord of Hosts: "Consider your ways! 6 "You have sown much, and bring in little; You eat, but do not have enough; You drink, but you are not filled with drink; You clothe yourselves, but no one is warm; And he who earns wages, Earns wages to put into a bag with holes."

We should seek to build God's kingdom rather than our own (1:2-8 see Matt 6:25-34). They were giving attention to their own materialistic pursuits, nice houses, etc, but ignoring the Temple of God. Too often, we allow our heart and preoccupations to lean heavily toward material things, our jobs, other pursuits to the neglect of God’s work. Too often, individuals put their attention into things that are temporary and are like putting wages into bags with holes.

Hag 1:7-8 - “7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: "Consider your ways! 8 Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified," says the Lord.”

In New Testament terms, believers individually and corporately are God’s temple. We must give attention to building and serving the house of God, the community of faith (Heb 3:1-6). Believers are not only co-heirs with Christ, but co-laborers with Christ. Come let us build God’s house, our local community of faith, and let us do it all for the pleasure of God and for His glory. One might study the importance of bringing tithes and offerings into God’s storehouse as an application of what Haggai is getting to. If God’s people neglect the Lord’s storehouse, it will be like robbing God. We must bring the first fruits to God, not the last-fruits or leftovers. Tithing is a faith statement about (1) one’s trust in God, (2) an acknowledgment that God is the owner and resource of all things, (3) a commitment in one’s priorities to put God first in one’s life, and (4) the way by which adequate provision occurs in the local ministry. It is also an important key to experiencing Gods’ blessing in one’s domestic life and in the life of our corporate walk together.

Mal 3:10-11 – “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this," says the Lord of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” 11 "And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field," says the Lord of hosts; 12 And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land," says the Lord of hosts.” NKJV

Furthermore, Haggai reminded the people of his day that crop failures, droughts, and hardships were often experienced as God's way of punishing irresponsibility (1:9-11). Sometimes people wonder why their finances and income are inadequate. Believers should take steps to put God first and learn to fully trust God for His provision in their lives.

Hag 1:9-11 – “9 "You looked for much, but indeed it came to little; and when you brought it home, I blew it away. Why?" says the Lord of hosts. "Because of My house that is in ruins, while every one of you runs to his own house. 10 Therefore the heavens above you withhold the dew, and the earth withholds its fruit. 11 For I called for a drought on the land and the mountains, on the grain and the new wine and the oil, on whatever the ground brings forth, on men and livestock, and on all the labor of your hands."

The Lord had called them to action, but now an inexcusable delay of 15 years requires a rebuke and an exhortation to once again begin rebuilding the temple. They turn from neglect to God’s command to obedience to the voice of God (1:12). Obedience is an attitude as much as action. They people obeyed the voice of God and feared the presence of the Lord.

Hag 1:12 – “Then Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, and Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, with all the remnant of the people, obeyed the voice of the Lord their God, and the words of Haggai the prophet, as the Lord their God had sent him; and the people feared the presence of the Lord.”
As they heartily turned to God with obedience hearts, God stirred up the heart of the leaders and of the people (1:13-15) and they came and worked on the house of the Lord.

Hag 1:13-15 –“13 Then Haggai, the Lord's messenger, spoke the Lord's message to the people, saying, "I am with you, says the Lord." 14 So the Lord stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of all the remnant of the people; and they came and worked on the house of the Lord of hosts, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month, in the second year of King Darius.

This Temple would be smaller than Solomon’s and this affected the motivation of the people (2:1-3). Often people live in the success of the past rather than in the challenge of the present. We must not look at outward appearances but see things through the eyes of faith. “Faith is the substance of this hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Heb 11:1).

Hag 2:1-3 – “1 In the seventh month, on the twenty-first of the month, the word of the Lord came by Haggai the prophet, saying: 2 "Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people, saying: 3 'Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? In comparison with it, is this not in your eyes as nothing?”

God exhorted Haggai to speak to the leaders and to the people that they should be strong. These are times in which we must be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.

Hag 2:4-5 – “4 Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,' says the Lord; 'and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,' says the Lord, 'and work; for I am with you,' says the Lord of hosts. 5 'According to the word that I covenanted with you when you came out of Egypt, so My Spirit remains among you; do not fear!'

We begin to see a glimpse of the reality of the coming spiritual temple of Christ’s Body and to which all the nations of the earth will come and which temple will be filled with glory (2:3-4-7-9; Ezra 3:12). As Christians, we should never long for the good old days, for the best days are yet to come (2:3-9)!

Hag 2:6-9 – “6 "For thus says the Lord of hosts: 'Once more (it is a little while) I will shake heaven and earth, the sea and dry land; 7 and I will shake all nations, and they shall come to the Desire of All Nations, and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the Lord of hosts. 8 'The silver is Mine, and the gold is Mine,' says the Lord of hosts. 9 'The glory of this latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the Lord of hosts. 'And in this place I will give peace,' says the Lord of hosts."

The writer of the Book of Hebrews quotes the Haggai 2 passage that “Yet once more I shake not only the earth, but also heaven,” (Heb 12:26)  to encourage New Testament believers to keep their eyes on Jesus Christ and to do the work of God. He goes on to make the application to the contemporary faith of first-century believers.

Heb 12:27-28 – “27 Now this, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. 28 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.” NKJV

We enjoy the privilege of yielding to the unshakable promises of an unshakable God and our unshakable Christ, and to walk with unshakable confidence in shaking times. Amen!

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Jonathan Switzer: Appetizer, Dinner and Dessert


It was Jesus' last meal.  The last two articles I wrote discussed Jesus' socially unacceptable washing of the disciples feet and the terrible second cup of the Passover, the Cup of Plagues.  So much of the meal has come alive in light of Christ's imminent death.  We just finished the second cup of wine before the meal.  Tough meal so far!

Appetizer, Dinner, Dessert
At that point before the meal, they broke the middle matzoth (three matzoth called the unity in traditional Jewish practice).  In fact, Jesus broke it and said, “take, eat, this is my body.”  Clearly, and amazingly, the broken middle matzoth refers to the second person of the trinity (Three in one).  That's right, it referred to Jesus, who would be broken (though not one of his bones would be broken!) later that night and the next day and ultimately die on the cross.  (note: Christ probably used different unleavened bread than matzoth.  But for brevity we will just say matzoth here.)

You might even say, at that momentous Passover meal, Christ offered himself as the appetizer…

So Jesus broke the Matzoth, put it aside and ate the remaining Matzoth with the disciples.  At modern Passover's, we dip it in the bowl of bitter herbs and charoseth (representing their hard bondage in Egypt and the bricks without mortar AND ALSO representing Jesus’ broken body and suffering).  

It is most likely that at this point Jesus answered John’s question: Who will betray you?  His response was that he would be betrayed by, “the one who dips his hand in the bowl with me.” Or “the one to whom I give the bread.”  Then we are told that he gave the broken bread (representing his coming death on the cross) to Judas and told him, “What you do, do quickly.”  

Some appetizer, huh!  First, a cup of suffering/plagues for drink.  Then, a little bit of betrayal to be broken to death for appetizer.  Wonder what the main course will be like!?

Main Course
Before the main course, the story of the Passover would be told during a normal Seder as they ate the unleavened bread and bitter herbs just before the meal.  Oh to be a fly on the wall of the last supper.  Christ is the Passover.  His blood was soon to be put on the doorposts of hearts so that death would pass over.  He had come to rescue us from the bondage of the world and sin. 

But, how about the disciples?  Did they understand it yet?  Or were they still wondering who would be the greatest?

Nevertheless, they now came to the main course: Lamb.  

The Lamb of God was serving lamb to the disciples.  Amazing.  He was the Servant Lamb of God who is also the Great Shepherd King serving up himself as the sacrifice for the sin of the world.  (Like the previous article, it was extravagant love and humble servanthood on full display).  Jesus was the perfect, sinless lamb without blemish who was the sin offering. 

What a meal.  It’s so full of meaning and irony, one might almost have trouble eating it all. 

More Wine Anyone?
After the main meal, most people are thirsty and a proper host will offer another drink. 

Similarly, the Passover has a third cup just after the meal.  This is called the Cup of Redemption.  It symbolizes the fact that God had redeemed the Israelites out of Egypt and made them a people again.  After all the suffering associated with the Cup of Plagues, the relief of redemption can be quite profound. 

So, it makes sense that this is the point when Jesus stood and took the cup and said, “This cup is the New Covenant in my blood, which is shed for you, do this in remembrance of me.”  Jesus’ reference to the New Covenant clearly pointed to Jeremiah’s words, “I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel.”  (Jer. 31:31) 

Jesus was saying that He was Redemption.  He would change everything and institute a New Covenant.  His own death which he kept talking about would start it all off. 

Yet, redemption from Egypt had been joyous.  However, this New Covenant’s redemption, though joyous, would be established on Jesus’ death.  How does one be joyous about that?  The whole meaning of redemption suddenly takes (or took for the disciples) on a whole new level of sobriety. 

The disciples would have known the Passover meaning of the Cup of Redemption.  Also, they probably had spent much time meditating on Jeremiah’s words about New Covenant.  So, the new meaning that Christ gave…well…one wonders if the disciples understood it that night or not.  Did it just go over their head? 

The meal had started with the Cup of Blessing before which Christ washed the disciples feet.  Then came the painful Cup of Plagues which Jesus drank with the disciples but later would ask the Lord to "take this cup from me, but not my will but yours be done."  Then the appetizer, the broken bread symbolizing Jesus coming sacrifice on the cross; at which point Jesus sent Judas out to betray him.  That brought us to the story of Passover, where Christ's blood now covers the doorposts of our hearts.  Then the Lamb without blemish served lamb without blemish for the main meal.  Which brought us to the Cup of Redemption, which is the New Covenant in Jesus' blood.  


We only have a few parts left to this meal.  Yet there are a few final things to see in them also. 


Finishing up the Meal
As a modern Passover Seder comes to a close, the broken Matzoth is found and redeemed with a coin.  Then it is eaten by all. 

Almost like dessert after the meal.  Jesus is the broken Matzoth, raised from the dead, Redeemer of the World.  

Remember, the broken Matzoth started the appetizer at the beginning of the meal, Jesus’ death, his body broken for us.  Now that same broken Matzoth is found for dessert after the meal, symbolizing Jesus’ resurrection.  Think about it: betrayal (to brokenness and death) for appetizer and Resurrection for dessert... No one could say it’s a boring meal!

Final Drink

At last, a good host will offer a final drink.  The final cup of the Passover meal is called the Cup of Praise.  Interestingly, we are told that the disciples sang a hymn and headed out to the Mt. of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane

Of course, it makes sense that praise arises after the redemption.  However, now redemption meant Jesus’ death on the cross.  As a result, the redemption itself is almost not cause for praise.  How could we celebrate Jesus’ death?  How could Jesus even sing a hymn at that point on the evening before His Passion?

But remember, of course, the broken Matzoth had been found, symbolizing Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.  There is cause for celebration.  Not only has redemption come, but the redeemer is not dead.  He is risen and at the right hand of the Father.  So, yes, we can truly celebrate!

It was quite the meal.  John records Jesus’ lengthy comments that night about God sharing His glory with Jesus who would share it with the disciples.  They had drunk together the cup of Blessing/Thanksgiving, the cup of Plagues, the cup of Redemption and the cup of Praise.  They had broken the middle piece of unleavened bread, which they now knew represented Christ’s body.  They had been served lamb by the Lamb.  They now equated the cup of Redemption with Jeremiah’s New Covenant in Jesus’ blood. 

Yet, as they headed toward Gethsemane, the imminent betrayal and death of Jesus must have hung over all their heads; even while the anticipation of Christ’s great salvation lay close to their hearts.  It all must have been very confusing.  

No wonder they became sleepy at Gethsemane’.  Though Christ gave amazing, new meaning to Passover, right in the midst of that evening, the disciples still did not understand. 

Conclusion
In the same way, you and I may find ourselves drinking any one of these cups.  Perhaps, we find ourselves full of thanksgiving for God’s great grace toward us (Cup of Blessing).  Or, we might be going through great struggle feeling the effects of our sin or that of others (Cup of Plagues).  Perhaps, we find ourselves deeply aware of how Jesus lifted us from the muck of sin and set us on a rock, redeeming us (just like Mary Magdalene) (Cup of Redemption).  Or perhaps, we find ourselves anticipating the return of our Lord and the glory of eternity with Him (Cup of Praise). 

We simply may find ourselves confused and tired.

Yet, whatever cup you and I face now, we can be thankful.  God has those two final cups after the meal for us.  When we let go of control, God comes through.  The broken matzoth (second person of the trinity) was redeemed.  Christ has risen from the dead and is preparing a place for us in heaven.  God, our host, will end the meal with the Cup of Redemption and the Cup of Praise.  His resurrection power is available to us now.  Heaven awaits!

So, if you don’t like what you’re drinking or eating now, if you feel yourself losing control of your situation, be patient, God has greater things in store.  God is the best of hosts.  Stick in there and wait for His salvation.  Resurrection comes after crucifixion.  Your cross will end in glory.  The meal ends on a better note.  You might even find yourself ready to sing at that point.  “He 
calls us to His banqueting table at the wedding of the Lamb!”  

Jesus is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Redemption.  He drank the Cup of Plagues for us.  Let us partake of His body and let us drink deeply of his redemption and praise.  Like Christ in Gethsemane, it is time.  It is time for us to let go of control of our lives.  It’s time to hand that control over to Jesus.  Regardless how fiercely our flesh fights to hang on, we must take up our cross.  We must let go of every hope but the promises of God, through Jesus Christ; like Christ did in Gethsemane

He’d had a great meal with his best friends.  However, that night would seem to never end for Jesus.  The next sleep he would get would be the sleep of death…on the cross, the next day after being beaten and given a crown of thorns.  The Passover meal was over, but the Cup of Suffering was just beginning for Jesus.    It would be a long bitter drought.  The bread was about to be broken.  The Cup of Redemption was about to be tasted.

Through it all extravagant love and humble servanthood were on full display for all the world and all generations to see.  So, don’t lose hope!  Neither let us be afraid to let go of control, to take up our cross.  Joy awaits!  

The final cup will be Praise!

David Ward: Unity in the Church

"Bond of Peace"

The Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians is one of the key books of the Bible concerning the church. It enunciates important principles related to both the calling and conduct of the church. A key passage is Chapter 4:1-6.

In this passage Paul appeals to his readers to be unified, and love is a central element. For instance, verse 2 states that we in the church must be patient with and quite literally, put up with one another in love. Conversely, if we don't truly have love for each other there is no way we can be patient with, much less "put up with" each other.

Verse 3 commands us to be quick and zealous to guard and maintain the oneness we have in the Holy Spirit, in the bond of peace, i.e., we must labor to maintain the unity of the church. And the verse gives us the methodology, "the bond of peace." In short, despite denominational or doctrinal differences, it is the responsibility of all Christians to keep the bond of peace, so we may maintain the unity of the Spirit. Notice this is the singular means of protecting the unity of the church.

And this singular mechanism should not be surprising, for in verses 4-6 Paul espouses the essential oneness (singularity) of the church, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of us all…" We can only maintain this oneness by being at peace with each other.

Yet, I grew up in a community where pastors routinely railed on other Christian churches as the enemy, whose members were not welcome in their churches, and frankly told their members to stay away from them. Peace and the unity of the Spirit only applied to the members of their assembly. And almost without fail these admonitions were born out of doctrinal differences that were, and still are, what I call nonessentials, i.e., they weren't differences about the way of salvation, which all Christian churches should have in common, but pet doctrines or denominational distinctives. I'm in no way judging these distinctives or doctrines; all churches have them, but the truth is we will only find out "who was correct," so to speak, when we get to heaven, at which time no one will care. The point is that we have Christ as Savior in common, and therefore, are commanded to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. Yet, the church remains divided over these superfluous differences.

Over against this division, the Apostle John said, "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." In other words, love is the keystone of the church; it should be as apparent and brilliant as the marquee on a theater. It is also the concrete that holds things together. But even concrete needs a catalyst to properly set. And in the church, according to Ephesians 4:3, the catalyst is peace.

I believe this peace is critical to the church becoming glorious, without spot or wrinkle, a bride who has made herself ready (Ephesians 5:27/Revelation 19:7). Without peace the mortar of love cannot possibly "set up" and therefore hold up the structure of the Body of Christ. How about it?

Alanna Jennings: Spiritual Gardening III - The White Garden

Spiritual Gardening- Part Three
The White Garden
Alanna Jennings

As we continue our look at spiritual gardening, I must share with you some things that I have learned since I wrote to you last month. I have greatly enjoyed sharing the revelations that God has given me regarding spiritual gardening, but through great trials those revelations are now taking on a new life within me.

I began capturing these thoughts as they were coming from God while sitting in a hospital waiting room as we awaited word that our precious daughter, Elizabeth, had safely come through surgery. We had been told two days before that her seventeen week old baby girl had died in her womb, and we had been fervently praying that God would raise her tiny mortal body to life again. As I cried out to God around the clock, I asked for one thing above all – a testimony in the earth. I knew what I would like that testimony to look like, but I can honestly tell you that above my own heart’s desire, I wanted to receive the testimony that would bring the most glory to God.

Lest you think me noble, let me assure you that there was little virtue in my willingness. I have simply learned in my forty years as a believer that it is foolish to long for anything but the will of God, for His power is always invested in His will - and in nothing else. With faith the size of a mustard seed, we can indeed move mountains; but faith the size of a mountain will not move even a pebble apart from the will of God. I think, perhaps, that we must learn to devote far more soul energy to discerning the will of God than to beseeching Him to do our will.

Ten days prior to learning of our grandchild’s death, we learned that someone very dear to us was in desperate need of rescue. We were completely caught off guard by this great need, but we are comforted in knowing that our great God was not at all surprised. He has always been mighty to save, and He is still able and willing to rescue His children.

As Scott and I have been working on the outline for a book on the topic of rescuing the people of God, I honestly thought that our ability to teach certain aspects of rescue was complete. Nothing could be further from the truth. How arrogant of me to think for even a moment that my revelation on anything was complete. And so, we are in great need of God’s wisdom and discernment and once again we take up our weapons which are not carnal, but are mighty for the pulling down of strongholds. Though we now face the greatest challenge we have ever faced in our lives, I know this to be true: “Through God we will do valiantly, for it is He who shall tread down our enemies” Psalm 60:12.

As the Lord is daily leading us through these trials, I see more and more with each new day that I am highly favored to be permitted this severe mercy. Those who love us would endeavor to shield us from pain and suffering, a very natural and humane desire. While their love for me compels them to do so, I must allow my love for God to compel me to resist their efforts. I can and should embrace their comfort in times of suffering, but must resist any effort to keep me from those things which, ultimately, can only serve to conform me to the image of the Firstborn Son, who was perfected through what He suffered (another great mystery indeed),
“He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him.” Hebrews 5:8-9


Oh, how we would love to understand the mysteries of God without having to walk into the shadows of death and wildernesses among which they are often hidden. But, like a porcelain vase that has a beautiful picture painted on it and then must pass through the fire so that the image can become a permanent part of the vase, so we too must pass through the fire after we receive revelation so that it will be forever emblazoned upon our hearts. When that happens, no mere man can separate you from your revelation, no matter how persuasive the argument.

Sadly, I have often presumed to teach that which was, at best, revelation, or at worst, some meager understanding, and then wondered why it seemed to bear so little fruit. For neither revelation, or gifting, or knowledge are, in and of themselves, sufficient to impart life - which, after all, is the essence of ministry.

Gifts are given freely and cost us nothing, and are often used indiscriminately. It still amazes me that God does not remove them from us when we mishandle them; but one of the great mysteries of God, is that, “… the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable” Romans 11:29. Ministry, on the other hand, is very costly and weighty. If I have received revelation from God, then I must be willing to be put into whatever kiln God knows will best serve His purposes, so that the revelation and I may be refined, purified and made fit for ministry. Afterward, the life of Christ will issue forth from me with the power to produce life in others. How much we will miss of God if we are unwilling to be put through His all consuming fire, for, “It is through much tribulation that we enter the Kingdom” Acts 14:22.

When God decides to deal with us, rest assured that He will not stop until our trials lead us through to triumph. “He who began a good work in us will be faithful to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” Philippians 1:6. The Great Refiner will fan the flames until they are hot enough to accomplish His purpose, which is to purge us of all impurity that would hinder His image from being perfectly reflected in us. As a dear young African bible school student told me on one of our trips to Botswana, “the excellence of Christ in us cannot be seen unless we are willing to be broken and crushed through carrying the cross”. The great Rescuer of our souls will indeed rescue us in His own way, and His ways seldom take the path of escape from suffering, because He knows that these momentary, light afflictions are working for us an eternal weight of glory.

And so, Beloved, as we pass through these “dark nights of the soul”, what is it that God is really after in all of us? I think it just might be, at least in part, a “White Garden”. When a garden is filled with only white flowers, it is meant to be enjoyed on a “White Night”.

Choose a space for your garden that is far removed from all shade trees so that it can be filled with unfiltered moonlight. Plant a wide variety of white flowers whose bloom times are varied to allow for optimal flowering throughout your gardening season. Choose from a variety of Casablanca lilies, Mountain lilies, Calla lilies, Veronica, Shasta daises, Obedience plants, Queen Anne’s Lace, White Cone flowers, etc.

Now wait for your “White Night” – one of those nights when the moon is so full and bright that it spreads its light all over the sky and outshines the stars. Wait for a night when the moonlight bathes the earth with the glory of God, caressing everything within its reach. One of the wonderful things about “White Nights” is that very few people stay awake to enjoy them, so it’s a great time to walk and talk alone with God, who, by the way, loves to walk in gardens in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). The beauty of the white flowers will dazzle your eyes, I am told, and will by far surpass that of any colored flowers you will ever gaze upon by the light of day.


On the night after Elizabeth’s surgery (actually it was the wee hours of the next morning) sleep was elusive. At 1:15am, the Lord told me to go outside and walk in the garden, as He had something to show me. As I made my way through the house, I was thrilled to see that there was a “White Night” waiting for me outside. The backyard was aglow with that “luster of midday” we read about in Christmas poems.

As I have not yet had time, space, or energy to plant a white garden of my own, I began to stroll the length of the long pathway that bisects my largest perennial garden. Having some inclination of what it was God wanted to show me, I immediately began to take note of the white flowers.
Though small in size and number, their beauty surpassed the colored flowers that, though larger and more plentiful, were more difficult to discern by moonlight.

It didn’t take long at all for me to begin to learn that night’s lessons. First of all, as I gazed up at a glorious, though not quite full moon, I was reminded of the fact that moonlight is reflected light. As we pass through these dark nights of the soul, our inclination, far too often, is to isolate ourselves. In doing so, we forsake God’s instruction; “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching” Hebrews 10:24-25. When my vision is clouded by sorrow’s tears, when my heart becomes even a little bit hardened through self pity, when my ears are dulled to comfort because I don’t feel ready to be comforted; it is then that I most desperately need the brethren. Through them, the light of Christ is reflected, even as His fragrance is diffused, to me. In allowing them to know the fellowship of my suffering, I have found that reflected light to be one of God’s most precious means for guiding me through dark and troubled times.

Secondly, I quickly took note of how few white flowers I had planted in my garden over the years. I was saddened when the lesson struck home; the white flowers represented those things in my spiritual garden that were absolutely pure, free from mixture. We all love the colorful flowers that are enjoyed in the light of day, even as we are drawn to the colorful things in each other. Spiritual gifts can be very colorful, as can personalities. Though we can and should enjoy the “color” in each other, we should never forget for a moment that these colorful attributes are seldom without some degree of mixture. White is the absence of color, and therefore without mixture. How sobering it was to realize how little in my life was without mixture; but how comforted I was to know that change can come to my spiritual garden. The colors are there for a reason; they are beautiful and so to be desired, but I can assure you that I will be endeavoring to cultivate many more pure, white plants in both my natural and spiritual gardens from now on.

The third and final lesson of that white night was that white gardens are primarily for God’s enjoyment. When we are going through fiery trials, the only things that really matter are those things that are wholly of God; those undiluted, unadulterated, pure things that cannot be shaken. Not only do those things comfort us and keep us anchored in storms, but as they are revealed in us, they bring glory to God, and also give Him great pleasure. God derives far greater pleasure than we ever could from gazing upon His own creation.

And so, dear ones, let us continue to fight the good fight of faith, embracing the heat of cleansing flames all the while, laying aside all that hinders, striving for that which is pure and undefiled. I have never forgotten the words of a simple bumper sticker I read one day; obviously on the car of the proud parent of a Marine. I often remember its words when in the thick of battle:
“To those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected never know”



About five days into the fiery battle that has been raging around us, the Lord gave me the following song - music and lyrics - as a promise of deliverance for the beloved saint whose rescue we are fighting for. It is Redemption’s Song. As I sing it over and over as a reminder to myself of what God promises to do for this child of His, I am reminded of all that He has done for me, and of all that He promises to continue to do. As we read in the book of Hosea, God does not cast us aside when we fall, but is willing to rescue us over and over and over again. I pray that I never tire of singing the glorious song of redemption.


THIS FAITH
Alanna Jennings

You raised me up, when I was weak,
You heard me when I could not speak.
When all was dark, and I was lost,
You rescued me, upon a cross.

Unending love, amazing grace,
That You would come, and take my place.

Now I believe, now I have faith,
Because these are the days of grace.
Now I receive this gift of love,
Because of You, I have this faith.

You bore my sin, You bore my shame,
And by the power of Your Name;
You took my brokenness and pain,
And You have made me whole again.

Unending love, amazing grace,
That You would come, and take my place.

Now I believe, now I have faith,
Because these are the days of grace.
Now I receive this gift of love,
Because of You, I have this faith.

And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and the story of the Lord
shall be told. For the glory of the Lord shall be poured forth, as it never was before in days of old.