A little water

A little water causes the moss to grow on a piece of firewood. The moss lays dormant, but when moisture comes, the pencil lead sized moss springs to life as a mighty forest in miniature. We need the water of God's word, much like this moss. We lay dormant spiritually, not reaching our potential and fulfilling the purpose God has for us until he brings us life. Jesus is the life giver, the Word of God, come to bring us abundant life, now, and forever by believing in his name and making him our Lord. Like the dry moss we thirst for his presence and his written and spoken word to give us new life. Jesus is our valentine of love from the Father. He is our Spiritual Bridegroom, our spirit thirsts for his presence, as we look for the day of his coming.

Rev 22:12  And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. 
Rev 22:13  I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. 
Rev 22:14  Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city. 

Burned up

We enjoyed our fireplace on this cold rainy day. We were thrilled that the Lord brought rain to our drought. 

Isa 41:17  When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the LORD will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them. 

Isa 41:18  I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. 

There  is the fire of God's judgment. This is the final test of the worth of our life's service.

1Co 3:11  For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 

1Co 3:12  Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 

1Co 3:13  Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 

1Co 3:14  If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. 

1Co 3:15  If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 

This is the judgment of the saved for rewards. For even if all is burned up, our soul shall be saved. Saved by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and not works done. What a shame to have made Jesus our Lord and yet have no fruit to show; no rewards received. Let no man be your judge, but hear the gentle voice of God and follow him.

Eaglewings Ministries

A time for rest

The tree is planted near the water waiting for new life in the spring. We too must be planted near the water of the word. There is a time for rest and a time for growth. The water keeps the tree alive as the water of God's word keeps us alive in the Spirit. It is a time of rest for the winter tree. We also need our times of rest, rooted in God's word.

Friday night the clothes dryer motor went out.  After a great deal of searching for a replacement, I can say that a new dryer will be delivered on Monday. The old dryer performed well for ten years with no problems. Some of us push ourselves to do things of ministry and sometimes we are like that dryer or tree, exhausted, no leaves needing rest before our heart's motor says ... no more.  Life requires purpose and also times of rest. A friend likes to remind me that Saturday is the Sabbath day of rest and yet we need rest every day. Most Christians say Sunday is our day for meeting together and yet even Sunday is a day of ministry work. We need our rest. I need rest. We must have our times of rest. We rest in Jesus and he makes us alive again.

Mat 11:28  Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 

Mat 11:29  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 

Mat 11:30  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. 

? Just a Little Talk With Jesus [Live] - YouTube

Broken Pipes

I found an outdoor faucet at the home that has been spraying water from a broken pipe. In the winter we try to wrap the pipes, but this one is old. The plumber is coming tomorrow. 

I received a water bill from the closed business that is four times normal, it could be another broken pipe, but not seen. It is harder to find a broken pipe in the ground or under concrete. Now what is God saying in this?

Jer 2:11  Hath a nation changed their gods, which are yet no gods? but my people have changed their glory for that which doth not profit. 
Jer 2:12  Be astonished, O ye heavens, at this, and be horribly afraid, be ye very desolate, saith the LORD. 
Jer 2:13  For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water. 

Are we leaking water from our own cistern of old unfresh water or does living water flow from us? Are we seeking the things of God or are we worried about the world's problems?

Let's turn to Jesus this Christmas with thanksgiving. Lord you are not in the way of Christmas, you are the reason for Christmas. For many of the world, Jesus is a stumbling block or a bump in the road, for those after their own lusts. Let Jesus be who he is, our Lord and master, our salvation, our redeemer and God Almighty come in a man. If he isn't these to you, stop what you are doing and turn to him in prayer.

Images and Imagination

The Mallard duck was preening itself. What a lovely design of feathers and beak on this creation of the LORD.

Gen 1:21  And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good. 

Ducks love water and they are fun to watch as they splash and bathe in the water. Bathing in water is how we become clean.

Isa 1:16  Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before mine eyes; cease to do evil;
Isa 1:17  Learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
Isa 1:18  Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

Are you watching me? The lovely "Common" Egret, is common in that they are numerous, but their design is wonderfully made; pure white. They stand out wherever they are, but from a fishes eye view they blend in with the bright sun, making them almost invisible.

Mar 12:36  For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Mar 12:37  David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son? And the common people heard him gladly.
Mar 12:38  And he said unto them in his doctrine, Beware of the scribes, which love to go in long clothing, and love salutations in the marketplaces,
Mar 12:39  And the chief seats in the synagogues, and the uppermost rooms at feasts:
Mar 12:40  Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation. 

I see images in nature in old trees. This looks like an old owl sitting on an arm with open hand. An owl sitting on Cecil? God gave us imaginations, but we are to separate truth from untruth.

Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Rom 1:22  Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
Rom 1:23  And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 

I have photographed this old oak tree from many angles.
 This view looks to me like an elephant. I suppose the first idols were objects found that resembled birds or animals. We are not to worship these above God who created them. Can you imagine all of the creation just happening by chance? They call that evolution. The truth is that God created all there is and he loves us, wanting us to come to him through Jesus his Son.

1Pe 4:17  For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?
1Pe 4:18  And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?
1Pe 4:19  Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator. 

Alpha and Omega

When I get upset with what I see in the news, I go to the Book. If I turn to the back of the book it explains the news from a to z. The Greek alphabet calls it alpha to omega, from the first to the last. Jesus spoke: I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last, signifying that he is God from the beginning and to the end of the ages. He further explains this in Revelation 1:8 " I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty." He is past, present and future, he sees all and knows all, he is omnipotent and omniscient. 

Rev 21:6  And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.
Rev 21:7  He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8  But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Our choice is always now, the present. If we chose Jesus as the way of salvation and eternal life in the past, we also must choose him now and in the future, this is to be an overcomer. He will give us the water of life, His Holy Word and His Holy Spirit. We become the sons of God, inheritors of all that Jesus has.

What of the evil around us that so perplexes us? Fear not, trust in God, for they will be condemned forever in the lake of fire. Knowing this gives us the upper hand as intercessors for them in prayer. Do not fear, but pray and be an overcomer. Souls need to be saved before it is too late.

Things of Brass

Ch 4:1  Moreover he made an altar of brass, twenty cubits the length thereof, and twenty cubits the breadth thereof, and ten cubits the height thereof.
2Ch 4:2  Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.
2Ch 4:3  And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.
2Ch 4:4  It stood upon twelve oxen, three looking toward the north, and three looking toward the west, and three looking toward the south, and three looking toward the east: and the sea was set above upon them, and all their hinder parts were inward.
2Ch 4:5  And the thickness of it was an handbreadth, and the brim of it like the work of the brim of a cup, with flowers of lilies; and it received and held three thousand baths.

These were items of furniture in Solomon's temple. Brass is symbolic of the judgement of sins. 

The Brazen-altar was the basis of the Levitical system. To it the sinner came with his Divinely-appointed victim. There was a fire continually burning upon it (Lev. 6:13), and the daily sacrifice was renewed each morning. There it stood: ever smoking, ever blood-stained, ever open to any guilty Hebrew that might wish to approach it. (A.W. Pink)

The molten sea was of brass containing water for purification. Water was symbolic of cleansing by the water of the word or obedience to the law. Remember the first miracle of Jesus. He turned water in urns into wine. The water was used for purification and cleansing under the law. The wine was symbolic of the new covenant in his blood. The blood of Jesus cleanses the believer through faith. Jesus also said that his word was as water to keep us clean.

Joh 5:22  For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son:
Joh 5:23  That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.
Joh 5:24  Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.

Eph 5:25  Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 

Eph 5:26  That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
Eph 5:27  That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

The 12 cast bronze oxen that bore the brazen sea stood for the judgement, twelve is the number of judgement and the number of a jury in a trial. The 12 disciples will judge the twelve tribes of Israel with Jesus. (Mat 19:28)

Jesus is the judgement of God and the the atonement for sins. He is the only way given by God whereby we may be saved (Acts 4:12) There is so much more to be said of the things of brass; the brass pillars, the bronze serpent lifted up by Moses. Think of Jesus and sin and the way to him. Water in birth, the water of baptism, sins forgiven by the sacrifice of Jesus, and the Spiritual baptism of the Holy Spirit to make us pure in him. 

Ask the rock

Num 20:5 And wherefore have ye made us to come up out of Egypt, to bring us in unto this evil place? it is no place of seed, or of figs, or of vines, or of pomegranates; neither is there any water to drink.
Num 20:6 And Moses and Aaron went from the presence of the assembly unto the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, and they fell upon their faces: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto them.
Num 20:7 And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,
Num 20:8 Take the rod, and gather thou the assembly together, thou, and Aaron thy brother, and speak ye unto the rock before their eyes; and it shall give forth his water, and thou shalt bring forth to them water out of the rock: so thou shalt give the congregation and their beasts drink.
Num 20:9 And Moses took the rod from before the LORD, as he commanded him.
Num 20:10 And Moses and Aaron gathered the congregation together before the rock, and he said unto them, Hear now, ye rebels; must we fetch you water out of this rock?
Num 20:11 And Moses lifted up his hand, and with his rod he smote the rock twice: and the water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their beasts also.
Num 20:12 And the LORD spake unto Moses and Aaron, Because ye believed me not, to sanctify me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this congregation into the land which I have given them.
Num 20:13 This is the water of Meribah; because the children of Israel strove with the LORD, and he was sanctified in them.

Most of the faithless generation had died in the wilderness, but now their children were complaining. Moses was close to finishing his 40 year trek that had begun when he was 80 years old. Forty years of hearing the complaints and faithfully following God. Now, he makes a transgression of God's command. Why was it so important to just speak to the rock? Moses was told to speak to the rock this time, not to strike it. When he struck the rock twice, God was still merciful and the water came out, but Moses was told that he would not be going into the promise land. The rock in the old covenant story was a symbol for Jesus. Jesus was struck down once on the cross, never to be stricken again. Now we are to speak to the rock. We are to pray to the Rock of ages. We may ask the Rock for his blessings in God's will. Jesus is the Rock and as I meditated on this story a scripture passage came to mind that perfectly illustrates the command to speak to the Rock that was a type of, or an illustration of Jesus. In this New Testament story, Jesus made a side trip through Samaria to speak to an outcast woman at the well. Again water is the subject.

Joh 4:10 Jesus answered and said unto her, If thou knewest the gift of God, and who it is that saith to thee, Give me to drink; thou wouldest have asked of him, and he would have given thee living water.
Joh 4:11 The woman saith unto him, Sir, thou hast nothing to draw with, and the well is deep: from whence then hast thou that living water?
Joh 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
Joh 4:13 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:
Joh 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.
Joh 4:15 The woman saith unto him, Sir, give me this water, that I thirst not, neither come hither to draw.

We are to ask Jesus for the water, the Living water, the Holy Spirit.

Luk 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

Jesus, the Rock is one with God the Father. We may ask Jesus and we may ask our Heavenly Father for the Living Water. Ye must be born again of his Spirit through faith in Jesus Christ. Ask him to remove your sins and to make you a child of God. Let the Living Water flow from your innermost being.