Healing in His wings

More bunny trails! A swift summary of another treasure unearthed tonight...

Here's a scripture I've always known. "The Sun of righteousness will rise with healing in his wings". But... if you translate the word "wings", you find that the Hebrew word means "borders" or "tassles".

Which drops me right into Matthew, where the woman with the issue of blood reached out a hand through the crowd, defying all social norms, religious observances and her own fear, to touch the edge of his robe. To touch the "tassles". To touch the "wings". To touch the "borders".

Bounce from Matthew 9:20-22 into Matthew 14:36 and we have Jesus walking on water, then getting to the other side of the lake. And there "people brought all their sick to him, and begged him to let the sick just touch the edge of his cloak, and all who touched him were healed". 

Now if you read up on tassles, you'll find that there is huge significance for the Jewish people with regards to tassles. There is one blue thread in each one of the four tassles that hang at the four corners of the prayer shawl used today, which was similar to the cloth that men would wear so many years ago. Blue, to remind us of our heavenly calling, that we are meant for more than just earth. Four corners, so that we are reminded of our calling and Lord, no matter what direction we face.

The Psalmist says in Psalm 91 that "under his wings we will find refuge". Under the tassles, within his borders.

Who knew that tassles would be such an incredible discovery! Why did I never see that ALL who dared to reach out and touch the tassles were healed? Now there is a thought!

Lord, help me to discern the borders, and find the safety of being under Your wings. And may I touch the borders of heaven, and find that my reaching out to you brings heaven here to a hurting earth!


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Ref: Read more about tassles at http://www.sermonnotebook.org/old%20testament/Numbers%2015_38-41.htm

The Spirit of the LORD

I want to know more about you, Holy Spirit. Who are you and what is your nature? I know that you are the counsellor, the paracletos. You come alongside. You brought fire when you came and new languages, and filled people with power evidenced in joy and miracles.

In conversation with a friend tonight, we wondered about the throne. You see, in Revelation there is mention of “seven spirits”.

Revelation 1:4 mentions that the seven spirits are before God's throne
Revelation 3:1 indicates that Jesus Christ "holds" the seven spirits of God.
Revelation 4:5 links the seven spirits of God with seven burning lamps that are before God's throne.
Revelation 5:6 identifies the seven spirits with the "seven eyes" of the Lamb and states that they are "sent out into all the earth."

But drop into Isaiah, and we find that Isaiah 11:2 says, “The Spirit of the LORD will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD.”  Seven spirits - which are the Spirit of the LORD.

Put Revelation and Isaiah together, and perhaps we can see a picture of the Holy Spirit’s attributes and his nature:  He is the …
(1) Spirit of the LORD,
(2) Spirit of wisdom,
(3) Spirit of understanding,
(4) Spirit of counsel,
(5) Spirit of power,
(6) Spirit of knowledge,
(7) Spirit of the fear of the Lord.

Revelation tells out that the seven spirits are sent out into all the earth. Could this be what we call “moves of the Spirit” and visitations to the church?  Are these perhaps times to look forward to?

Oh Lord, we need you!  We need an increase in wisdom!  We need understanding so that we might be “men and women who understand the times”. We need to be a church (bride) that can offer counsel and accept it. So often we cry out for your power to visit us. We need knowledge – ah, and the fear of the Lord, which is the beginning of wisdom. Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the LORD, please visit us that we might be made whole.

You reveal Jesus to us.  You work in us… You bring us to wholeness and completion.  Little wonder that you are referenced by the number seven (wholeness, completion). And what fun to discover you in both Old and New testaments in so many places!

....
(This is a treasure hunt through your Word to discover you. I feel like the young girl in Solomon's Song of Songs who catches is asking "Has anyone seen him for whom my heart longs...)

Quiet time meditations

I had a Bible once, it sits up on my shelf

And when I take a look at it I feel a little “elf”

The words are black, the page is white

(I’d rather sit and blog or write)

But somehow I miss the One who speaks

While surfing internet sites for answers from geeks.

A cat upon my lap, a house that’s full of washing

Dishes sinking, plates all stacked, my life is squashing.

How do I find the One my heart longs for

While letting another cat in at the back door?

How do I find myself again and touch hearts with kids

If this inner life of mine is simply on the skids?

God, I need you to capture me and find me

You are so good at intersecting the "oh so busy"...

Help me find You at the beginning, middle, end of my day

Light up my life with Your colour, laughter, love and play!

Will my kids unravel me or teach me?

Nikki Bush recently asked the question: Will your kids unravel you or teach you?   

Then she answered: The answer lies in how you perceive your parenting journey, and how you choose to respond to the highs and the lows, the pleasure and the pain that are an integral part of your role in raising a child.

Oh wow. Help. I feel so unravelled most of the time. My need to keep to those black and white lines in my world, instead of accepting the colour. Yes, there is lots of colour, especially in my hands right now that are stained pink from icing a small girl's 6th birthday cake at 10.30pm, but do I have colour in my daily interactions?  I am trying to grab the hug, instead of swatting the fiddling fingers, but the cry of my heart is 'God, help me to be less like your disciples and more like Jesus'. 

"Let the little children come to me." 

Emails from 2011

I wrote this email to some special girlfriends a long time ago. And found it by chance. So I thought I would share it. And if one of you special ladies read it here today, then I just want to say thanks to YOU for being part of my life in this season right now too.xx

- - - >

 

Just got one of those pray-for-me emails that you have to send back and forward etc etc. But there were some parts of it that I thought were great. Like telling people that you appreciate them. And sending a prayer up for them.

 

So, without being too soppy or anything, I want to let you know how grateful I am to have you in my life, even though we don't see each other as often as I would like. For the memories we share, and those that we will make one day. And for the God who holds us in his hands.

 

So here is my prayer for you for this week:

 

May the truth of what Jesus has done for us be real to you, the presence of the Holy Spirit surround you and the arms of the Father hold you. May He whisper His great love to your heart. May He give you humour for the "reached-the-end" moments, grace to extend to those who you would rather "expend", and joy in the littlest things. And when your strength is gone, may He be the wind beneath your wings, reminding you that those who wait upon Him will renew their strength (Psalms), that those who walk in desert places will find that the plains become flooded with streams of refreshing (Isaiah), and that she who comes up out of the desert leaning on her God will know His presence and strength and great love (Song of Songs).

 

You may feel like a lily of the valley, but to Him you are a Rose of Sharon (Song of Songs 2:1).

 

So to a hard-working and uber-cool lady - hope your week is great and thanks again for being my friend. I'm rich!

 

Love Kerry

 

PS: DON"T even THINK of forwarding this on etc. This is from me to you and I won't be offended if I don't get a reply. We'll connect sooner or later. Just wanted to say thanks now. Not wait. Sleep tight!