God has a timetable and cycles and seasons that we have lost in the Western culture. When God gave feasts and Holy Days to the Hebrews to celebrate, they are more than traditions; they are ways to honor the seasons and cycles of God.
I believe the most basic cycle of God that one can participate in is celebrating the Sabbath. Traditionally, the Sabbath is celebrated from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday, but you can pick any 24 hour that fits your schedule.
Now before you think you need to read or study all about the Sabbath, let me say this to you. The main purpose of the Sabbath is to focus on God and become more intimate with him. It is taking one day out of the weekly cycle to say, on this day, I will wait on the LORD.
If you have not ever set aside one day a week to focus on God, I highly recommend it. You will find peace, rest and begin to move closer to God in the process.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
Where Angels Fear to Tread - A Short Story
The angel stopped just inside earth's atmosphere before embarking on his assigned visitation. Knowing the future and how this would go, did not make this assignment any easier.
“She's finally fallen asleep, Daddy.” sighed the grandmother to her husband who looked up at his wife as she descended the stairs. His eyes grew moist again as they had so many times the past few days. His own heart was breaking over the course of events but he could not bear to think of the long road his dear granddaughter had ahead of her. Yes, he had lost his dearly loved daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Dan; but Katie's whole world was shattered into thousands of pieces. At the tender age of seven, she was now an orphan. He smiled weakly at his wife as she took her seat in the overstuffed chair next to his. Together they committed to raise Katie as their own, with all the love and care they had to offer, yet they could never be replacements.
The angel landed gently at the side of Katie's bed and waited for the child to feel his presence. She stirred slightly then her eyes flew open, wild with awe. “Yes, Katie, your mother's dreams were real,” spoke the angel firmly yet gently as he cautiously calibrated his voice. “I am here to give you a message, but others will also visit you to give you messages and instructions, just as they did your mother”. Katie's tongue felt thick and stuck to the roof of her mouth. Her mind raced to remember the accounts of her mother's dreams regarding angelic visitations. She felt glad and sad at the same time. Glad that she shared this gift with her, but sad that she could not share the news with her.
The angel spoke again, “many will not understand these encounters, so be careful who you tell”.
Katie finally found her voice and began to speak, “but, wh...” The angel had prepared for this and interrupted her before she finished her question. “I cannot answer any questions, only remember what I say, Katie, you have been chosen for this work, but do not be afraid, for you are stronger than you think because of what is in you. Indeed, your acts have already been written in the Annals of Heaven.”
Katie's lips quivered as she thought of all she had been through lately; she did not feel particularly strong even in the least. And if so much was required of her, could she not even ask why her parents were taken from her?
The message was delivered so the messenger disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. His thoughts reached deep into the future when he would deliver similar messages over the course of the next era. The enemy's assaults had come fast and furious as war was on the horizon. These would not be easy assignments, and yet they were his. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind and dispatched others to make sure she rested this evening. After all, his presence was required elsewhere.
Gabriel quickly ascended to change his clothes before he took his place before the Throne.
“She's finally fallen asleep, Daddy.” sighed the grandmother to her husband who looked up at his wife as she descended the stairs. His eyes grew moist again as they had so many times the past few days. His own heart was breaking over the course of events but he could not bear to think of the long road his dear granddaughter had ahead of her. Yes, he had lost his dearly loved daughter, Jessica, and her husband, Dan; but Katie's whole world was shattered into thousands of pieces. At the tender age of seven, she was now an orphan. He smiled weakly at his wife as she took her seat in the overstuffed chair next to his. Together they committed to raise Katie as their own, with all the love and care they had to offer, yet they could never be replacements.
The angel landed gently at the side of Katie's bed and waited for the child to feel his presence. She stirred slightly then her eyes flew open, wild with awe. “Yes, Katie, your mother's dreams were real,” spoke the angel firmly yet gently as he cautiously calibrated his voice. “I am here to give you a message, but others will also visit you to give you messages and instructions, just as they did your mother”. Katie's tongue felt thick and stuck to the roof of her mouth. Her mind raced to remember the accounts of her mother's dreams regarding angelic visitations. She felt glad and sad at the same time. Glad that she shared this gift with her, but sad that she could not share the news with her.
The angel spoke again, “many will not understand these encounters, so be careful who you tell”.
Katie finally found her voice and began to speak, “but, wh...” The angel had prepared for this and interrupted her before she finished her question. “I cannot answer any questions, only remember what I say, Katie, you have been chosen for this work, but do not be afraid, for you are stronger than you think because of what is in you. Indeed, your acts have already been written in the Annals of Heaven.”
Katie's lips quivered as she thought of all she had been through lately; she did not feel particularly strong even in the least. And if so much was required of her, could she not even ask why her parents were taken from her?
The message was delivered so the messenger disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. His thoughts reached deep into the future when he would deliver similar messages over the course of the next era. The enemy's assaults had come fast and furious as war was on the horizon. These would not be easy assignments, and yet they were his. He pushed those thoughts out of his mind and dispatched others to make sure she rested this evening. After all, his presence was required elsewhere.
Gabriel quickly ascended to change his clothes before he took his place before the Throne.
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