Psalm 68:11
The Lord gives the command; the women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host

In this Psalm, David is actually pulling words from Deborah and Barak’s victory over the Canaanite King and his army.




Before looking at the story of Deborah in the book of Judges, I want to look at the Hebrew meanings of a couple of words in this verse. In the verse we see the Lord giving a directive and the women responding to it.

To proclaim the good tidings means to be fresh, full, cheerful and rosy! It is a verb meaning to bring good news.

Wow! I have felt this joy after hearing God’s heart beat for the nations and knowing He wanted me to go. I have been full with the pregnancy of vision for a people group. I believe I have glowed with the Holy Spirit and expectancy of greatness coming forth!

A great host speaks of a mass of persons organized for war. Can we just for a moment think about all the mighty women of God we know standing shoulder to shoulder ready for battle? We have heard our Commander-in-Chief’s directive and we say, YES! Lead us into battle, lead us on to victory! I know through intercession God has re-routed spiritual powers of darkness. I also know through praise and worship God has set ambushes against our enemies. As we raise our cries up to the Most High, He moves on our behalf!

Looking at the story of Deborah in the book of Judges begins with God’s judgment against Israel. Israel had once again done evil in the sight of the Lord. The Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan. Sisera was the commander of his army. So, after twenty years of being oppressed severely by the Canaanites, God heard their cry and spoke to Deborah a prophetess who was judging Israel at that time. Deborah sent for Barak and told him God’s plan for delivering Israel from this Canaanite King. She had very clear instructions from the Lord as to how they were to defeat Sisera and the Canaanite army. He clearly told Deborah, “I will give them into your hands.” Barak did not receive this word with great joy or faith. He said, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”

When you have been in the presence of the Lord you are filled with faith for the battle. Deborah knew who her Commander-in-Chief was. She knew the Lord would be true to his word to her. She was pregnant with the message, full of faith, and I believe it showed on her face. She was confident in the authority God had given her. Barak on the other hand wasn’t fresh, full, cheerful or rosy!

Deborah answered Barak by saying, I will go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman. This is interesting to me, as Barak did trust Deborah and was obedient to the word she received from the Lord, even though he was not brave enough to go on his own.

God led them beautifully and defeated Sisera and the Canaanite army just as He told Deborah He would. It says the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army, with the edge of the sword before Barak; and Sisera took off on foot. All the Canaanite army fell by the sword, not one was left! Sisera’s outcome was a little grisly, but is worth mentioning because of who killed him.

Sisera ran to the tent of a friend. The friend’s wife Jael told him to come inside and basically she would hide him from the Israelite army. He was exhausted and asked her for a drink of water. She gave him milk to drink and he lay down to sleep. Jael covered him with a blanket. When Sisera fell asleep, Jael took a tent peg and hammered it into Sisera’s temple. She sent the peg through his temple into the ground and killed him. The Israelites pressed on and destroyed Jabin the King of Canaan. God did what He told Deborah he would do!

God is looking for women and men who will take time to listen to his thoughts; He desires for nations and people to know him intimately. God desires for the oppressed to finally find freedom in Christ. God wants to partner with you in faith and intercession for many things. He will re-route armies because of your prayers.

Most of the Bible is written by men about men who have done crazy exploits for God. Today in my quiet time, He focused on two women Deborah and Jael who did his bidding. In the song of Deborah and Barak in chapter 5 of Judges, they sing, most blessed of women is Jael. King David also speaks of Jael in verse 12 of Psalm 68. Kings of armies flee, they flee, and she who remains at home will divide the spoil.

Jael was not just a mere woman. She was obedient to God and helped defeat the Canaanite army. Deborah a judge for the Israelites had wisdom and above all believed what God told her and was obedient!

I want to complete this Cassia offering with a word from the Lord to the mighty women of God.

I have a mighty company of women who want to do my bidding. They are courageous and persistent in their love for me and my Kingdom. They sit at my feet to receive their marching orders to go here and there. They receive grace and strength from me for the task. My heart is full of pride and love for each one of you. You are like Deborah and Jael, strong, full of purpose, knowing your Commander. I am able to accomplish great exploits through each of you!

I am excited to be writing again. It has been a few months since I last posted in Cassia Offerings. I love being transparent in my writings, it is really who I am and it is dealing with everyday struggles trying to follow the Lord in obedience. This road has taken us to The Netherlands and to the industrious Dutch people.

This actually began as an email to a dear friend. I read through it and realized it was my heart being laid bare, but also the Lord laying His cover over it. I believe you may be able to relate to my struggles and garner something from it. My prayer went something like this on that day sitting by the North Sea, looking out at the dark water, the buoys, and the grey skies.

Holy Spirit as I sit here, I pray for a word. What is your word to me? Your word is a lamp to my feet, directing and guiding us as that buoy does for the ships and tug boats. Let your praise be lifted high! I delight to do your will more than I desire the comfort of home. I love you Jesus. Thank you for establishing us, settling us.

Grace my daughter as you enter this stage of your life. More grace to learn new things, as you try to adapt to the Dutch way of living. You delight my heart as you are so far out of your comfort zone. My mercies are new to you everyday. There are boundaries set up for your protection. They keep you from the rocky edges and the shallow water. Go deep Jan, Launch out into the deep of Holland. You will find an amazing catch. You will bear much fruit in this season of your life. Trust Me, launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.

I delight to do His will more than I desire the comforts of the familiar. Yet, I need Him desperately every day, several times daily. I have been dealing with some negative self talk, or perhaps the enemy talking in my ear. I take these negative statements captive because I know what the truth is, but at times the negative statements make sense to me. It is crazy what Nate and I are thinking of doing here. We are not young, we do not know the language, we fumble in the Dutch culture, are we relevant for this generation?

God affirms daily that we are where He wants us to be. That He will make us relevant to those twenty and thirty years younger than ourselves, and He will give grace to learn the language and the Dutch culture.

So, I continue on, trusting that God himself will do what he is speaking to us. “I will establish you in The Netherlands.”

Isaiah 46:4
Even to your old age I shall be the same and even to your graying years I shall bear you. I have done it, and I shall carry you; And I shall bear you, and I shall deliver you.

Isaiah 46:9-11
Remember the former things long past. For I am God, and there is no one like me. Declaring the end from the beginning and from the ancient times things which have not been done, Saying my purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure; Calling a bird of prey from the east. The man of my purpose from a far country. Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass. I have planned it, surely I will do it.

These are two scriptures that I received in my quiet time today. They are encouraging and applicable. He is faithful to speak and each time He does He covers me.

In the above passage, it says; God has spoken, He will bring what He says to pass, He has planned it, surely He will do it! I would say this takes the pressure off of the one being spoken to. Yes? It is God’s plan from the beginning; I pressed in and overheard His heart. At this point I had a choice to be obedient or to talk my way out of it. I believe that God is so gracious that He could have continued to use us in Albuquerque, or in Tyler, Texas. He asked would we consider serving in The Netherlands. To which we responded, Yes Lord. Just because we responded yes to The Netherlands does not change things. It is still God’s plan and He will establish it!

The first few weeks of being in The Netherlands were ones of striving. I knew to not try and make things happen, but it kept rising up in me. You know that feeling of ….I need to do something; I need to set up appointments to meet people, praying Holy Spirit open the door for ministry, asking close friends to pray for open doors. I felt in my gut the anxiety of it all. It was ridiculous! If you know me, you know I rest in the Lord. I pray and I trust Him to do things. I have taught on resting in the Lord and how we should not strive to make things happen. I was sharing this with Martijn and he told me that this is an issue with the Dutch people. They are constantly striving to make the most of every single minute. They have difficulty resting. We call these folks industrious, hard working. This is good in the work place, but in life, in the kingdom of God we must learn to enter the rest of God. Complete trust that He will bring things in our lives and ministry to fruition. We include Him always in our decisions and He directs our paths. He will do it!

It is always interesting to me how God uses our natural surroundings to teach us more about Himself. So, we are resting in Him, and believe He will continue to illuminate our paths. He has the plan for The Netherlands and He is showing us a little bit more of it. I wish it was a clear outline, but then that would not take faith or dependence on Him daily. So, I fall on Him often. I run into Him and I feel safe. I am vulnerable, clumsy and naked, but He covers me with His robe. Trust Him with your lives and in the process of it becoming clearer to you, He is there to encourage and cover you.

Philippians 2:13
For it is God who is at work in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

Psalm 37:4 [NAS]
Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart?

What desires are in your heart?

John 15:7-8
If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.

If we are abiding in the LORD, living in fellowship with him, and making him a part of our decisions, He puts His godly desires into our hearts. It’s a beautiful cycle of abiding, thinking the very thoughts of God, faith being released in our hearts to do the very things the LORD has put in our hearts and minds to do.

I Corinthians 2:16 [NAS]
For who has known the mind of the LORD that he will instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

So as I have made Jesus a part of my life, He continues to show me his heart for people. My thoughts begin to take on a measure of selflessness and I desire to serve humanity. In Nate’s life and mine this is going to involve going to various parts of the world, but also serving where we are for now.

What are the thoughts that are whirling around in your head? I would say, “If they are good, pure, and if they are peaceable they are being put there by the LORD.” Ask Him what you are to do with what he is showing you. I believe He is always showing us something that is good and selfless. It is his great pleasure to give to us what we ask for.

Proverbs 16:3 [Amplified Version]
Roll your works upon the LORD commit and trust them wholly to HIM; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and so shall your plans be established and succeed.

This is a beautiful scripture stating that as we commit our works to the LORD, He in return begins to put his thoughts inside us. We begin thinking the very thoughts of God. Our thoughts are becoming agreeable to His will for us. This brings me such comfort in knowing that I am not going to make a wrong move as long as I include the LORD in my decisions.

I encourage you to listen, and then to step out and do what He asks you to do.

I heard His voice as clearly as my own, saying; “I will walk you through this” Jesus knew the month of October would be a difficult one for me, so He spoke this to me at the beginning of the month before it all began. He was giving me a simple word of encouragement to hold on to. Believe me, I have held on to it through much physical suffering and weakness of body like I have never experienced before. So, I have been meditating as much as my brain would allow on suffering and why God allows it. He does allow it, that I am certain! He is altogether good, loving and wants the best for me, this I am also certain. Wow! They seem to contradict each other. How could God who loves me and wants the best for me allow me to suffer?

I know I have to tread lightly here, because many of us who are part of the Body of Christ would never say,” God caused or gave me this illness.” We would even choke on the words, “God has allowed this illness.” I know having been a cancer survivor of almost 8 years now; you have to be very careful how you testify about God “getting” me through that time.

I studied the Greek meaning of suffering in many of the New Testament passages we are so familiar with.

Romans 8:18
For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.

II Corinthians 1:5
For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance so also our comfort is abundant through Christ.

Philippians 3:10-11
That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to His death in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead

I Peter 4:12-13
Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.

These all are from the Greek word pathema meaning, something undergone for example a hardship or pain.
It really focuses on the passion of Christ.

Hebrews 12:2
Who for the joy set before Him, He endured the cross despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It also addresses the fellowship of sharing in these sufferings as the disciples of the New Testament often endured. They experienced many afflictions and persecutions for being associated with Christ and proclaiming Him as Lord. Many people throughout the world are enduring painful persecutions, hardships and afflictions for no other reason than because of being a Christian.

So, I have been mulling over all of these scriptures within their contexts. It seems to me we do not suffer the same kinds of persecutions as Jesus or his disciples did, nevertheless we suffer!
Can we make the jump here? I think we can, we do suffer persecutions, and afflictions to some degree here in America.

They are no less troubling and distressing and Jesus doesn’t minimize them in any way! He uses them! He allows these hardships and afflictions so that we will rely on Him and we are strengthened in the end. We will have much more compassion for our friends, family and acquaintances who are suffering.

Hebrews 12:11
All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.

We are being trained by Jesus through various trials and testings and this is also to produce in us more of His nature. Yes, I want to be more like Jesus, but do I have to endure this suffering? Jesus, please deliver me from this weakness and suffering. He responds, “Be strengthened in me my child, for when you are weak my strength is being perfected in you.”

This is a word from Jesus that I received last night. I was listening to Mike Bickle and forerunner worship out of Missouri last evening and during the worship Jesus spoke so sweetly to me.

I am so near to you.

I am training you in patient endurance. I am equipping you for service in my Kingdom. Take courage, take heart! You are strong and I am teaching you how to patiently endure to the end. I am giving you joy, in the midst of the pain and weakness. Cultivate these, patience in suffering, endurance in the midst of the testing, and joy! Rejoice always, Joy always!

Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.

This is such an amazing scripture in its Greek meaning.

To endure means to suffer, to be long suffering, to persevere, to abide, to stay under, to put up with.

To endure to the end is an interesting phrase. The end actually means the conclusion of an act or state, the sum total, the end the final purpose, a limit, a boundary.

Will be saved actually means to make whole, to preserve or deliver out of physical death, to heal, to restore to health, to be healed, to recover.

How many of you in the American church are suffering because of the Name of Jesus? Maybe a few, but many are suffering discouragement, just hanging on for a better day, living below the poverty line, struggling to put food on your table, stuck in a job you hate, working below your ability and having to submit to someone less qualified, working a job that is demoralizing because it pays better than the burger joint, suffering with fatigue and maladies of all sorts?

There are testing’s that come our way as believers and they have come to strengthen our reliance on Jesus. He is committed to help you through these difficult times. I believe we are to commit these situations whatever they may truly be to Jesus. He says,” There is an appointed time for this to cease.” There is a boundary, a limit to the testing. In the end the word says you will be saved. He will deliver you out of the situation, change the circumstances so they are more agreeable. He is able to make all grace abound to you in your testing.

You know we live in a fallen world with moral decay all around us, but we are here to be a light reflecting the glory of the Lord.

Ephesians 6:10-12
Finally be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God that you may be able to stand firm against then schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.

So, we live in a fallen world and have an enemy the devil who is out to steal, kill and destroy us. What is the good news here?

Jesus of course is the answer! He is more than able to defeat the enemy harassing you. He is able to strengthen you through the battle, to give you hope for you and your families future. He is your provider. He is your glory and the lifter of your head! He also has the ability at any given time to miraculously heal and deliver you instantly. I am not saying that we should not pray in faith believing for this. We always do this and continue to believe for our miracle or deliverance. In the times He chooses to wait, He has a purpose, an end result which is always motivated by a love that is so perfect and good!

A word to you from Jesus:

I am with you my child. I am very near to you. Can you feel me strengthening you? I am near, blowing my life into you. I will be for you exactly what you need. Grace to you my child, a strengthening grace is covering you, making provision for you. Don’t fret, I will provide all you need. Take time to rest and recover completely. It will be good in the end. Grace, grace is all you need right now. It will see you through to the end result. Take any worrisome thoughts captive in Jesus Name. Do not meditate on them. Release love and peace to those who have not quite understood what you are going through. Do not take up offense! I will see you through this time. I am forever with you, Jesus

You are loved and cherished by Jesus!

Good Morning! It is Sunday, August 28, 2011. Nate is at our Vineyard church and I am at home today; recovering from a road trip and a virus. I was quieting myself before the Lord and He spoke this to me.

Rest assured that you and Nate will be together a long time, till death parts you. I want you to rest in knowing that he loves you and prefers you to all others. Don’t struggle, rest, and rest. Find your place of complete peace and assurance in Me. Life is sweet for you and Nate. I have made it this way as a reward to you both. You both are so faithful, to the cause of the Kingdom and to each other. My blessings are on you, and you will serve with joy. My boundaries for you have fallen in pleasant places. Rejoice, rejoice, this is all very good!

Wow! This was completely unexpected and so sweet! I wasn’t praying about Nate and me although this has been on my heart for quite some time. Holy Spirit zeroed in on my vulnerability and spoke truth to it. The scripture reference for, “My boundaries for you have fallen in pleasant places” is found in Psalm 16.

Psalm 16:6
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.

These boundary lines are representative of our lot in life. I know you have probably heard people say, “This is my lot in life” typically in a negative connotation. The believer, one who has put their trust in Jesus has a different “lot” in life!

These boundary lines, or our lot in life, have fallen in pleasant places. In the Hebrew lexicon it describes the word pleasant as being, delightful, sweet, lovely, and agreeable.

I had to smile when Holy Spirit spoke to me that, “life is sweet for you and Nate” I typically use the word sweet to describe something I like. So, it is not uncommon to hear Holy Spirit speak to me in my common language, but when I was doing the search in the Hebrew on pleasant places and saw the word sweet it made me so happy.

Life is amazingly sweet when you are sharing it with someone who loves and cares for you. Kingdom living is so much fun; it is filled with delights as you follow the paths the Lord has for you. I am not discounting “real life” if you have read my past Cassias you know that I have been brutally honest about life. It is difficult at times, but is always manageable with Jesus! He makes it delightful even when we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

So, let me tell you how this Kingdom living is coming forth in our lives. Recently, Nate and I have prayed and received clearer direction on what will be our next step in serving in missions. We know we are called to the nations of the world, to go and share our joy in Christ, to disciple and to love.

We are currently part of a Vineyard Church here in Albuquerque. We are helping this new church plant by leading worship. We are learning from our pastor how to build a church. He is a church planter and has successfully planted a vineyard church, which he and his wife pastored for ten years before coming to Albuquerque. We indeed have a lot to learn and it is a joy to be part of this new plant.

In January, Nate and I will be flying to The Netherlands to spend a month with our daughter Rebekah, Martijn her husband and Isa our granddaughter. Our purpose is two-fold as there is a Vineyard church in Amsterdam. We are very interested in helping with this church on a long term basis. We do not know whether this will eventually be an opportunity for Nate and I to church plant also in Amsterdam or in another part of Europe. We are going to scout things out in January, with the hope of returning later that year to live there. Nate and I are learning the Dutch language through internet studies, CDs and computer programs.

This is quite the adventure at our age … yet, Jesus! He says, “Go and help, go and be about building my Kingdom in Amsterdam.” We are so excited to be able to do this. The Dutch language is actually coming pretty easy to Nate and me, for which I know is God enabling us.

Psalm 2:8
Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thy inheritance and the very ends of the earth as Thy possession.

I love this psalm. God is speaking through David about the coming Messiah, who before going to the cross for the redemption of the world was filled with joy in his heart because he knew many would receive this great salvation!

I also believe this is my spiritual inheritance, to see many come to know Jesus as their Lord! We asked God for the nations and He has responded by leading us to The Netherlands to be part of sharing our hope in Jesus and serving the Body of Christ there. This is His boundary lines falling for us in pleasant places. We do have a delightful inheritance.

Holy Spirit, I am seeking you today. Speak to me of your great love.

I loved you long before you knew my Name or my character. I fashioned you to be the person you are today. I made you and desired that you would love me in return, but I gave you the choice. Love is only love when given freely without coercion. I loved you while you were still in your sin. I was hoping that one day you would see the emptiness in your soul that could only be filled with me. That’s my hope, my strong desire for all mankind; to love and fill the void inside of them. Jesus is the Way the Truth and the Life, no man can come to the Father except he goes through the Son, Jesus Christ.

There is a story in the gospel of Luke that tells the story of a Father with two sons. The younger one asked his Father to give him his share of the estate. The Father divided his estate between the brothers. Not long after the younger son left home for a far distant land, he squandered his inheritance on wild living. There was a famine in that part of the country and he fell on very hard times. He found work tending pigs for a citizen of that country. He was starving and desired even to fill his stomach with the pig’s food.

The word of God says that he came to his senses, and said to himself, “My father’s hired men have more than enough to eat. I will go back to my father and repent saying, “I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be your son, make me one of your hired men.” So, he got up and went to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. The son repented to his father just as he said he would do. The father quickly called the servants to bring the best robe and put it on him, put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. He said, “Let’s have a feast and celebrate! For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost but now is found!” So, they began to celebrate!

What a beautiful picture of our Father’s unconditional love for his children. In the parable the son chose to leave the family and go out into the world. The father allowed him to go, even though it grieved his heart. The father would not force the son to stay for that would not have been love. Love does not demand its way, even though it may be the right way. Repentance is turning from sin and turning to the One who has the power to forgive. The father was ready, waiting, and able to receive back the repentant son. The father restored the son back to his original position. The enemy of our souls would keep us in the pigpen eating slop; but our Father says, “You are a son.” and honors us with an embrace, a kiss, a royal robe, a ring, and a celebratory feast!

Hosea 2: 14-16
Therefore, I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. There I will give her back her vineyards, and will make the valley of Achor a door of hope. There she will sing as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt.

This is one of my favorite scriptures and one of my most favorite books of the Bible. It is about an unfaithful Israel who prostituted herself with other nations; and a very faithful God who is betrothed to her. God loves and woos Israel back to himself. The allegory is concerning the Prophet Hosea and his unfaithful wife Gomer. Some believe this is factual and that God actually spoke to Hosea to marry Gomer who was a prostitute, others believe it is strictly allegorical; nevertheless it is filled with so much hope for us! We can insert ourselves in the place of Israel and or Gomer in this story. We have all from time to time run after other gods, and have committed spiritual adultery with the things of the world. God does not give up on us; he continues to draw us back to himself through his unconditional love and mercy. He quickly forgives as we come with truly repentant hearts. He longs to show us compassion. He leads us to a place where we hunger and thirst for him; where nothing else can fill the emptiness.

A desert place is where we come to the end of ourselves; our self sufficiency falling miserably short. Then our Father speaks tenderly to us; we listen now because we are at a place of humility. We are holding fast to every word spoken. Our damaged souls are raw from harsh words spoken, people using us and tossing us aside. This is where our Father applies ointment to our wounds and says to us as He did many thousands of years ago to Israel and Gomer, “I will give you back your vineyards.” He restores back to us what is rightfully ours and that my friends is sonship. The enemy of our souls has torn at us and tried to destroy our identities. He wants to strip us of all honor and dignity. God says, “Enough! No more!”

The Valley of Achor means the Valley of trouble. How many of us can say, “Yes, I have seen some trouble in my life!” I surely can say that! Some of the trouble has come to me by my own volition. I have chosen to walk away from the precepts of God and walk into sin. Other times it has come my way by no choice of my own. I have an enemy called the devil who would love to see me destroyed. The very least he wants to steal from me my peace, my joy, my sanity, and my reputation. He ultimately wants me dead to God, to lose my passion for the Kingdom of God, and then physically kill me.

I will make the Valley of Achor (trouble) a door of hope!

God himself will do this for the child of God. He loves us more than we can ever imagine. He is the Restorer of your soul; your mind, your will, and your emotions. He is the One who speaks tenderly to you of your amazing future!

Isaiah 42:3
A bruised reed he will not break a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.

He is a gentle and loving Father who knows each of us intimately. He has a tailor made plan for each of our futures.

Proverbs 13:12
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Many in the Body of Christ suffer with depression because of disappointments over and again. Many times it is of our own making, because we put unattainable goals on ourselves. These are goals that God has not and will not ever yoke us with. Disappointments often lead to feelings of hopelessness and giving up. We give up on God as we say to ourselves, “What’s the use in trying anymore?” This kind of negative self talk leads to depression or oppression. We must take negative self talk captive and make it obedient to what Christ says about us. His desire for us is the latter part to that verse.

A longing fulfilled is a tree of life!

Our Father does put godly passions inside of us, those desires we all have to do great things in our lives. The aspiration to do great things in His Kingdom and in your life is an obtainable goal. Those dreams in your heart that only you and God know about are good. When they come to pass, it brings life to your spirit man, to your soul and to your body! When we walk out our God given destinies we are full of life and the people around us take notice.

What will be the fruit of our lives yielded completely to our Father? We will sing as in the days of our youth. Joy will fill us to overflowing as in the early days of our salvation. Do you remember how sweet those early days were after coming into Christ? I remember feeling so peaceful and contented. My life had great hope because of Jesus living inside of me by the Holy Spirit. We will have renewed passion for God and His Kingdom as we walk with a repentant and humble heart.

The last sentence within this scripture says, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. This also speaks of the day of your salvation. Egypt represents “the old man” or “the sin nature.”

Coming up out of Egypt speaks of the day we said yes to our God and came out of our sin. This is a continual process of yielding to our Father. Our salvation is guaranteed through the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross. We are not working in any way for it. We must however keep ourselves from spiritual adultery, flirting with the world and its systems can be very dangerous. This can strip you of your energy, your joy, your peace and can ultimately cause you to lose all your passion for life and for Jesus!

As I was seeking the LORD during a prayer time with our daughter Stephanie’s house church, I heard Holy Spirit say,” The strength of your church is the unity amongst those who attend. There is community and a sense of family. This is pleasing to me. My blessing is on your fellowship.”

Psalm 133:1-3
How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! It is like the precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard down the collar of his robes. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mt. Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing even life forevermore.

God is saying very clearly here, He blesses his children when they walk in unity with one another. He is not speaking here of the world, he is addressing “brothers” or the church. We are instructed to live at peace with one another, to live in community with each other. If you are part of the body of Christ then you should be actively in fellowship with one another; this involves sharing meals, caring for one another, worshipping together, helping each other as help is needed, bearing one another’s burdens as we are all part of the same body.

Psalm 68:5-6A
A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families

God is relational. He enjoys having fellowship with his children. He loves community and all which that includes. The beautiful thing about the Kingdom of God is there is an open invitation for “all” to come in. No one needs to be excluded from the family of God. He sets the lonely in families; that is having a sense of belonging. It means people take notice of you. They care. I am not speaking of control or what we referred to as “shepherding” years ago. The community of the church body should not be meddlesome or dictating. It is a genuine love and concern for each other.

Exodus 1:21
Because the midwives feared God, He established households for them.

This is in response to the Egyptian King giving a mandate to the midwives helping the Hebrew women to give birth. He told them if it is a boy child to put him to death. The midwives feared God and did not do as the King of Egypt had commanded them, but let the boys live. So, God was good to the midwives and multiplied the people and they became mighty. He also established households for the midwives for they walked in the fear of the LORD. One of the Hebrew meanings of this word household is family.

God loves and takes great delight in family. Our biological and adopted families are important to Him. It was his purpose from the beginning of time to “Go forth and multiply!” He loves having children.

I was thinking about the many homeless in our city recently. They are out on the streets without shelter, without a community who really cares for them. I began thinking of the scripture in Psalm 37:25 which says, I have been young and now I am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.

There is so much truth in this scripture. When you become born into the family of God through believing in Jesus Christ, you are in a family. There are countless churches to become connected with. I am not ignorant of the plight of the homeless. I realize many are suffering from mental illness, drug and alcohol addictions. Yet, it is God’s will and His good pleasure to see his children in relationships within the Body of Christ; to see them prospering in community and in a family.

Going back to the original scripture in Psalm 133

There is blessing from the LORD when his children live in unity and harmony with each other. The oil was used to anoint the priests for service; to consecrate them and make them holy. God is saying that when we live in harmony with one another it also makes us holy, set apart.

The dew of Hermon speaks of watering the land. In a well watered area it produces fruit. Likewise in a community of believers living in unity there is much fruit. God commands his blessing! Life forevermore!

2 Chronicles 30:1-2, 12
Now Hezekiah sent to all Israel and Judah and wrote letters also to Ephraim and Manasseh, that they should come to the house of the LORD at Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover to the LORD God of Israel. For the King and his princes and all the assembly in Jerusalem had decided to celebrate the Passover in the second month. The hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and princes commanded by the word of the LORD.

Hezekiah was a righteous king who took the reign after a very unrighteous king. This King Ahaz promoted idol worship in Jerusalem. So, when Hezekiah took the reign he reinstated temple worship and the Passover feast. Hezekiah sent out letters to invite all to the Passover feast. Many mocked and scorned the couriers. Nevertheless, some men came to Jerusalem for the feast. It says the hand of God was also on Judah to give them one heart to do what the king and princes commanded by the word of the LORD.

God gave them unity of heart and mind. It is possible to live in peace and like-mindedness with our brother and sisters in the LORD. Prayer, humility, and walking in the fear of the LORD bring unity to the Body of Christ. We can accomplish a great deal and bear much fruit as we walk in unity. God will command his blessing and life forevermore!

To walk in the fear of the LORD is to hate what is evil. Stirring up discord and disunity among the brethren is evil; it is sin! God hates it, and it grieves his heart!