RebelSpeak

Nothing about your life is haphazard. You are not unseen. You are not abandoned. Indeed, your Cyrus is coming; and with him will come new opportunities for life and joy - shalom and creativity. The 'once was' will be surpassed by the goodness of the 'what now is'.

Reading Psalm 51 in light of the love, sacrifice and forgiveness of the cross. We are forgiven. We are clean. The cross has brought Christ' love and life to cover our impasse and death. In the midst of depression and tragedy, we can rest in the work of the cross. That which would say 'defeat' is wrong. For Christ is saying, 'Life' and as Author and Perfector, His is the voice to which we lean and in whom we find the triumph of rest amidst lies and accusations and, even, actual failure itself.

God continues to speak to Israel in the midst of Exile. I alone am the only living God. All other gods have no capacity to save. I stand by my relationship with you Israel. God is confident as the one true God. All other gods come from human imagination. Humans come from God's own imagination. There is no comparison in these two different origins. A God who created and chose. A people who grope, and create that which can not walk on its own, let alone save. God's fierce identification with Israel, a people he has created puts the created gods of Babylon to shame. This is God's premiere argument to a doubting people. It is an argument fully capable of standing true.

In a difficult season with real spiritual enemies - it is an important reminder to remember that God is committed to us - specifically. And very much, within the context of our needs. "Tremble" is spoken to that which appears to be immovable. God moves circumstances on our behalf. It is truly God's nature.

The earth is Yahweh's and everything in it. God is in the midst of vindicating in the midst of massive disruptions. God is quieting the sea and establishing order, putting to rest that which overwhelms. God is with you. Speaking that prayer into your day.

God continues His passionate argument regarding His compelling CHOSEN relationship with Israel. In the midst of this declaration, we meet the concept of servant and all that this concept brings to our concept of true justice and true salvation. History is brought forward in these passages - the creature is awakened to the beginnings of a glorious insight regarding love and sacrifice and redemption.

In John 5, we meet a man who is not able to steward his own salvation story. He easily is swayed by the voices about him. Jesus seeks to encourage him into a position of truth that is strong. Jesus will follow this story of 'whom will you listen to?' by telling those following him that he listens to the Father alone. To steward our own salvation story well we need to be able to listen to the Father alone - as Jesus did. In that voice alone is joy and freedom. Be encouraged - as you walk in the love of the Father, you are able to be free from the disingenuous voices that want to diminish the joy and freedom you have found.

Galatians is a fascinating letter - full of pain and disappointment. Paul loves these young churches, but they have been led astray in ways that greatly grieve Paul. Paul must trust the Lord - even as he persuades and contradicts bad arguments. His heart is on the line. God is faithful to our own heart journeys where loved ones wonder off in unexpected directions. Like Paul, we turn to God - relying on God's faithful grace to restore misguided companions allured by error-filled promises.

Zipporah has some knowledge of covenant but it is not exact. Not exact is enough. The nature of covenant frees us from our failures and inadequacies. We stand because of covenant. In the midst of all that Zipporah does and does not know, understanding the sufficiency of covenant is enough. Her proclamation of covenant stands and delivers.

Isaiah 41:1-20 is a lovely turn of conversation. In the name of covenant to Israel, God identifies with Israel's pain. Israel is a nation God gladly befriended prior to nationhood. God's friendship with Abraham proceeded to God's faithful fellowship with the entire nation. God's fidelity is addressed in these verses. In a world of great enemies, the love of God preserves and, at the right time, restores. That time is now. Israel, though dispersed, is not to fear. God is redeeming and restoring. God's strength and vitality will create, within Israel, a strength that will flatten enemies - freeing Israel and glorifying God himself. God moving on behalf of Israel is God revealing God's own loyalty, by which many shall believe.

Paul writes to the Church in Galatia words that encourage the Galatians to love one another - be there for one another - Sit in the pain of another. Paul sees Christians as deeply free to be unique persons who love and care from that standard of personal excellence (vs a generic standard that is written by someone else). When we wrongly link our lives to other's expectations, we can easily become jealous. God wants us to discover His unique love that is aimed specifically at the precious treasure God created us to be. Christianity is expansive in love - not minimizing.

In Isaiah 21 the watchman at the wall waits and sees that Babylon, indeed, has fallen. The prophecy is given far in advance. There is a long wait. But a joyous moment is realized when Babylon falls. We, too, are waiting in anticipation of specific calls to be realized. Standing where God has called us - we are learning to wait in anticipation - not doubt.

In Jeremiah 34, King Zedekiah makes a righteous decision to set all Hebrew Slaves free. Originally, the book of Leviticus tells the people not to enslave their brothers and sisters; but should such occur, to free them every seven years. This Sabbath Year (7th year) request seems to never have happened. Now, as Zedekiah has clearly been told by Yhwh that the city will fall; Zedekiah has all the remaining persons of privilege make a covenant with God and let their slaves go free. But the people can't honor the covenant - in the midst of their current disaster, the ease and privilege of 'owning' enslaved persons is too much of a sacrifice and the privileged violate their covenant with God. God responds to this evil - proclaiming that they themselves will see 'freedom' of death and violence. This passage is calling us all to seek righteousness in our behavior - to not trust the habits of culture that may invite us to follow them, but which can easily be housing cultural sin that disfigures our brothers and sisters. In this season of vibrant love greatly at work on our earth, there is a call to make sure our lives are in spiritual order, so God can do amazing things through us. The call to righteousness is essential. Be encouraged - as you seek righteousness, God is accomplishing great things on your behalf in the midst of all the chaos that seems to be prevailing about you. Through Our Actions, God is Removing Long Established Injustice from the Land. We are in the midst of a beautiful move of God, the hallmark of which will be righteousness and love at work in the land towards all brothers and sisters. Be blessed and much love, R

There is no one like God. This is not a chant. It is a truth. No one is like God. God alone can save. God knows this better than the created. God has done all the creating and knows the beauty and finitude of all that God has created. Thus, when a generation is disillusioned, God meets them with comfort; but God also corrects their perspective - a wrong thinking that perhaps God is one amongst many - when God is no such thing. Therefore, God speaks in Chapter 40 of His own Grandeur because it matters. The goodness that God carries is the goodness that is faithful and never fails which is the goodness of the only one who is Eternal Creator. The people feel they are in the middle of a failed event, but this is not the case. God is going to show them a beautiful Otherwise. It is God's goal that they understand God's singularity in greatness. No other god begins to compare with the maker of all that is. It is from this capacity that God is capable of saving the disillusioned creature.

Looking at Isaiah 41 (again - I know - something we need to hear often:); God reveals God's loving faithfulness. It is in the difficult moments of life, that God's goodness is most clearly displayed, fears are set free, doubts are overwhelmed by love. God loves to prove God's goodness to us, God loves to strengthen us as God saves us. Through such salvation we come to know the God of love all the more clearly.

Looking at the beautiful meditation on the Good Shepherd as spoken in John 10. Here the love of the Shepherd that leads is contrasted with the deceptive evil one who insinuates himself into the story to kill, steal and destroy. The one in whom is no life vs the One who leads to abundant life. Be encouraged - even as our opinions differ, God is leading us well.

Looking again at John 2 and reminding ourselves that we can ask Christ to work in the situations and circumstances around us that are in a bad predicament and in need of a miracle. The very mundane is transformed by our own relationship with Christ as we invite Christ to work in and through the needs around us. Christ responds and miracles of life and unexpected 'better' happens. Be Encouraged - you are an avenue for the kingdom to be revealed through your prayers.

In this interaction with Peter, Jesus is speaking to his followers about what they see in him. Peter sees Jesus as Messiah. This understanding brings forth a gift of the 'keys of the kingdom' - which when used on earth, to lock and unlock, effect eternity. It is powerful to think how our actions on earth write truths into Heaven for all time. Be Encouraged - you are birthing eternity.

Chapter 38 of the Book of Isaiah is a precious glimpse into God's very real relationship with Hezekiah. Hezekiah receives grim news; but, instead of being overwhelmed by it - he turns to God in prayer -speaking candidly out of the reality of their own relationship. God responds to Hezekiah. They are in a genuine relationship that exposes a key component for being a 'very good' king - the ability to turn to God when things are disappointing and letting God's love speak in such a moment.

In Acts 2, Peter quotes from the Prophet Joel about, "In the last days, ..., I will pour out my Spirit upon all people, your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit upon all my servants, men and women alike, and they will prophesy..." We are living in deeply significant spiritual days (as was Peter) - in which God is bringing to life places that he has long - awaited thriving in. Be encouraged - you are living in the midst of a great moment in history - in which we are able to prophesy life into long-devastated places, the flourishing love of God is awakening these weary, broken places. Hallelujah!

Reading from Psalm 18, a Psalm of David, and thinking about overwhelming situations and keeping our eyes on God. David can help us learn to keep our gaze on God in the midst of difficult circumstances, as we wait on God to show up. God has brought you through many fires. He will continue in His faithfulness. His love remains with us - in the midst of deeply discouraging circumstances - Be encouraged, God will help you get through it all. He makes a way to a spacious place.

In Genesis 22, God calls Abraham to a high place to sacrifice his son. This, however, is a practice that God clearly hates. It is, also, a practice familiar to Abraham. Familiar in Mesopotamia. Familiar in Canaan. Often in our lives, when we trust God and move towards God's call - God is exposing lies and fears - confirming God's own goodness in places where fears and cultural lies are lurking. God brings freedom in the midst of our obedience. Be Encouraged God is faithful in God's goodness, freeing us from entrenched, faulty perspectives.

In Chapter 37 of Isaiah, God responds to Hezekiah. Hezekiah, instead of turning to idols or Egypt, turns to God. And God responds to Hezekiah's prayer. Hezekiah knows he is praying to the only true God - and the only true God clearly identifies with His people - it IS as personal for God as it is for Hezekiah. The strength of Assyria's army is not able to deter God, regardless of what they may think. Jerusalem has a future because the God of Israel is a saving God, faithful to the righteous when they call upon His name.

Today begins a look into the Book of Corinthians and Paul's writing on love. He is addressing a very unique church that is truly diverse - different folk from very different backgrounds. He is reminding them of the things that matter and of the limitations of wisdom that is of the world. Christ did not walk into the human story of redemption via the understanding of the world - rather, he walked into the human story of redemption in a manner that appears foolish - but it is from that 'foolish' place, that true love transforms. How then does Paul see love? This is the conversation we have begun as we Think Through Scripture.

Looking at Jeremiah, Isaiah speaks of the land suffering under the weight of sin. From Abel on, we are told that the earth itself suffers from human sin and arrogance. The Christmas Carol, Joy to the World, sings of Christ coming to heal the earth 'Far as the Curse is Found'. You and I walk in this blessing. We are able to speak life into the places where the earth suffers. Our words and actions bring life everywhere we go. Be Encouraged.