The Blessing of Bathsheba



She was bathing. She was doing what was required by the Law.  It was a ritual cleansing that women did that was required following menstruation.  When David’s men inquired of her on behalf of David’s lusty heart, she acknowledged she was the wife of Uriah.  She then went with them and she would sleep with David.

How often have we done what we are supposed to do, go through the motions of communion, or sprinkle a little holy water, a baptism, confessions… only to get up and go do what is unholy.  Sometimes it is not even thought of, other times it is so woefully shameful one may believe there is no hope of restoration with God.

When God is in pursuit of you, He will reveal how you stepped out.  And, He offers restoration.

Bathsheba became pregnant.  There was no hiding what she did.  David tried to sweep it under the rug by trying to get Bathsheba’s husband to have sex with her so that the possibility of the child could be Uriah’s and he wouldn't think differently.  Uriah’s nobility, commitment and honor to whom he was serving, the fighting men, would not allow himself pleasure over his army colleagues.

The thing he was denying himself was what David did not deny himself.  David chose to hang back instead of join the men in battle as a King was to be in battle with them in this particular time. He chose his own comfort and from there the desire of his pleasure increased all the more to the point of desiring Bathsheba.

Uriah would not step into the cover-up David attempted.  So, David set Uriah up to have him killed by placing him on the front lines and then have the soldiers fall back, leaving Uriah unprotected. Uriah was killed.  This kept David’s secret.  He was free to take Bathsheba as his wife, legitimizing the child and Bathsheba.

Here is where we start to see God make His move.  David was clueless to the truth of what he did.  The LORD once spoke to me saying, “Sin is deceptive until it’s reflected.” God told Nathan, the prophet, to go to David. 

 Nathan began telling a story about a rich man that had many sheep and a poor man that had only one.  The "ewe" (female sheep)  that the poor man had, he loved dearly and cared for and held to himself.  Nathan goes on to say a traveler came and needed to eat so the rich man took the one lamb of the poor man and killed it instead of one of his own.  David was outraged and said that the rich man “deserves to die!”  David saw death was deserving of such a crime.  Nathan said to him, “That rich man is you.”

David finally saw what he had done in taking Uriah’s wife and having Uriah killed.  When I read the story that Nathan told, I interpret the “traveler” that he prepared a meal for as a spirit of lust.  David satisfied it by taking another man’s wife instead of his own.  In the recognition of knowing now what he had done and where he was and the words that Nathan shared that were God’s upcoming punishment. In 2 Samuel 12:13-14 David cries out that he has sinned against The LORD. Nathan responds and says, “The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.”  David knew in his heart that the act deserved death, but God in His mercy to David and in keeping with His promise that Christ would come from the house of David, God forgave him and would not have him die.  But, in verse 14, in God’s Holy and sovereign place against sin and prior to the full redemption of sin through Christ’s death for us, Nathan goes on in the message. “But because by doing this you have made the enemies of the LORD show utter contempt, the son born to you will die.”  It goes on to say that, “The LORD struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill.

Bathsheba was not referenced in her name in this scripture.  She was referenced as Uriah’s wife with the child of David’s.  This reference was the part that had been the place of sin, but the child was innocent.  There was to come a day when God’s own innocent son would be the one to die for the sins of others.

As David prayed, humbled in the position before God lying on the floor and fasting and refusing drink for the seven days of the child’s illness in hopes that God may spare the child, God did not.  The child died and David knew that God did as He was going to do.  David had come back to the heart of God in humility and knowing that God is Holy.  David then went into the House of the LORD and worshiped.  He had come back to the place of God’s Holy presence and released himself into God’s will.

We don’t hear about what was happening in Bathsheba’s heart except that she was mourning.  Knowing all she knew, she would have mourned for the unholy place she had gone to and the suffering of her child.  She had known the LORD’s will because she had been following the Law in the way of cleansing, but she had not followed Him in fullness of heart.  Now she was stricken with the greatest grief; the death of her child.

2 Samuel 12:24  “Then David comforted his wife Bathsheba, and he went to her and lay with her.  She gave birth to a son, and they named him Solomon.  The LORD loved him,” See God’s blessing here. David comforted her.  The Word now calls her by name again and calls her, “David’s wife.”

The grace and forgiveness that God did with full redemption of now being David’s wife is here.  Beyond it is the fullness of this blessing of grace.

She conceives that night, a new life, and bears a son. 

This son, Solomon, is the son that continues the line of David where Jesus comes from. 

 It is a conception of grace. 

 A blessing on a woman that who on her own, was unholy, but in God, she is made holy again.  God didn’t choose any other of David’s wives, he chose the one with the most baggage, the one that received and needed His graces.

Are Bathsheba and David instantly perfected? No. Here is how we know as it goes on to speak of the baby, “and because the LORD loved him (the baby), he sent word through Nathan the prophet to name him Jedidiah.”  Jedidiah means, beloved by God.  David and Bathsheba did not name him Jedidiah, but Solomon.  But, God’s grace and blessing continued and His love continued in the name He Himself held for Solomon.

Jedidiah. 

Beloved of God.

The blessing of Bathsheba is grace, love, and in the holiness of God, she was a mother in the line of Jesus.

On our own we are unholy, but in God we are made holy.  Be in Him and know that He redeems through His forgiveness, love and grace.  Conviction is His desire to draw us back to Him.  No one is too far gone and what He can make of us is miraculous in love and life.

Psalm 86:15 ESV But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Ephesians 2:4-7 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

 

A Well of Grace

 

 

“You don’t have anything to draw with.” This is what the Bible said about Jesus.  I was caught up in that thought of how Jesus didn’t have something; something He needed.

 

Jesus was tired and seated at Jacob’s well when the Samaritan woman came to draw water.  He depended on someone else to give him a drink. Or did He? He told her to give him a drink.  She answered him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” A remarkable conversation started and part way through came her remark, “Sir, you don’t have anything to draw with.”

I invite you to listen to my message on this portion of John 4:1-38 and let’s go deeper into this well.

Click here for the message.

 ~ If He who in Himself can lack nothing, chooses to need us, it is because we need to be needed. ~ C.S. Lewis

 

 

 

 

 



The Big of Little

 

 

 

 

 

A while back, I heard Christine Caine teach about the loaves and fishes.  She taught how the ordinary and the little can be multiplied and made big.  When the child shared his lunch she thought back to the mother that prepared it for him.  The mother would have baked bread each day and place the loaves into her son’s lunch. But that day, by the sharing, the thanks giving of Jesus and the blessing, they were multiplied to serve thousands.  This lesson stayed with me and it has grown.

Sometimes, the little we do makes a big impact through Jesus.

Thousands had gathered to listen to Jesus and in time they needed food. The child had some food.  He was undaunted by the excess of need.  He just gave what he had in order to help.

John 6:9 ISV  “There's a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two small fish. But what are these among so many people?"

Jesus, in thankfulness for what was given and not belittling the shortfall of enough, received the little, gave thanks to the Father for it, and blessed it.  In the simple giving from the little child, to the accepting and receiving it of even a little bit, Jesus was thankful and blessing it; He multiplied it.

I have taken this to heart. 

There is much in every little bit of little to be thankful for and to pray blessing on it.

Friends. Ministry. Food. Finances. Family. Kindnesses. Work. Creativity. Health. Home. I’m listing some things, but it is endless.  Whatever you have received no matter what its quantity is, can be a word of thanks to God for and a blessing said upon it.

Taking our eyes off of what isn’t to what is with gratitude and God’s blessing changes the heart, the mind and the soul to a place of contentment, joy and appreciation.  When that happens, it seems everything becomes enough and more than enough.  It is a place of faith for what is and Who provides.

I had finished doing some prayer ministry at the end of a church service.  It had been emptying out and I saw a frail looking elderly woman sitting in the back by herself.  I sat down beside her and introduced myself.  I asked her if she had anything she’d like prayer for.  She answered, “Oh no, I am so grateful.  I have so much to be thankful for!”  She told me how she had broken her leg and it is taking a bit of time to heal, but she is able to come to church with her cane and she is so thankful for it and touched her cane.  She continued saying she is grateful for her husband.  “He likes to sit in front and I like to sit in back.  He’s still up there.  I go to a different church, but I came here with him today.  He takes such good care of me.  He does everything for me at home.  He cooks and cleans.  We love our home.  God is so good to me and to us.”

I asked if I could pray continued blessings for her and she said, “Oh, yes!”  We prayed and gave thanks for all Jesus had given her and her husband and we prayed for His hand of blessing and grace to continue to shine on her and him.  Soon her husband was standing beside her and I told him I had the pleasure of meeting his Bride and got to pray a blessing.  He was elderly, too and had obvious physical things hampering him.  His first words to me were, “We are so thankful for all God does for us.  I’m thankful for her.” 

They saw what they had; each other.  They didn’t focus on difficulties and lack, but what was good and that those things were because of God and they were grateful.  I believe they will always see His blessings in their lives.  There will be more and more as their eyes always look to Him with thankful hearts.

In ministry, praying for one person, serving them in whatever way you have that you are able to and praying blessing for them has been multiplied so many times.  I’ve learned it isn’t the size of a congregation or church, but the serving of who you have and a blessing that Jesus takes and multiplies it through them.  One person or a few.  One should never be disappointed with a small church, a small Bible study or only one friend that comes to Jesus, but thank God for who is there and bless them. 

I’ve watched one person later begin a vast outreach as Jesus multiplies through her.  I’ve watched projects of just a few pieces be used by many and become more.  Those prayers for individuals can bear much more than you can imagine.

It is the nature of God.  Every seed yields a plant that will bear many more seeds from it.  The question of, “What do you see when you see an acorn?”  An easy answer is an oak tree, but thinking more fully to its potential, it is a forest.  That is the multiplicity of God. By one couples’ sharing of their thankfulness with me, one person, I am able to share their hearts with you.  Their lives and God's testimony in them reach out further.

Know that even if you don’t have enough to take care of everything, be thankful to Jesus for every bit of little and speak His blessing over it.  He will make more of it than you can imagine.  It is His nature.  Sometimes you find yourself doing nothing more after that, than just watching it grow.

Thank You, Jesus.

 

 

Refresh in the Race

Hebrews 12:1-2  Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

It’s hot and heated out there and it's easy to get caught up in it.   I pray that these words will be a cool drink of water for you in the course of this race set before us, refreshing you again by what your best attire is against the slew of mean that we read or hear.

The refresher is from God’s Word in Epheshians 6:10-18.

Let it pour over you again.

Going from head to toe.

Start with your helmet of salvation. 

Guard that mind of yours with the knowledge of your saving grace.  Don’t fall into areas of limitations.  There is no limit to the grace that Jesus has given you in salvation or for the salvation of others.  It’s all about the grace and love here through forgiveness and believing it.

The Breastplate of Righteousness 

This is your heart-beat and breath covered by the pure goodness of Jesus.  He alone is our righteousness and in Him, wearing Him over those spiritual vital organs, we can’t help but be a life in a place of strengthened love.  His love is poured into our hearts and knowing our righteousness is not ours, but His, we can love so much better without fear of being hurt.  It’s not about me, it’s about Him upon me. The place of Love and Life is covered by His.

The Shield of Faith 

Those words of hate against all you believe in have become loud and hurtful or attempt to shame.  But, hold to that shield of Faith.   You know the way you know Jesus, how He changed your life and how that alone is a miracle.  His power is real and His promises and truths are real. You’ve heard of His power in the lives of others, too, as they share what He has done.  He has fulfilled prophecy after prophecy in the Scriptures.  He’s not going to stop now.  Hold to your shield and know that the blessing of your faith is already a gift from Him as He is the author and finisher of our faith.  The words of hate can’t destroy you when you keep your faith shield up. 

The Belt of Truth

Always gird yourself with truth.  There is no wrong in truth.  If you don’t know something, say so.  It’s better to be truthful in not knowing it all, because no one does.  Be truthful about it.  Jesus says He is the Truth. Read His words. Pay attention to them and how often He says, “I tell you the truth…”  Those words following such a point are powerful.  Jesus reveals His love and His holiness. He also reveals His displeasure.  Frequently He reveals it towards ones who put on their own self-righteousness or know- it-all answers. He opposes pride and haughtiness.  He humbled the proud and He was good at it.  He’s gracious to children and the humble.

The Sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God 

This is big.  Get into the Word.  Ask Him to open it up to you and show you Him in it and give you understanding in it.  There’s nothing else that encourages me, strengthens me, convicts me and gives me peace and hope as it does.

His holiness is powerful in the Word and so is His grace and love.

His Word is your confidence.

If you’re having difficulty these days in ways of anger, judgment, criticism or even arrogance, my advice first is to connect with Jesus.  A prayer life of talking with Him is going directly to Him the Living Word.  His love for you will help you love others.  I suggest reading the Bible and if it is difficult to understand, look for resources to be instructed well in it. The combination of a prayer life or time talking to Jesus, and reading the Bible or being instructed in it, help the Scriptures begin to open up to your life.  It helps so much in getting past the bad in this world and to keep it from sticking to you.   

A humble Bible teacher is a treasure.  From them come some of the best insights as they lead from that place of humility.  The humble are usually the best at walking in grace. I don’t mean humble in the way of weakness.  A good teacher is also courageous enough to speak truth and be honest in their own short-comings.  I just circled back to humble again.  It matters.

The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Galatians 5:22-23.  Let your own words be filled with this kind of fruit.  There is power in love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  That power was evidenced at the cross and resurrection.  Then, Jesus breathed it upon us: His Spirit.

The more you consciously carry your own conversations in these ways, the more it becomes you and the more others begin to speak in like manner.  Kindness is contagious.  The rude and arrogant may get angry by it because it messes with them, so it isn’t always received well, but know you did right by His righteousness.

The Shoes of Peace  Aggression is not peace.  Peace is being. 

Not attacking and not retreating, but being.

 Be in the place of His Spirit.  Jesus did not desire the physical sword any longer by His example of when He healed the soldier’s ear that had been cut off by Peter.  Jesus said to that, “No more!”

The swords Jesus was referring to when he said to His followers that it was time to take up their swords and they gallantly said they had two and Jesus said, “It is enough,” were mentioned with the list of things that would be the part of Jesus being numbered with the transgressors as He was about to be crucified. This is how I interpret it; the bag of money that Judas got, Jesus’ garment, and I believe knapsacks because they would be fleeing from Him. There would be two more uses of swords before His resurrection; the sword cutting off the soldier’s ear and the sword that was pierced into Jesus’ side.  Both uses contrasted as transgression to what was the new covenant.  No longer an ear for an ear and an eye for an eye as Jesus restored the ear and peacefully went with them (not attacking and not retreating)  to be tried and crucified and then pierced by another sword to prove His death. Grace had come and forgiveness made by the blood and water shed by the Holy One; The Prince of Peace.

Luke 22:35-38  He said to them, "When I sent you without money bag, knapsack, and sandals, did you lack anything?"

So they said, "Nothing."

Then He said to them, "But now, he who has a money bag, let him take it, and likewise a knapsack; and he who has no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one.  For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: 'And He was numbered with the transgressors.'  For the things concerning Me have an end."

So they said, "Lord, look, here are two swords."

And He said to them, "It is enough."

 Our sword now is His Word and Spirit.  Keep moving in this full armor of Him; His presence in your life as He sends you.  Because only in Him do we have no lack.  Keep your precious mind in His grace and salvation for you, your heart beating in love, life and breath covered by His righteousness, your shield of faith, your belt of truth, your sword of the Spirit and shoes of peace that will never wear out.

Keep your prayers, the words in the Spirit, always refreshing you and for Him and one another.

Be strong in the LORD and His mighty power.

In His love and Spirit; refresh.

Romans 5:1-5  ESV  Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoiced in hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

God's Time and Plans

Growing older has had an incredibly positive impact.  The hindsight vision of God’s hand of plan and grace is mind-blowing and love-knowing when you realize where and how He has moved through your life.  It also eases concerns for tomorrow.  He’s already there.

We are preparing for ministry work in Durham, England. 

This is new. 

We are in our 50’s!

Jeremiah 29:11 is a popular verse and is often said alone. This is the King James translation and follows truer with the Hebrew in this verse. “ For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”  In other translations “thoughts” are translated to “plans.”  “An expected end” is translated in some as “hope.” 

An “expected end” is comforting and a promise to hold to.  It’s a certainty.  He’s there.

What is often overlooked is that these words are said to the Hebrew people in exile in Babylon and God has just said that they will be in bondage for another 70 years!  Even through the hardship, He has thoughts for them, plans that are for peaceful good.  When we feel like we are in the midst of struggles, hardships, even captivity keeping you from being or doing who or where you want to be, God is saying He is there and He will answer as His work and plans unfold.

The gonging of this reality hit me recently.  I was driving the car and marveling over an upcoming ministry trip, how God miraculously brought the request for us to go to England.  Also, the way God miraculously provided the means to do it. 
 We had asked for financial assistance from people because we were being asked to come when we did not have the means ourselves. Some help came, but it remained out of our reach.  God wanted to show that He was in charge and it is Him that we count on, not other people.  Miraculously, for one day, the price of the ticket flights dropped by $1,000.  We locked them in.  What seemed like God’s plan was coming together through Him.

On another day I was reflecting at the miracle saving of our marriage five years ago and the changes in my heart and my husband’s.  The new gifting I since then  received to understand His Word and be able to share it grows stronger every day in me.  All of it is only of God’s doing.  I marveled.  Now we are going to England to minister!

Almost high with joy, I asked the LORD what was He thinking when I was only twelve years old when He decided to fill me with the fullness of His Spirit at that age?  Instantly, a memory popped into my head.  I had written a story in sixth grade.  My teacher had called me in early to talk to me privately about it.  She encouraged me and said how good it was and that her husband was an English teacher and he was sharing it with his high school students.  I only remember this at all because she had taken time to call me aside to let me know and spoke well about it, encouraging me.

The story itself, I don’t remember, but I remember what had started it out.  I had written about a vision I had.  I was so young and didn’t really know what a vision was, but I wrote about it.  It was the opening and setting of the story.  I can still remember the vision vividly, but not the story I made up. I even think I tried to paint a water color picture of it that went with the story.

Walking down a city sidewalk, it was raining.  I was looking down at the water splashing around my feet with every step that I took as I hurried along holding my umbrella.  I was an adult woman.  Suddenly, a loud bonging started to sound.  I turned around and looked up to where the sound was coming from.  The clock tower stood tall behind me as it rang out through the pouring rain.  It was Big Ben.  My vision was in London, England.

As a twelve year old girl in the 1970’s, my childhood knowledge of England was centered around Davy Jones from the Monkees, The Beatles and Mary Poppins.  Little did I know that I would marry a man from England and that he would be a professional soccer player.  He would be the door way that would open a path forty years later.

My life didn’t stay attentive to God following those powerful, early, teen years.  But, God remained attentive and faithful to me.  He had a plan and His Call had been made long ago.  I never denied Who He is, but I denied living a life I knew He wanted. 

When the pregnancy of our daughter took place, that life impacted me.  I had an overwhelming desire  to begin living the life I knew was better.  I was moved by His power of creating and the sorrow for past choices had taken its toll.  I needed Him to give me peace, joy and hope and I knew His love for me through all of His mercy and blessings despite how I ignored Him.

The years that followed were up, down, and sometimes upside-down.  Surviving it all with faith in tact and growing stronger in it has been the training field for today.  A forty year preparation of experiences to know Him through it all and find Him loving, merciful, faithful and miraculously powerful is what I want others to know for themselves, too.  That He can take a moment and suddenly everything changes.  I even wrote a book about it.

Death to resurrection.  For us, it was our marriage.

He is life.

A new life.

So as the rains of His Spirit pour out and God’s time rings out for me to walk with Him in England, I have been shown the power of His good thoughts, places and times.  The knowing of this gives a boldness to move in certainty that He is with me and He will accomplish what He has set out to do. 

Look at all of your own struggles and things you have endured through His grace and power.  See Him in it with you.  If you don’t know or aren’t sure where He was, ask Him to show you.  Open yourself up to those thoughts and memories.  And when they come, acknowledge that it is by His Spirit that He has shown you.  Through the things He has helped you make it through is how you know Him best. 

He could have been your provider or protector, hope, healer, strength, guide, counselor, savior, comforter or all of them and more.  Look for Him.  He promises that if you seek Him with all your heart you will find Him. He sends others to be His hands here, too.  Are there people that were there at the right time for you in your life?

You have not been forsaken.  You have been allowed to know Him more.  His plan has always been to have a relationship with you. 

You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.  Jeremiah 29:13

 

The Shame of Shame

 

 

“There’s no hope for me.”

“It’s too late for me.”

“God couldn’t possibly love someone like me.”

 

These are words you may have heard or may have said. 

Self  loathing.

Not allowing yourself enough grace to receive grace.

We shame ourselves over the shame of what we know, have done or thought to do in its stark contrast of the perfection of God’s glory that stands so pure and beautiful and good.

We think we don’t deserve or can bear to be in the knowledge of our own evil in the light of His knowing.

We try to hide.

We put up a wall. A covering. Something to block a relationship with others. With God.

They can’t know and I don’t deserve the love. The kindness.

The grace.

Sometimes we cover our own eyes.

But, His knowing is bathed in love, in mercy and in forgiveness. 

In the Garden, the LORD came to them.  They hid from Him as He looked for them. They covered themselves.  They could not bear to be bare.  Shame. They made their separation through shame.

Genesis 3:8 “…hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God…”

They knew good and evil.  Sin. The contrast was shame to them.

In His mercy, God in that moment called to them.

Sin had entered the world and God had a plan.  His plan was and is for life. Sin would meet an end. Sin would not be permitted to live forever as the Tree of Life was guarded to keep from giving sin an eternity. 

With every curse that came with the sin, God would redeem through the life and blood of Himself in our presence as Christ. His death for the wages of sin and His life resurrected is our life-given grace for eternity. 

A relationship…for eternity.

 Shame taken.

Grace given.

 For Life.

Relationship and Love.

 Just as we are because of the way He is.

Don’t let shame be your covering. Sometimes dropping that covering is a “cold and broken Hallelujah.” But He Himself is your clothing.

 Galatians 3:27 For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ

 

Drop the shame and wrap in His robe of love and forgiveness. 

Grace looks so good on you.

He loves to have you in His presence.

You are loved.



A Nightmare, A Dream

 

 

Alarmed by a strange dream, I woke the next morning and thought about it. The symbolism began to be revealed.

I was floating along in a crystal, clear river.  It was beautiful and lush with green foliage along the banks. Healthy, aquatic plants were growing and it appeared to be perfect.  Then, while floating with the current, there was a huge head of a fish that had been dead for a long time.  It was mostly decomposed as it floated with the last bits of rotted flesh lifting from it  There were no longer eyes in the sockets.  I was grossed out and I shoved it away from me with the wooden pole I had in my hand. 

Having been disrupted by my shove and coming out from inside the cavity of the rotting fish head, were many beautiful, small, young fish.  They were a different kind. They were vibrant, alive, clean and striped in colors like a rainbow.  I shoved the disgusting head further away and they chased after it to go back inside and “feed.”  I shoved the head again and the young ones were exposed.  I was so bothered that they attempted to return to the decomposed head  and I began to smack the water over the top of them to keep them from returning to the rotting head again, long enough for them to see what was all around them.  The river had so much to offer them in way of life and good things to eat and beautiful places to dwell.  I woke up grossed out and upset.

The setting, river and flow was spiritual and of God’s essence and perfect creation and life.  The small, living fish were like young ones made with promise, given all that they need to live in ways of good and beautiful things out in the light of God and all that lives.  Instead, they chose to feed on the “mind” of a fish that had been before them.  It had been another fish that was bigger and died and rotted. Mortal.  They were living in the dark, inside of this dead head and feeding off of it.

It made me think of the young ones that follow men’s thoughts and feed off of them. Feeding off of men that had maybe one time been great or highly regarded. But, each one of these great minds met the same mortality of death and decay. By living in and off of it they miss the fullness of their spiritual life.

That’s where the creation all around them was being ignored.  That the life and fullness of  life through the Holy Spirit  were being left because they didn’t understand how much promise they were given Spiritually and in life all around them from the Giver of Life.  They had been given so much, but they were not living in it. 

The one great mind of Christ, esteemed to at least have been very wise and good by the least of believers,  never saw decay. 

 In His resurrection and power He stood alone as God with us.

Psalm 16:9-11 NLT

Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. 10For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. 11You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever.

Acts 13:35  So it is also stated elsewhere: "'You will not let your holy one see decay.'

John 2:22 NIV  After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

1 Corinthians 2:15-16 NIV  But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16 For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

This is Matthew Henry’s Commentary on 1 Corinthians 2:15-16 taken from Biblehub.com.

“This is most clear testimony, both to the real Godhead and the distinct person of the Holy Spirit. The apostles were not guided by worldly principles. They had the revelation of these things from the Spirit of God, and the saving impression of them from the same Spirit. These things they declared in plain, simple language, taught by the Holy Spirit, totally different from the affected oratory or enticing words of man's wisdom. The natural man, the wise man of the world, receives not the things of the Spirit of God. The pride of carnal reasoning is really as much opposed to spirituality, as the basest sensuality. The sanctified mind discerns the real beauties of holiness, but the power of discerning and judging about common and natural things is not lost. But the carnal man is a stranger to the principles, and pleasures, and actings of the Divine life. The spiritual man only, is the person to whom God gives the knowledge of his will. How little have any known of the mind of God by natural power! And the apostles were enabled by his Spirit to make known his mind. In the Holy Scriptures, the mind of Christ, and the mind of God in Christ, are fully made known to us. It is the great privilege of Christians, that they have the mind of Christ revealed to them by his Spirit. They experience his sanctifying power in their hearts, and bring forth good fruits in their lives.”

I believe the smooth, wooden pole I held was representative of the cross of Christ as I stirred up the waters of His Spirit to keep the promise-filled young ones from going back to filling themselves on the minds of those who cannot compare to the Holy and risen mind of Christ.  It is my prayer and dream that many would see and understand in ways they had not before and live in the fullness of life. 

John 16:13 ESV  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.