from the table... TO HIS TABLE

One of my greatest pleasures in life is cooking a meal in my little kitchen and seeing my family and friends enjoy. I remember as a little girl spending time in my grandmother's kitchen learning to make rice and beans. Of course there was no food network back then and my Abuelita (grandmother) didn't measure a thing. She would say "you put a little of this and a little of that and a whole lot of love into it." It was there at her table I learned what it meant to be hospitable and generous. We would eat to sound of beautiful ballads playing in the background as she told me the stories of yesteryear. 

Not only was my grandmother's kitchen a place of love so was my mother's. I am convinced that on the great day of the Lord my  mother will fully come to understand how many lives were touched by her love meals. Many times I asked myself why did she make so much food, there were only four of us in the house. Looking back she would make enough for anyone who would "happen to stop by." It was and still is her language of love. 

 Much of my life formation was done around a table. When I started dating my husband I was invited to their home for lunch after church. It was there, a very different type of meal was offered. Yes, there was food but I learned much about the scriptures, the move of the Spirit of God, to love and serve God with all my being. Their table though designed to satisfy natural hunger truly satisfied my spiritual need. 

What do these two tables have in common? Fast forward twenty years,  I looked in my kitchen as I was preparing our Thanksgiving meal and felt lead to set a different table for my guests. I decided we would first  partake of the table of the LORD. There we gathered in family to experience the sacred communal reality of communion. 

Just as my grandmother,mother and mother in-law demonstrated their hospitality at the table, so we came to the table of the Lord to bear witness as one family, of the radical hospitality of Jesus. During this act of worship, our attention was focused on HIM who was present in our midst as we gave Him thanks. As we partook I realized we were renacting an ancient play that will be seen once again in the marriage supper of the Lamb. 

As we celebrate the Christmas season there will be many beautiful tables set but none more loving and life changing then the table of the LORD.


Peace,
Jeannette

DRAWING A LINE IN THE SAND

Nested in the history of Israel we find the story of King Ahab and his wife Jezebel. They were an abominable duo who did more to defile the land than any leaders before them.(1 Kings16:33). Their ungodly reign caused the faithful of God to be burdened with the consequences of their idolatry. Jezebel had the prophets of the Lord killed and was desperately seeking to kill the prophet Elijah. (1 King 18:13). Clearly, Ahab and Jezebel were no friends of God or of His people.

Such was the prosecution of the prophets that King Ahab had men hunt nations and kingdoms in search for Elijah to end his life.  The Bible recounts of a day when the Lord spoke to Elijah telling him to present himself to King Ahab. How would you like that calling? Here he had been protected of the Lord and know he is being asked to meet Ahab face to face. (1 Kings 18)

Can you picture this great confrontation? The arrogant wicked King sees Elijah and has the audacity to say  “O troubler of Israel”. Elijah responds with the boldness of a lion proclaiming Ahab is the trouble- maker because he has forsaken the Word of the Lord and followed the baals.  Elijah tells Ahab, gather the people of Israel and the prophets of baal and asherah to Mount Carmel.

 Elijah stands before the people and in a proverbial sense DRAWS A LINE IN THE SAND saying:

 “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him” (1st Kings 18:21).

 Now God’s people had not completely stopped following Him.  History tells us they tried to follow God and the false gods of the day. Elijah’s words were clear, concise and left no room for interpretation.

The Bible says that after Elijah spoke the people of God answered him not a word. 

Elijah than challenges the false prophets saying let’s make sacrifice, you call on your gods and I will call on the name of the Lord. The one who answers by fire HE IS GOD!

Baal didn’t answer then Elijah prepares the sacrifice and prays this powerful and amazing prayer:

"O LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, O LORD, answer me, so these people will know that you, O LORD, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again."(1 Kings 18:36-37)

As Elijah finishes his prayer the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the sacrifice down to the wood, stones and the dust.  The people of God saw this and fell on their faces saying:

“The LORD, He is God! The Lord He is God!

In an instant they went from faltering between two opinions to proclaiming HE IS GOD, THE LORD HE IS GOD.

 GOD’S drawing a line in the sand is not about hate, intolerance, inequity, injustice, unfairness and single mindedness. It’s about LOVE, HIS LOVE for HIS people, plan and purposes. 

In His mercy, loving-kindness He revealed Himself in power so that Israel’s heart would turn to Him.

Have the voices of today brought you to falter? Has the accuser of the brethren caused you to doubt? Do you have little strength left?

The Lord is calling‑ rebuild the altar of your broken heart and tell the world:

              HE IS GOD, THE LORD HE IS GOD…

Anonymity

Has anyone ever tried to hurt you with words? I am pretty confident in answering this question for anyone who is reading this blog, YES! There are times in life when words are purposeful, calculated and meant to sting.  Such a word was spoken to my husband this week and the word was anonymity.  I was curious to know the complete meaning of the word so I did a quick Google search and this is what I found-

“Anonymity is derived from the greek word ἀνωνυμία, anonymia, meaning "without a name" or "namelessness". In colloquial use, anonymity typically refers to the state of an individual's personal identity, or being publicly unknown.”

My husband is the pastor of a small church in Franklin TN. I have intentionally highlighted the word small to make a point. It appears that pastoring a small church makes you a failure or at least that is what we have heard from many who have crossed our paths and felt the liberty to speak into our life and remind us we are nobodies doing nothing. I say this not because I am bitter or offended I am simply giving you a glimpse into my life.

Anonymity would have stung us a year ago and lingered at our tent door but what was meant for harm actually showed us the Lord has done a beautiful work in our lives.  There is no desire left in us for fame or glory, our goal and hearts cry is to preach the WORD of GOD and see others live by HIM and in HIM. If that means being a tiny light that can light up an entire room of darkness then we are walking in Gods purpose.

Shortly after the anonymity encounter during my early morning time with the Lord He reminded me of a program I watched when I was a little girl. Anyone remember, the show Romper Room.  For the sake of those who don’t it was a pre-school learning show and at the end of the program the teacher would take her magical mirror out and she would say, “I see John,I see Mary, I see, Michael, I see Kathy.” I stared at the TV with expectation waiting to hear my name and then one day I heard it, she saw me, she said I see Jeannette.  This was the Lord’s way of reminding me we may seem hidden from the eyes of man but not the eyes of the LORD.

If you have ever struggled with the thought that you are anonymous let me remind you the Bible is full of unknown and unnamed disciples, prophets, laborers, artisans, helpers, apostles and warriors.  Since the Bible is the lense of reality let’s get real. Here’s a very short list of unknowns:

·      The nameless prophet. (1 Kings 13: 1-3)

·      The 7,000 who did not bow to Baal. (1 Kings 19:18)

·      The men who dealt faithfully with money for the temple repairs.

·      (2 Kings 12:5)

·      Gideon’s 300 (Judges 7)

·      The unnamed 120 disciples (Acts 1:15)

·      The women with the alabaster box (Luke 7: 37)

·      The women who received their dead (Hebrews 11: 35)

·      The other who were stoned, sawn in two and slain by the sword.

(Hebrews 11:37)

The Lord will always have His generals (which I am grateful for) as well as His unknowns but as King Solomon said, the end of the matter is fear God and keep His commandments. These words of wisdom are the only path to having HIS NAME.

As for me and my house Jesus is the only name we desire…………

*******************************************************************

Perspective: The WORD of the Lord in Revelation 3: 11-13

I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one may rob you and deprive you of your crown. He who overcomes (is victorious), I will make him a pillar in the sanctuary of My God; he shall never be put out of it or go out of it, and I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which descends from My God out of heaven, and My own new name. 

EMMAUS

Luke: 24 : 13-32

  

One of my favorite stories in the bible is when the two on the road to Emmaus encounter Jesus along the way without even realizing it.  Suddenly, I see a picture of my husband and I conversing about the recent events on the same road. Similar to the two on the road we experience this host of emotions that go from lack of hope, failure, to encountering a stranger along the way that may be a source of encouragement to finally realizing it was Jesus Himself burning our hearts with HIS TRUTH. 

They like us had such anticipation that Jesus was the one that was going to deliver them. Before the two could understand what was happening and who this stranger was they needed to be prepared.  What was the problem? Why couldn’t they see it was Him? Could it be that they like us  were reading the scriptures from the wrong point of view? Could it be that we are reading the scriptures through the pink lenses of post-modern Christianity and neglect to expound in order to understand where true deliverance comes from?  

When the Bible says Jesus interpreted to them the things about Himself he didn’t do it from a few verses or one or two books. What Jesus did was reveal the entire story from Moses to the Prophets. The bible says He expounded to them ALL the things concerning Himself.

 Could it have been that they initially didn’t recognize their deliverance because it came through suffering? Certainly, God would not deliver them through suffering or would He?

To me the story of Emmaus is an exhortation to pray that His presence invade us whenever we study the WORD. In turn we need to be prepared to receive revelation from Him and only with Him, on the road, will our hearts burn within us.

Can you remember the last time your heart burned within you when the scriptures where revealed to you?  If not I am inviting you come to the table of the Lord open the most wonderful book ever written and believe HE will burn your heart with refreshing truths and set you ABLAZE………

Timeless Words that Challenge US today.

 

I have been studying the book of Luke for the past several weeks.  As I reached the 13^th chapter I suddenly realized its tone takes a turn as Jesus gets closer and closer to Jerusalem.  Luke starts telling his audience about the miracle birth of Christ, the announcement of the Kingdom, instruction on loving our neighbors, grace and forgiveness.  Then suddenly, we start to hear a series of warnings that sound like this:

   Watch out for the leaven of the Pharisees

   Watch out whatever you say in darkness will be heard in the light

   Make sure your dressed and ready with your lamps alight

   Beware there will be divisions amongst you

   Don’t’ be anxious for food, drink and clothing

   Fear the one who than can kill you and cast you into hell. ( in other words recognize the enemy)

   Narrow is the gate

I asked myself, what was Jesus doing as He was approaching Jerusalem? He was preparing his disciples for the journey ahead of them. We all have traveled and know preparation is essential for a successful journey.

Clearly, Jesus was preparing His disciples, as well as us, with a message of grace and love. However, he warned His disciples of what was to come and what would be required.

You can feel Luke’s sense of urgency; it’s as if Luke is repeating Christ’s WORDS of LOYALTY in the face of opposition. Just like Luke we the people of God need to proclaim LOYALTY to the KING and HIS WORD. I am not implying we walk around clothed in legalism. No, absolutely not! However, in a time when words matter we must be balanced in our teaching and understanding of the WORD of God.  There is a battle in our culture and faith to steal, kill and destroy all who desire to live and obey the WORD of GOD.  As true and loyal believers of Jesus Christ the warning is as clear today as it was in the days Luke was sharing the story.

Though we may be in the midst of the battle with trust in God and devotion to His WORD we can remain alert to the schemes of the enemy. Like Luke and the Apostles we the followers of Christ must stand and be loyal to the WORD. The WORD (Logos) is not an abstract concept. The WORD was with GOD and the WORD is GOD.

HE STILL VISITS

King David said, “What is man that you are mindful of Him and the son of man that YOU visit him?

On Friday, December 21, 2012 I had dream. In this dream there were several of my colleges friends. I looked around I saw two particular ladies conversing, as I glanced at them I heard the Lord say, one of them is barren go pray for her. My response was Lord I can’t tell her she is barren that would be devastating. Once I uttered those words I woke up and wondered what does this mean? I went to my facebook list of friends and there she was I had not seen nor spoken to this person in 20 years.

On December 24, 2012 after several days of pondering on the dream I decided I would message her. This is what I said:

Merry Christmas and I pray you have a blessed Christmas!

You may find this email a little strange and I would say to you read it and if you feel like it's a message for you receive it fully and if it's not then disregard it.

 

This past Friday night I had a very short dream. In the dream there were several of our college friends. As I looked around I saw you conversing with *****. When I saw you in the dream the Lord spoke to my heart saying that I should pray for you, and He said she is barren, so I responded Lord you know I can't say that to her. As soon as I said those words I woke up. I went about my day asking the Lord what it meant and if I should even write you. (I did pray for you!)

I know from just living life we can have barrenness in any area work, marriage, soul, spirit, finances, whatever it may be.

I want to encourage you if there is any area of barrenness, the Lord see's all things and He does concern HIMSELF with your affairs even if at times you may not feel nor see it in totality.

My prayer for you is that in this coming year the Lord will rain on any barrenness and that this coming year be a year of great productivity that you prosper spiritually and naturally. That from within your being the promises of God will resound, knowing that He is Faithful and He is the one who makes a way where there seems to be no way.

Isaiah 43:19 Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The Lord Bless, The Lord  keep you and the Lord Shine His countenance upon you, and the LORD grant  you peace.

Merry Christmas,
Jeannette

On December 31, 2012 eight days later I received an email reminding me HE STILL VISITS.

Dear Jeannette –

I haven’t written you since I could not find the words to write. In this moment that I am writing you I saw a group of doves which I understand are a sign of peace and love. God knew how much I needed a sign that He has heard my prayers and that I am of value to Him.  For this reason I was paralyzed when I received your email.

This year in particular has been extremely difficult with many trails.

On Friday night the 21st I drifted to sleep, totally exhausted, after asking God to send me encouragement. I felt devoid of hope, will, spiritual strength and much more. Barren, as you said. So, I requested a sign – a message – from Him. I told Him I was afraid that for a while now I’d been missing or misunderstanding His messages and His direction for my life. I needed to hear from Him in a peculiar way. I begged Him to speak to me, to let His message be known in a way I would know it could only come from Him.

Then, I received your message on Christmas Eve. What a great gift, Jeannette! God answered me through you. I couldn’t think of a more peculiar way, at this time, to receive His message.

Your words touched my heart deeply. It felt as if you were God’s angel delivering his specific message to me. I felt that I mattered to Him – that he hasn’t forgotten about me.

Thank you for listening to God’s voice and following His direction. It made a difference in my Christmas as I face a new year filled with unknowns and challenges.

Of particular comfort was the bible passage you included. I have read Isaiah 43:19 over and over again since I received your message. It comforts me every time.

Thank you, Jeannette. God bless you and the work your family does for the Lord.

****************************************************************

Amazing, the same night she prays is the same night I receive the dream.  He is the LIVING GOD, who NEVER FORGETS AND STILL VISITS HIS PEOPLE.

Conflict, Humility and Peace in the Wilderness

Just like Israel rest assured when in the wilderness you will encounter conflict and hostility.  This is the time to remember we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against powers and principalities and the rulers of darkness of this age (Ephesians 6: 12).  When we encounter such hostilities these battles are only to be fought in obedience to God.   As I have mentioned in previous posts this wilderness experience is intimate and extremely personal and those looking from the outside will feel compelled to assess your situation.   

The journey truly has it’s peaks of fragility of mind therefore I learned to say to myself, “I can’t trust people since they don’t know what is in my heart, I can’t trust myself since I don’t know what’s in my heart, but I can trust the LORD and HIS WORD since HE alone knows what is in my heart.

Looking back to the beginning of my wanderings I have had many good intentioned people whom I love play the role of Job’s friends. Once you have had several close encounters with a “Job’s friend” your ears and heart learn to recognize them, it sounds like this:

Job 33:1-7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

 Be that as it may, Job (Jeannette) I beg of you to hear what I have to say and give heed to all my words.

Behold, here I am with open mouth; here is my tongue talking.

My words shall express the uprightness of my heart, and my lips shall speak what they know with utter sincerity.

 [It is] the Spirit of God that made me [which has stirred me up], and the breath of the Almighty that gives me life [which inspires me].

 Answer me now, if you can; set your words in order before me; take your stand.

Behold, I am toward God and before Him even as you are; I also am formed out of the clay [though I speak with abnormal wisdom because of a divine illumination].

⁷ See my terror [for I am only a fellow mortal, not God]; I shall not make you afraid, neither shall my pressure be heavy upon you.

Did you notice how many I’s, my’s and me’s are in these verses? This is the first warning you are having an encounter with a Job’s friend.

By no means, am I implying I am perfect or that during this whole experience I reacted to every conflict in the most appropriate fashion. I am simply trying to share some of the lessons I learned during this time of testing.

 What I want to emphasize is that we must allow the Holy Spirit to do His work. Why is it that we find ourselves compelled to play the role of Holy Spirit?  Believe me, from someone who has gone through a God administered wilderness HE is more than capable of doing the job. 

Dr. RT Kendall wrote in his book Total Forgiveness when you speak to another person ask yourself if what you have to say will meet their need.

Necessary- Is it necessary to say this?

Encourage- Will this encourage?

Edify- Will it make them stronger?

Dignify-Will it dignify that person?

 

Even if what we have to say is true, it does not necessarily mean we have to say it.  We may not realize what we intend for healing may cause harm.

When conflict comes knocking at the door of our hearts we can either decide to take on the banner of offense or walk in forgiveness.  Forgiveness is an act of the will and it does not come easy but offenses carry their own punishments.  

  

We don’t realize how much self reigns in our hearts until these times of testing. It all goes back to the fact that the wilderness experience is God’s process to humble us so that we may know what is in our hearts.  As we humble ourselves before the Lord peace appears in the wilderness like an oasis in the desert.  

PS: The external circumstances may not change but these testings are a matter of the heart, so don’t be discouraged and weary of soul.

TRUSTING IN THE TESTING

 

In the beginning stages of the wilderness experience we may not even be aware that we have been lead into the desert. Just like Israel God calls us out of captivity and all of a sudden what should be a quick journey to the promise land turns into a detour that tests every fiber of our being.

The book of Deuteronomy tells us that the Lord led His people into the wilderness to humble and test them that they would know what was in their hearts and whether or not they would keep His commandments. (Duet 8:2).

Lesson I- Trusting in the Testing

Frankly, easier said than done. It’s not that I had not trusted Him before it’s just this time it was different, very different.   As believers we really think we trust the Lord but when the rubber meets the road does our heart proclaim it. Before you say, my heart does………… let me remind you what Proverbs 21:2 says “every way of the a man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord pondereth the hearts.

 Many times during this process I pulled a Sarah making plans to get myself to the promise land quicker than God’s desired timetable. Plan after plan there was no relief of soul. You see, the wilderness experience is administered by GOD and He alone can say IT’S OVER.   In the meantime you are there and there is no escape. You never know what is next but just remember if His own Son was lead into the wilderness HE must think there is something very GOOD to get out of it.

The Lord will start to reveal your heart and you will be very surprised at what comes forth.  Deception has one way of entering into our life and it’s through PRIDE. The pride of life is truly our desire to be independent from God. Isn’t that how Satan tempted Jesus in the wilderness? Jesus refused to show His power independent of the Father.

I encourage you if you are in the midst of the wilderness that you sing with the Psalmist David;

Psalm 51 6-8

Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart.

Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean [ceremonially]; wash me, and I shall [in reality] be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness and be satisfied; let the bones  which You have broken rejoice

 
Keep trusting for you are HIS workmanship!

The Wilderness Experience

What do Moses, Joseph, Jacob, Elijah, David, Abraham, the people of Israel, John the Baptist, Mary, Hannah and Jesus have in common?

Oh yes, you are right!!!! The dreaded but life changing and God orchestrated……….. WILDERNESS EXPERIENCE.

In July of 2006 I received a word from the Lord announcing the beginning of my Wilderness experience.   It sounding something like this, “ Jeannette, I see you singing and only dust is coming out of your mouth”. Immediately, I said to myself Lord, I know that but did You have to announce it to the entire room. Then it only got worse as I was told it’s not because you are doing something wrong, it’s because you are doing something right. The Lord is drilling in you because rivers of living water will flow out of you. The Lord said I need to dig deep (Ouch) and let you go through some things and even in those things you will hit some things in your life that are dry. 

My mind was racing in an attempt to understand this all. I remember being shocked that it was “because I am doing something right.” 

Can you get a sense for how encouraged I was? (sarcasm)

But the Lord in His loving way did send some encouragement saying, “I have heard every cry and prayer and you have said Lord you have been so silent. But I Lord have been silent for a reason I am drilling and digging so that the rivers of living water may flow forth.”

Here it is the end of 2012 and I am finally able to look back and understand what it  means to journey into the WILDERNESS.

The wilderness is  a very intimate and personal place with few times of refreshing. The best way to describe it is as if there are realms of the wilderness experience.  As I started the journey there were times of wonderful intercession and faith knowing the Lord was always with me regardless of how I felt. Then came the climax of this experience where my companion day and night was darkness and despair. At which time I combed through the Psalms looking for relief and joining King David in his song, “Do not cast me away from your presence, And do not take your Holy Spirit from me.” I have read the Psalms my entire adult life and it was not until now could I truly understand these words.

Now that the darkness has passed and the light of Christ has shine forth in my mind, soul and spirit I can comprehend at least for this intended season the workmanship of the Lord.

Have my natural circumstances changed? No, in fact for those looking from the outside it may seem even drier then ever. Thank God, He does not look at the outer appearance but He looks at the heart.

The Hebrew word for wilderness is midvar, the root word is davar which means the arrangement of things to create order. We are taken into the WILDERNESS so that the Lord can perfectly arrange our lives to fit into His Kingdom purposes.

Stay tuned for lessons learned in the Realms of the Wilderness.

MAGNIFICAT

Mary’s Song of Praise

“My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.
    For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
for he who is mighty has done great things for me,
   and holy is his name.
And his mercy is for those who fear him
   from generation to generation. He has shown strength with his arm;
   he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

he has brought down the mighty from their thrones
    and exalted those of humble estate;
he has filled the hungry with good things,
    and the rich he has sent away empty.
He has helped his servant Israel,
    in remembrance of his mercy,
as he spoke to our fathers,
    to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her home.

What would make us celebrate without any concern or regard for what others would say? Maybe if all our financial worries were resolved for the rest of our life? You landed that job you always desired? Perhaps, if every one of your hearts desires came to pass. 

When the Lord deposits a dream in our lives it is always a matter of love and worthy of celebration. He cares for us by bringing us into HIS life saving plan. Many of us like Mary have dreams birthed in our spirits and we start the race with much celebration and great joy. However, just like Mary we will have to learn many other things.   She was told a sword will pierce her heart, she would lose her son for three days when he was twelve, she would be in complete despair a another three days in Jerusalem. The faithful God she was celebrating seems to have a set her up or at least it feels that way to many of us at times.

Let us not forget the moment of victorious Resurrection is never too far away.

Mary had a dream, one day Israel’s God would do what he said and all nations would be blessed through Abraham.  We have dreams, and for those to come to pass we walk knowing that God in and through Jesus has won over the forces of evil. When we search the scriptures we discover the message of hope, mercy, fulfillment and victory.

Mary’s song  is the song of VICTORY and CELEBRATION. Let us celebrate in whatever state we find ourselves to be that God has taken the initiative to call us into HIS plan and this the ultimate reason to celebrate. 

MARY'S MAGNIFICAT