Category: photo

The Fight
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Isaiah 59:16
“He saw that there was no man–He was amazed that there was no one to intercede; so His own arm brought salvation.”

THE FIGHT
You Were The Reason Why

Rolling up His sleeves
You know those are fighting terms
He had taken all He would
Once and for all the lesson would be learned

I turned away when He made a fist
I just couldn’t bear to look
Stretching out His Arm I saw
It was the nails He took

What kind of Warrior was He
I thought He would do it right
Fisticuffs you know
Isn’t that how real men fight

His arm laid bare to show
That He had made His plan
Coming as our Redeemer
Fully God and fully man

Oh the fight was won I’d say
The day He laid down His life
Have you stopped and considered
It was Jesus Who paid the price

But wait there’s more I must tell
About a borrowed tomb
The devil thought he had won
Shocked the people felt doom and gloom

But the fight had only just begun
Because early on Sunday morn
Jesus Rose Up out of that grave
Into the gift of Salvation we have torn

The gift God delivered on Christmas
Well it is opened at the Cross
Because Jesus showed that ol devil
Proving to him Exactly Who is BOSS

That fight I couldn’t bear to watch
It was bloody and oh so brutal
He was fighting for you and me
Jesus won it all, the whole kit and caboodle

I just thought you’d like to know
The fight has already been won
When A Real Man laid bare His Arm
Salvation came by way of crucifixion of His Son

The Cross The nails the mocking
The abject posture of quitting
It was all part of Gods perfect plan
Into His tapestry He was knitting

His perfect plan stitch by stitch
Designed and perfectly orchestrated
Woven Into the pages Of Christianity
God’s Man won! Now God’s people are liberated

He fought and secured at Calvary
His Resurrection Victory has no end
Because as long as you have breath
He’ll fight for you and defend

Call on His Name while He May be found
Do not let another day slip by
Because that fight that Jesus won
You, yes you were the reason why

Copyright © 2019 laurette laster all rights reserved

Isaiah 52:10 KJV
The LORD hath made bare his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our God.
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Isaiah 53:1 MSG
“Who believes what we’ve heard and seen? Who would have thought GOD ’s saving power would look like this?”

CEV
“Has anyone believed us or seen the mighty power of the Lord in action?”
Isaiah 53:1 CEV

NKJV
“Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?”
Isaiah 53:1 NKJV
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Isaiah 59:16
He saw that there was no man–He was amazed that there was no one to intercede; so His own arm brought salvation, and His own righteousness sustained Him.

“Their strength and weapons were not what won the land and gave them victory! You loved them and fought with your powerful arm and your shining glory.

But you saved us from our hateful enemies, and you put them to shame.”
(Psalms 44:3, 7 CEV)

In February 2019, during prayer, I saw in my spirit the image of a man preparing to fight. I was a little girl in the early 60’s and fist fights were still around and pretty common. Fair old fashioned fist fights; where quarrels became heated, threats were mouthed, and yep you know. Tempers flared, the shirts came off and everyone knew what was about to transpire. A crowd would gather around, cheering or jeering depending on their choice in the fight.
Shirts would be removed. Often the shirts were ripped off, thrown down to the ground as anger boiled over letting others know this was serious. When a man began rolling up the sleeves of his shirt, it was a sign also, a very distinct sign. Everyone knew the meaning of this sign. This act meant one thing, the fight was on. It was evident the disagreement had reached a point of no return; it had to be settled once and for all. There had to be a winner.
Witnessing men, and yes sometime women fight, was NOT something I enjoyed. Actually I cringed, hating to see men fist fight. It was all too common.

While walking with Isaiah and listening to him describe the Arm of The Lord, and how our Lord worked, His clothes torn off, revealing His back, brought forth, the crucifixion of the Cross, fighting, by laying down His sinless life in order to pay for our sins, that we may obtain Salvation through His fight, this vision birthed this poem.
Our God is a fighter. Our God is a warring God! He is our Defender.

Reading Isaiah 52:10 gave me the visual of a fight. This verse took me back to a time, helping me understand something I didn’t, and couldn’t understand then. Then I saw our Savior, Messiah, Jesus bare His Arm, or roll up His Sleeves, and yes the fight was on. Jesus settled the issue, once and for all.
He would not only fight for us, He secured our salvation. Oh The fight of Eternity. This was The Fight that was fought, The Fight for our eternal souls.

Yes… still The Greatest Fight of All Time!

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thanks for listening with me Laurette

 

Recently the Lord quickened to me; “don’t forget about those bulbs.”

Soothes as it Severs

 

Soothes as it severs

Lances deep in love

Comforts as it cuts

Confronts without a shove

Divides to cause unity

Pierces while it pursues

Knows my every thought

Yet never attempts to argue

 

Openly brings to light

Wrongs and wickedness

Desires only honesty

Never vague or impetuous

 

What soothes as it severs

Lancing hearts He loves

Divides and conquers

While tender like a dove

 

Cuts us to the core

Soul opened wide

Revealing thoughts and intents

Hiding deep inside

What scans our very being

Discerns never cheating

Cauterizes as it cuts

Never leaves us bleeding

 

Maybe raw and bruised

Transformed and healed

Brought face to face with God

Honestly revealed

 

Alive and powerful

Sharp and persistent

The Word of God

Perfect and Efficient

 

© laurette laster Feb. 12 2020

 

“God’s word is alive and powerful! It is sharper than any double-edged sword. His word can cut through our spirits and souls and through our joints and marrow, until it discovers the desires and thoughts of our hearts. Nothing is hidden from God! He sees through everything, and we will have to tell him the truth.” (Hebrews 4:12-13 CEV)

 

 

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15)

 

 

Sharper than a double edged sword

Piercing between thought and intent

It divides and discerns

Helping us as we learn

Recently the Lord quickened to me; “don’t forget about those bulbs.”

I had forgotten. I had completely forgotten that last fall I dug up my elephant ear bulbs, storing them away for winter.

They will come back if left in the ground, but last year it was late June before the ground was warm enough, getting enough sun for the elephant ears to break ground.

I had never dug up the bulbs before so I had to do some studying.

The instructions said to cut them back to the ground. Dig up the bulbs. Place the bulbs in a plastic sack and store under a tarp or other covering out of the elements.

I did just as the instructions said. I placed the bulbs in a large empty pot, in the back of  my garden shed. I set a half empty bag of mulch (still in the bag) over the two plastic bags I placed the bulbs in. I said a quick prayer and left them there. Had I done it correctly? Would they live? I was concerned.

And yes I forgot about them. I guess maybe I wasn’t as concerned about them as I thought. Or better yet maybe there was a lesson waiting for now. A word for now, for  this very time, perhaps it is a lesson and a word in due season.

Early this March I was prompted by The Lord; “don’t forget about your bulbs.”. I said oh I have forgotten about them, then I made myself a note.

A couple of weeks ago on a beautiful, sunny, spring like day I went to the garden shed to retrieve the bulbs.

I didn’t have any idea what to expect. I wasn’t certain they survived. I should’ve known God had a message waiting for me, otherwise why would He have reminded me? He doesn’t talk about the dead, He is the God of the living.

Much to my amazement the bulbs not only survived, they were thriving.

They were alive and more. These bulbs were Thriving and already growing. One already had grown a leaf as you can see in the picture. No water, no light, no love, but stored away until the time of planting. We might say, like being quarantined. Or maybe like many of us, for the next wave of warmth to wash over us, until we are removed from the harsh realities of winter and COVID19, in safe keeping until planting time. But until then I know what God has placed in me, will live, and it will bloom. I also know, that what God has placed in you, will live and it will grow!

“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But will accomplish what I please.” (Isaiah 55:11 NKJV)

It will not only survive, it is THRIVING now!

And to my amazement the wandering Jew, one I had placed in the shed, with no protection is also alive. I brought them out and planted the elephant ears, and watered the Jew, and fertilized the soil, and put it in the sun. You guessed it, this Jew has taken off also. My Jew is growing and the color has returned and life is sure. Reaching for the sun…

But one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 NKJV) and it is reaching upward to the call…

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

You must not eat any yeast with it. Instead, for seven days eat bread without yeast—the bread of affliction—because you left the land of Egypt in haste. Remember the day you went out of the land of Egypt for the rest of your lives.

(Deuteronomy 16:3 ISV)

Operation Zero Chametz

Before Passover (Pesach) yeast or leaven (Chametz) must be removed from every crack and crevice. The homes of observant Jewish brothers and sisters are thoroughly examined, beginning weeks before Passover and rid of all Chametz. Today we know that leaven is likened to sin, read Galatians 5:7-9. Before the children of Israel were to prepare and eat the Passover Meal (Lamb), the children of Israel were instructed to apply the blood, from the lamb, on the door post of their homes and stay in the house until the death angel passed over.

 

Proverbs 20:27 KJV

The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

Time to Clean this House!

 

Time to clean this house

Out with all the yeast

Leaven is the sin of man

That determines to the least

 

 

Show ourselves prepared

By examining every inch

Every corner and the cracks

Light of a candle, reveals even a pinch

 

We cannot be negligent

Nor overlook a crumb

Satan hopes we’re lackadaisical

Presuming we are dumb

 

We will take a feather

And dust this entire place

Whisk every crumb into a bag

Outside to burn leave no trace

 

For we are not surprised

By Pharaoh’s ploys and tactics

God said no time for yeast,

Leaving in haste, departure was climactic

 

We have witnessed every plague,

Now we know without a doubt

God is not slow nor is He slack

Making known His power while bringing us out

 

No longer slaves veiled or separated

Led out by the power of God

Taking us out of Egypt

Eye witness to His power, we’ve been awed

 

 

No moaning or complaining

May come across our lips

We do not want to be the ones

Left to die because we quipped

 

Give no provision to grumbling

Only believe and obey

He is going to takes us out

But why the longest way

 

Cleansing us from Egypt’s ways

Teaching us how to live as free

We are citizens of a different land

By faith created to have liberty

 

He will safely bring us out

With His righteous right arm

Into the land He promised

Safe from all of life’s harm

Poem written by laurette laster © 2018 March

 

Genesis, chapter 12

God makes covenant with Abraham. Fast forward to Exodus 12, we see God, who remembering His people, prepares to bring them out of Egyptian bondage.

Hebrews chapter 12 recalls the events at the Mountain of Sinai and how Moses quaked.

And so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, “I am exceedingly afraid and trembling.” (Hebrews 12:21 NKJV)

The children of Israel would be leaving in haste. God had given strict instructions, eat the meal standing up, their sandals latched, and belts tied. And with the blood applied to the door posts.

Genesis 12:11

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD’S Passover. (KJV)

When you eat the meal, be dressed and ready to travel. Have your sandals on, carry your walking stick in your hand, and eat quickly. This is the Passover Festival in honor of me, your LORD. (CEV)

“On that night I will pass through the land of Egypt and strike down every firstborn male, both man and beast, and I will execute judgment against all the gods of Egypt. I am the LORD. The blood on the houses where you are staying will distinguish them; when I see the blood, I will pass over you. No plague will fall on you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.” (Exodus 12:12-13 Berean Study Bible)

Leaving in haste meant there was no time for the bread to rise, or be leavened, with Chametz. Their loins girded meant “not be exposed” or caught off guard. (God gives strict instructions about men having on undergarments going up to the temple. There is a whole other teaching in this. Remember Adam said to God, “we hid because we were naked and ashamed.” God ask Adam a question, “who told you, you were naked?”) This is for a later date.

We understand that a little leaven, leavens the whole lump. Describing a little sin corrupts the entire body (the ecclesia), bringing spiritual death, resulting in natural death also. Today, reading about removing the leaven, I learned something new. Each year it seems that something is highlighted, that pertains to a ‘now’ situation, one happening in our world. And some say the bible is outdated, or simply a history book. Not so! God isn’t trying to surprise us, and jump out, saying gotcha. He corrects, equips and teaches us.

Observant Jews are not required to remove baking powder or soda from their homes, prior to Passover. Baking powder and soda are considered leavening agents, but leaven by chemical reaction, not by biological fermentation. Can we say COVID 19? Hasn’t the virus become biological? It was a virus known to live in and infect animals. Somehow the virus mutated, transmitting animal to person, immediately mutated again, spreading person to person.

Recently I had a VERY strong impression, from The Lord, concerning the COVID scare. I felt impressed the reason we don’t fear and panic, with sin living next door, is because we do not understand how contagious, and deadly, sin actually is. Especially when ignored by the people of God. God has made a covenant with us, through salvation, by the blood of Christ. The people fear and panic COVID 19, knowing it is highly contagious, having mutated becoming transmittable person to person. Sin is in our carnal DNA or animalistic nature, not in our born again glorious spiritual DNA.

Are we receiving a warning? Is there a lesson to learn in the midst of this pandemic? Does God want us to realize we cannot sit with sin, in our midst (church and ecclesia), while pretending there are not consequences forthcoming, to any and all playing with sin. Or do we have a mask over our mouths, refusing to speak of the dangers of sin. Are we serving donuts and sickly sweet words, while poisoning our body? God loves and corrects, He warns and punishes, He instructs and holds accountable. This is the double edged sword Hebrews 4:12 speaks of.

Why do we seem to push the limits? Why do we struggle with understanding this? Why? Because like the children of Israel we are not fully understanding: God is not making a suggestion, He is commanding us. His commandments are not burdensome, but for our good. That we may live long and prosper, in the land where with He is sending us. Like He told the children of Israel, if you keep My commandments, I will be Your God and you will be my people, and I will take sickness out of the midst of you. There are many covenantal promises made to the people of God. As Gentiles, we are grafted in. We are the seed of Abraham, through Christ, and we have access to every promise and blessing of the Covenant, God, made with the children of Israel. Jews are natural born citizens; we are the spiritual born citizens of heaven, through faith in the Eternal Passover Lamb, who is Jesus Christ our Lord. But like devout Jews we have our side of the covenant that we are to keep. It isn’t works we keep our side because we are commanded to love God with our whole heart.

When ask which was the greatest commandment Jesus quoted from Deuteronomy “Hear O Israel, The Lord our God, The Lord is one. And you shall love The Lord your God with all your heart (kardia), all your soul (kardai), with all your mind (kardia), and all you strength (kardia).” Each of the four describes kardia. This is all that is within us. This description is describing a sacrificial love.This is loving God enough to say no to self and thus get the Chametz out, get the sin out of our house. Jesus said if you love Me you will keep my commandments.

If we truly love, can the church sit and hold hands with sin, make out in the back, in the booth, in the dark, and not expect to rouse Gods anger? Can we remain idle while we pretend there are no consequences? I’d like to offer a suggestion here. Read Ezekiel 33:7-9 before you answer the question.

I am not attempting to put us back under the law because the covenant was prior to the law. I am saying a little leaven, hidden away to take out later, in the back, in the booth, in the corner, thinking God won’t see is extremely dangerous. This is how the world acts not the church. Oh I thank God who is rich in [hesed] a forged and binding mercy, that in  Jesus Christ we may take refuge in His perfect atoning work, and receive grace and mercy, at the Throne of His mercy [hesed] seat!

As a watchman, I feel to warn you. It is time to clean the house. I am saying that God has kept His oath, He will not break His [hesed] covenant. Have we kept our part to enact this agreement? God’s covenant is unchangeable. Our right to access the covenant and insure we partake in the blessing, hinges on obedience and willingness. Jeremiah 1:19 tells us, If we be willing and obedient we will eat the good of the land. Willingness is a (kardia) internal, with our whole being decision. It isn’t easy it is essential.

If judgment starts in the house of God, is it time to clean house? How do we clean our house? Repentance is the key.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

We look away from the natural realm and we fasten our gaze onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection. (Hebrews 12:2 The Passion Translation)

Bundle of Two

 

A bundle of flowers

Abiding in the vine

Understanding and rehearsing

Prophetic times

As long as the earth remains

Seed time with assurance of harvest

We have this precious hope

Keep our sights fixed on The Artist

 

© laurette laster 2020 March

 

These blossoms seem fixed on something and to be standing at attention. Looking out the window, at the beautiful Jasmine blooms, something caught my eye. It seemed to me they have been summoned to hear, now positioned, intent on not missing a thing. With calm assurance they reach toward the sun. I’m reminded of the power of agreement in scripture. Jesus instructs, if any two of you agree…

“Again, I give you an eternal truth: If two of you agree to ask God for something in a symphony of prayer, my heavenly Father will do it for you. For wherever two or three come together in honor of my name, I am right there with them!” ( Matthew 18:19-20 TPT)

My prayer is that we continue in faith and believe, believe in the power of prayer with calm assurance, with our faith fixed on God, The One who hears. Jesus is perfecting in us the God kind of faith. What a reason to bloom and pay attention.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

“Fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.” (Philippians 4:8 TPT)

LOOK UP!

Not sure how to feel

Covid 19 scare hovering

Making us rearrange

Causing panic and shoving

 

Relax its okay

He said ‘Be Still’

Think on these things

If only we will

 

Whatever is lovely

Pure and kind

Honesty and truth

Forthright of mind

 

Know that He is God

And still on His Throne

His promises prevail

To His very own

 

It’s time to enlarge

Grow the family

So go tell them all

Jesus offers amnesty

 

Safe and secure

A peaceful location

You don’t have to risk

Fear and isolation

 

 

Yes there is increase

A baby boom is near

But this one spiritual

So pray without fear

 

Our heart His sanctuary

Holy praises pour forth

Look to the face of God

Our help is in the North

 

© laurette laster 2020

When writing this poem I have to admit it made me question (even more) my knowledge of the sides of the North. I’ve heard heaven is to the North. Reading scriptures and commentaries I’ve found the most interesting facts, but what I love the most is “UP”. North is always, always, always up. (Psalm 121 paraphrased) King David says I look UP to the hills or the mountains from whence cometh my help. As believers we know our help comes from The Lord. I’ve learned that what we cannot explain simply, we do not understand fully. I get it. Pretty simple huh? LOOK UP!

In light of the COVID 19 virus I’ve heard the “Even so come quickly Lord Jesus,” scripture quoted many times.

Are we ready? Have you shared the good news of the gospel with your loved ones and those you have a relationship with? Do you profess Jesus as Lord of your life? Or like The Lord explains in the book of Ezekiel do we have blood on our hands? I know that I am concerned for many who could possibly be left behind. You better believe this concerns me.

I believe many are not ready, and we haven’t told them. Not because we were not or are not willing, but because their hearts were not ready to receive the word of God. I believe hearts are being made earnest and praying, some maybe for the first time. We must be ready to give an account for the hope we have. Our hope is Christ.

I felt a strong prompting yesterday from The Lord. He sternly and strongly impressed to me, “I will bring this country together one way or another. I will have a people dependent upon Me. I will cause hardened hearts to bend. I will have a people who pray and humble themselves. I will show Myself strong and mighty on behalf of those whose hearts are turned to Me.” Like in Egypt, send famine, judge false gods. The god of career, jobs, portfolio’s, and savings accounts, 401K’s etc. In view of the COVID crisis, and in the eyes of eternity, what value do they truly have?

I do not believe this virus is judgment. I believe sin gives Satan access, leaving those outside of covenant unprotected. If you are in Christ, your judgment was rendered, paid in full at the Cross. We have His blood as our perfect atoning work. The precious blood of Jesus, taken into heaven and placed on the mercy seat. Those outside of the covenant suffer, yet there is mercy for all. Are we ready to snatch them from the fire as Jude warns?

“Rescue any who need to be saved, as you would rescue someone from a fire. Then with fear in your own hearts, have mercy on everyone who needs it. But hate even the clothes of those who have been made dirty by their filthy deeds.” (Jude 1:23 CEV)

 

Jesus said when these things begin to take place, stand UP and lift UP your heads because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28 NIV)

“The Spirit is God’s guarantee that He will give us the inheritance He has promised and the He has purchased us to be His own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify Him.” (Ephesians 1:14 NLT)

“Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory.” Ephesians 1:14 KJV)

Oh church what good news. It is indeed our finest hour. It is time to share the goodness of God with desperate fearful hearts. Stand up tall, figuratively to look up and be elated to rise. Lift up; basically hold your shoulders back because your ransom has been paid in full. Complete deliverance.

A scared world needs a fearless church.

Isa 14:13

“For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:

Isa 14:14 I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”

God says in Psalm 75:2-7, “when I shall receive the congregation I will judge uprightly…For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge.”

So reading these scriptures, they imply God’s throne, where He receives the congregation and judges uprightly, is in the north. It is not in the east, nor in the west, nor in the south. So it must be in the north. North is always UP-in the same direction from every Point on earth. Hallelujah!

So north is always UP! LOOK UP! Never give up. We’ve only just begun.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

 

 

 

Spring, the gentle season set by appointment, by God. A season that ushers in fresh fragrance, newness, a reminder of the promise of New Life through Christ. The fruit of His love. Spring is a gentle fragrant reminder of His Eternal Covenant. Passover, Pesach, the Blood of Christ on the door posts of our hearts. What a precious reminder of what is lasting, eternity with The Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, forever.  Spring officially begins tonight at 10:50.

Hello Spring-God’s Panoramic Calendar

Velvet buds and blossoms
Aromatic sweet fragrant smells
Soft pedals blowing about
Springtime’s show and tell

Sweet smelling sights
Season of new birth
Welcome sweet springtime
What saith ye the earth

Worship only The Creator
Never the created
We are only a picture of
How to be liberated

The flowers do bloom
And life is all around
All springing forth
Rising Up out of the ground

What a picture
What a story
Spring is ‘The Telling’
Jesus Resurrection glory

Now do you get it
Can you see
Springtime comes
To remind you and me

He did rise
From deaths cold grave
Welcome springtime
No longer a slave

Death could not hold Him
The grave had no power
Springtime is earths celebration
Of His finest hour

So hello springtime
Tell us the story again
Jesus did arise
Yes it’s all a picture of Him

He left panoramic signs
So we would never forget
Take this lesson to heart
So you will never ever regret

The signs yes this season
Hello springtime glory
Thank you oh thank you
For Retelling The Story

Copyright © April 2019 laurette laster all rights reserved

‘The LORD your God who goes before you will Himself fight on your behalf, just as He did for you in Egypt before your eyes,” (Deuteronomy 1:30 NASB)

 

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

“I have come as you have asked to draw you to my heart and lead you out. For now is the time, my beautiful one. The season has changed, the bondage of your barren winter has ended… the season of hiding is over and gone.” (Song of Songs 2:10-11 TPT)

Look closely at these pictures. Do you see the difference?

They each look the same, yet one group of blossoms is from a previous season and the others from today. Because things seems familiar, maybe they are not. One season has passed and another is bursting forth. What is gone is gone, but life emerges season after season.

As I was out taking these photos, I had an illumination I would like to share. I was encouraged and hope you will be too. I felt a sudden life giving jolt in my spirit as I heard in my heart, “because it looks familiar it isn’t!”

These blooms and blossoms have never been here before. They look the same as previous seasons but they are not. Oh… what excitement as I stood close enough to see the details. If I had stayed at a distance I would have missed the delicate intricate details springing forth from the hard trunk of this tree. And worse I would have missed a God encounter and His word to me. I came in the house saying out loud, “I have a word! I have a word!” Do not stay at a distance. Jesus calls us to come near and to follow Him.

I perceived what The Lord was saying. In the wake of many setbacks, false starts, or hope deferred we become discouraged, unable or unwilling, afraid to hope again. We have a sense of familiarity believing it will be the same so why bother. We may think I know that, or I’ve seen that, or maybe the saying, “new season same ‘blooms’.” This simply isn’t true. This is new life. These blossoms and blooms have never seen His sunlight until now. The life is in this tree is bringing forth newness. Season after season; are any two exactly the same? No. Hope does not disappoint.

“What incredible joy bursts forth within us as we keep on celebrating our hope of experiencing God’s glory!” “And this hope is not a disappointing fantasy.”(Roman 5:2-5 TPT)

I’ve never lived this day before. I haven’t seen or experienced spring 2020 before. I find I am more excited about the blossoms today. The realization that winter has passed, and new life is emerging is captivating and invigorating, inviting me outside, up close and personal.

My prayer is that we may pause and look intently into the heart of our Savior. May we not miss one intricate detail. May we have new hope to offer when we speak to those our Lord is drawing to Him. At each encounter we can speak life.

Excerpt from poem-In the Wintertime by the Tree

Can we meet again
Another time
You’ll understand then
maybe you won’t be so blind

Just one more thing
If you can spare
Tell me about
This tree we share

You’ve seen it before
And you’ll see it again
It’s a lesson in hope
And there is no end

To all that The Lord
Will do and say,
If you’ll be patient
And walk in His ways

For just at the right time
When you least expect it
You will see new blooms
This tree is expectant

See you in March
And bring your pen
We have so much to learn
My sweet, sweet friend

Glad you’re back
What do you see

The hope and the promise;
there is life in this tree!

The blooms, the fragrance
bursting with life
I do think you’re right
About my plight

I’m beginning to see
And I do have hope
I won’t give up
Not only no, but nope

I’ll speak the promises
And believe His word
And know He’ll answer
Because He heard

Thanks for the lesson
And thanks for caring
This tree taught me a lot
These truths I’ll be sharing

With any who’ll listen
and come sit with me
“In the wintertime
by the tree.”

Poem written by laurette laster © 2018 Jan

 

“Yet I am confident I will see the LORD’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living. Wait patiently for the LORD. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the LORD.”  (Psalm 27: 13-14 NLT)

 

 

 

Yes these blossoms are new, they are bursting forth, this is a new decade, this is new life, and where there is life there is hope! My prayer is that we stop today and realize no matter the circumstances new life is coming forth, if we can believe.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette

“I long to drink of You, O God, drinking deeply from the streams of pleasure flowing from Your presence. So I say to my soul, “Don’t be discouraged. Don’t be disturbed. For I know my God will breakthrough for me.” (Psalm 42:1,11 TPT)

Devotion

Intertwined feelings

Dry untapped emotions

Quickly I am summoned

Captured by pure devotion

 

We may be stressed

Somewhat miffed

In the end what matters

Keep that upper lip stiff

 

A season of difficulty

Fear and panic spreading

We are told to keep the faith

We are not dreading

 

Drink from His cup

From the wells of His salvation

Pull away a little longer

Fast and sanctification

 

Drink deep from the wells

From whence salvation comes

Jesus Christ extends His scepter

Into His open arms we run

 

© laurette laster Purim 2020

 

We are not of those who turn back. In the midst of chaos and fear, offer hope. Bring light into darkness. Speak peace during the storm, comfort in times of stress.

Jesus called us the salt of the earth. Salt causes thirst. My prayer is that we walk in such a way others thirst for Him.

When they ask how you are so calm, take their hand and pray, saying only in His Name.

When they admit they’re fearful, take their hand and pray.

When they confess fear of the future speak His Name…

When they don’t know what to do, just say Jesus!

 

“Hathach came back and told Esther everything Mordecai had said. Esther talked it over with Hathach and then sent him back to Mordecai with this message: “Everyone who works for the king here, and even the people out in the provinces, knows that there is a single fate for every man or woman who approaches the king without being invited: death. The one exception is if the king extends his gold scepter; then he or she may live. And it’s been thirty days now since I’ve been invited to come to the king.”

 

Mordecai sent her this message: “Don’t think that just because you live in the king’s house you’re the one Jew who will get out of this alive. If you persist in staying silent at a time like this, help and deliverance will arrive for the Jews from someplace else; but you and your family will be wiped out. Who knows? Maybe you were made queen for just such a time as this.” (Esther 4:9-14 MSG)

 

Purim Blessings,

Resurrection power is breaking forth all around us. Drink deeply, stay a little longer, look more intently, don’t miss the intricate details of life emerging and breaking forth all around us.  We serve a Risen Savior and the earth is rehearsing the joy felt all those years ago. This joy no man takes from us. Restore to us the joy of Your salvation.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time thank you for listening with me. Laurette

Like the Ocean “knows” the Shore…in the quiet morning hours I heard the words: Like the Ocean Knows the Shore. I was completely captured. To know Him! To know Jesus this intimately. The mere thought of this intimate image, what a beautiful visual. I knew it was a word for me. Forever yearning to [Ginosko] more of Jesus, I knew He was speaking to me through these simple yet thoroughly thought provoking intimate words.

Ginosko-To know, experience, to have intimate knowledge of, come to trust through experiential knowledge, and I could see ocean waves washing up over the sand; over and over.

Captain at the helm

Like the ocean knows the shore

How I long too know You more

As the tide does rise and fall

To hear Your voice and know Your call

 

Sometimes settled and smooth like glass

Other times anxious like waves that crash

So bold and ferocious the ocean’s roar

Yet measured in Your palm I can’t ignore

That vast sum of all You become to me

If I continue to sail in Your great sea.

So when I feel completely overwhelmed

I just remember “The Captain” at the helm

Guiding and showing me distant shores

Because I did pray to know You more

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence

Together we sail sometimes in silence

 

I will sail on as You’ve taught

Speak to wave’s command them stop

I shall not fear my “Captain” is at the helm

Voyaging with You, My Lord and “Captain” I shall not be overwhelmed.

Copyright © laurette laster 2018

Recently I was reminded of the word Ginosko

Ginosko – often translated as “know” or “known” is a word that means so much more than that. This word implies a certain type of “knowing” that is explained and defined by several English words.

The best translation in English is too personally, intimately, and to experientially “know” something. It doesn’t just mean to know about something but to have known it through personal experience. This is much more than head knowledge.

“In light of this, Ginosko could have times where it should not be translated to know at all but rather to experience but most of the time it indicates the knowledge that comes from experiencing something in an intimate or personal way.” (From conformtoChrist)

We are aware, all too familiar with the power, and driving force, this fierce body of water contains. The same beautiful Ocean can rage, rise, crest, and create tidal waves and Tsunami’s that wipe out villages, leaving a wake of disaster in their trail.

But after the raging, the clean up, the same Ocean calms once again, and becomes peaceful. Settling back into the gentle rolling motion we all enjoy.

The love of God is the most powerful force on earth…

Jealously demanding as the grave, and many waters cannot quench His love, it may gentle or full of wrath, but those who know their God will be strong and do exploits.

will never extinguish this flame.

The Crisis is Meant to Break Us

When you really know Him
Then you will understand why
When you really meet Him
You understand do or die

Others aloof and unaware
Angry and walled off
Senses dulled of hearing
Mere thought of Him they scoff

If they really knew Him
How real relevant and right on
Just one touch from Jesus
Shattering hardest heart of stone

It isn’t some wishful thinking
If You’re out there somewhere please
No it is oh my God and my King
In desperation falling on my knees

The crisis is meant to break us
In many different ways
But the breaking He requires
Is when He hears us say

Oh my God I cry out to You
Alone broken and shattered
I need Your help to go on
I feel beaten weathered and battered

This cry out of a contrite heart
Reaches heaven’s throne
Summons help from The Father
Hearing the cries of one of His own

When your heart completely shatters
All doubt comes gushing out
He will come and take it
Mend and seal apply two spouts

With reservoirs of living water
Rivers flowing from His throne
Healing health and wholeness
Evidence of becoming His own

When the valves are attached
True communion can begin
You will know and believe
Become honest and dependent on Him

As He fills our hearts
Living water irrigates
Creates the overflowing
When we bow down to propagate

Freely He has supplied
Freely we must give
The crisis meant to break us
So that we can truly live

© laurette laster 2019

Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman said, “if you knew the gift of God and who is speaking to you, you would ask of Me and I would give you living water.”

Was it the isolation and rejection from the others that set her up for a life changing encounter? This encounter didn’t change her life only; this encounter changed an entire town.

The rejection we suffer is what God is allowing to toughen us up, making us thick skinned, tough enough to withstand public opinion or perhaps jealousy, envy  and strife. After all the blessing is harder to manage than the opposition along the way. Scripture tell us Jesus was mocked, ridiculed, hated, ostracized and rejected, and we know He was dearly loved by God. But we know He was hated by ungodly men, those who didn’t understand the ways of God or what God was bringing to light. Jesus talking to His disciples tells them, “if the world hates you, just remember that it hated me first.” John 15:18

Before His crucifixion, Jesus is speaking to His followers, He explains that He is making these things clear to them so that they will not fall away. When we consider that God loved Jesus, we must also consider He fulfilled and honored what He was born to do. His disciples returning with lunch were shocked to find Jesus speaking to the Samaritan woman, Jesus responded with, ” I have food to eat that you know not of.  My (food) meat is to do the will of Him who sent me.”

We cannot say to those unwilling to follow God’s will, grace is all over you, grace, grace to you, you got this, go you, Jesus is for you………………. Mercy? perhaps, but grace is poured out for us to fulfill the will of God in our life.

We also have His spoken promise of, be of good cheer I have overcome the world. John 16.

We see above that the Samaritan woman hadn’t fallen away but she was pushed away from the crowd. She discussed with Jesus what had been spoken and prophesied. She may not have been accepted by others, but do you think that mattered after this encounter? She was changed completely. She is our picture of rebirth or the new birth. When meeting Jesus, in Spirit and Truth while going about her daily chores. She is the first person to be told He is the Messiah. She came for natural water and left with springs of eternal living water flowing through her, to others.

No matter what we are going through, if we don’t faint we will reap. What God is allowing has eternal value, we will see and understand further down the road.

I was thinking the other day about God having to shake the world out of my grasp. I wasn’t evil, I was frightened. How could I let go of the counterfeit? It was all I had.

When I had an encounter with Jesus, I no longer had an appetite for watered down, weak, counterfeit, worldly things. I needed truth, and today my soul continues to long for more of Him.

I’m grateful He gives me a good shake now and then, He continues to shake things up, now I know and understand: it is because He is taking me to all that He has destined for me to walk in.

The crisis will cause us to let go, shaking loose the things of the world from our hands. Those things we are holding tightly, are robbing Him of His rightful place. A good shaking allows room for more of Him.

Shake it up Lord.

PS now we can understand why the apostle Paul said, No dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it.  I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it, gut I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead.

Whew – some needed room for grace.

God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you. The Lord cause His countenance to rise upon you and give you Shalom.

Until next time, thank you for listening with me. Laurette