Habakkuk 2: 2-3 And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. (3) For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
She was “highly favored” but was almost put away by the man she loved the most. “Highly favored” but she was rejected by every person in Bethlehem. “Highly Favored” but she laid on the dirt floor of a barn and gave birth to a baby she carried nine months.
“Highly Favored” but in the middle of the night had to leave all she knew and move to a strange town because God said so.
Favor never looks like favor at first. Favor sometimes takes you through frustration, failure, and fear. You want to be favored of God? It may be in darkest night or deepest valley. But there in that place where no one sees you and you feel like no one understands whisper to yourself, “this is only the beginning not the end. This will turn out for my good and His glory. This is because…I’m Favored.”
I laid still and quietened myself. My thoughts were out of sorts. The true and false test began. Afterword I realized how many of my answers were wrong.
False statements can be mistaken as truth. Taking words out of truth and adding completely changes everything. That’s why God warns us not to add or take away. (Revelation 22:19) I’ve overlooked something, not even realizing what I was doing. God speaks personal things in our lives. Perhaps He spoke to you about a job, home, or a family member you’ve prayed about long-term.
… “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Corinthians 11:14
No marvel – no astonishment meaning there is no puzzle to unravel. Deception will always go against truth. For this reason, our minds must be temperate and attentive to all surroundings.
The Holy Ghost is our counselor and comforter guiding us through every situation. We must always approach Him for guidance.
“And the Spirit of the LORD will rest on him— the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD.” Isaiah 11:2 (KJV)
“Your Heavenly Father will help you find the right path as you seek His guidance. Remember though, after you pray you must get off your knees and start doing something positive; head in the right direction! He will send people along the way who will assist you, but you must be doing your part as well. “- Margaret D. Nadauld-
A large shadow of a man in a bulky coat wearing a top hat loomed on the wall. Chloe jerked the covers over her head leaving nothing exposed, not even her pillow. Presuming it wasn’t enough to keep her safe she packed herself into a mound of warmth. Creaks from the settling house made their way to her ears. Would she survive the night, this dreadfully long night? Sleep was nowhere near.
Tension’s fingers dug deep into her muscles. She wanted to cry. The thudding of her heart rang in her ears. If the creeper made his way to her, he’d find no use for her. “Please go -away crazy- man, please! I’m just six years old.” She stuttered as she tried to breathe. The whole situation had her in tears. Her mind raced like a full speed train. Why is such a horrifying thing taking place involving her? What could she have done?
Her tightly closed eyes flew open from the approaching footsteps down the hall. Loosened from fear, a scream released from her throat. Her bedroom door swung open. “Chloe? What on earth is wrong?” The familiar voice compelled her to fight drastically to dart into grandpa’s arms. “Grandpa- grandpa don’t let the creeper get me!” She squealed. He flipped the light switch on then crouched to her level. Chloe threw her arms around his neck clenching tightly. Smiling in amusement he pulled her closely in the safety of his arms. Even the blankets didn’t provide the security Grandpa’s presence brought.
Giving her a moment, he waited for an explanation. Whispering in her ear he asked, “What happened,” although he already knew. Every descriptive word concerning the creeper flowed from her mouth nonchalantly. “Come with me I want to show you something.” She tugged on his pajamas, wiped her hair from her forehead. He followed her to the window hand in hand. He pointed to the birdfeeder on the tree outside gently swaying from a calm breeze. “Chloe that is your creeper’s hat. The big coat you are referring to is the tarp draped over partly stacked wood,”
He looked in the face of a confused Chloe. “Huh?”
“It’s always been there you’ve made the shadow something it isn’t because of the stories you’ve heard.” Chloe stood silently uncertain of her feelings now. “What have you learned?” Taking a deep breath only to release quickly, she replied. “Next time I see a creeper, I’ll come to you.” Her innocence implied to him her experience would lead to bigger giants.
We project circumstances into giants too often. In our thoughts we are the size of grasshoppers. (Read Numbers 13) God is so much more than us and circumstances. Caleb expressed to Israel God is greater. In their eyes the giants appeared all powerful when Caleb’s faith unfolded the glorious acts of God.
Circumstances may cast a shadow portraying defeat; remember, pull out the records of His on-time presence in past circumstances. Let your faith unfold.
“Lo, these are parts of his ways: but how little a portion is heard of him? but the thunder of his power who can understand?” Job 26:14 KJV
The Pharisees had a self-righteous attitude: so much so that Jeus said, “The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers.” Basically, He is warning His followers of self-made rules. Those rules are said to be of God.
I’m not going to whitewash this. Years ago, I attended a church that the members were required to ask the pastor’s permission to by a vehicle. We were required to obey the pastor even when he was wrong. Disobedience marked us as rebellious and couldn’t be used in the ministry. Rules were made up along the way.
“Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise: why shouldest thou destroy thyself?” Ecclesiastes 7:16 KJV
Fear and confusion overwhelmed me so much that I felt lost more than ever!
John 16:13 says, ““Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”
This is one of the majors that are keeping the lost from coming in. They feel they can’t measure up. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; (Romans 3:23 KJV)
Being a Christian isn’t supposed to feel like bondage all over again. In Christ we are free. We are to follow His commandments in a loving manner and in edification.
Photo is from The Chosen written by Dallas Jenkins
For twenty minutes or so I sat in front of the computer screen. The Holy Ghost began speaking to me about something.
Years ago, someone commented on what I wrote saying, “It’s always about you. You need to change the way you write.” I assumed that since one person thought that, so did everyone else. So, I changed it questioning, “Well, I guess its me and not God. I completely took myself out of the picture. Others began sending messages saying I was targeting them. Frustration interfered so I quit. At the time I did not realize people came before God.
Jesus warned us in the Bible that offences would come. Nowadays every little thing offends people. People get offended if you are nice to them. Once I posted a cat wearing a t-shirt in a t-shirt. I had to remove it from the group about cats: according to them it was cruelty.
People get offended if you disagree with them. Some find our moral values offensive. Well, here is what I have to say about that. I am going to please the Lord. This world has turned into one chaotic mess, because everyone is supposed to straddle the fence.
Unfortunately, if we do not straddle the fence then we are haters and full of discrimination.
I am not talking about hurting people out of hate and in the name of justice. That is not edifying anyone. The Lord tells us to pray for one another. Stand up for truth but to do it in love.
“Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!” Isaiah 5:20 KJV
These days God’s love looks like hate, and hate looks like love.
“Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh!” Matthew 18:7 KJV
We must weigh things in balance. We can’t use the word of God in an offensive manner, it’s not going to show the love of Jesus.
My message is to pray and seek God and asked Him to guide you on how to answer and to help you not react offensively that is not contrary. I am praying for myself as well.
I know that you don’t understand why I’ve lashed out. Secretly I’ve wrestled with inner demons with no avail. Don’t take it personally because I avoid you, I’m so confused right now. I don’t want you on my side of the wall. I will come from behind it in my time. Please don’t stop praying for me, although I say to. Don’t believe your prayers aren’t reaching me. I feel them always. They are chipping away the hardness sounding my heart. If you believe I’ve forgotten what you’ve done for me, stop believing it! I think about your acts of kindness every day. It’s your intercession that keeps me safe. Again, I truly don’t want you to stop praying for me. Please pray me loose from the grip of satan. Although I haven’t shown it, I do love you. Pray that I find my way back to God and I will.
Love,
What you have just read is a letter from someone you love who has lost their way. God has dealt with me for quite some time now to write this. Don’t loose hope. God is all power and your prayers are important to them. We often comply to our emotions due to pain and weariness. Know that God is working.
God bless you and know that my prayers are with you as well.
… “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” James 5:16 KJV
Jesus fulfilled the law by healing the lame, opening blind eyes, healing those paralyzed, including innumerable incurable diseases. (Matthew 5:17-20)
Dwarfism made Zacchaeus a candidate for helplessness. Tax collecting was his profession. The Levitical Law was clear about dwarfism and other things. “For whatsoever man he be that hath a blemish, he shall not approach: a blind man, or a lame, or he that hath a flat nose, or anything superfluous, Or a man that is brokenfooted, or brokenhanded, Or crookbackt, or adwarf,or that hath a blemish in his eye, or be scurvy, or scabbed, or hath his stones broken; No man that hath a blemish of the seed of Aaron the priest shall come nigh to offer the offerings of the LORD made by fire: he hath a blemish; he shall not come nigh to offer the bread of his God.” (Leviticus 21:18-21 KJV) They were still under that law. That is why the Pharisees constantly harassed Jesus. His actions were unacceptable according to them.
Imagine that, so he may as well become a tax collector, right? People resented him anyway, so why not do something society hated for pay? His stature made him who he was in humanity’s eyes, but his faith made him tall enough to reach heaven.
Take a moment to visualize this scene I am about to present. Zacchaeus is Ping ponged in crowds.
He barely made his destination without getting scuffed. Dust from the ground on which feet and animals tread settles on his body. Occasionally he found himself shoved to the ground like a piece of junk. Every single day he dodged such challenges.
One beautiful day shifted in an unexpectd way. For once he stood apart as the crowd swarmed to Jesus. He could not see anything! Jumping in the air did not give him any justice. Forget about trying to pry through the crowd, no entrance available for him.
Desperately seeking with his eyes, he found his high spot. Waddling to the sycamore tree Zacchaeus knew for sure he would see. He climbed the tree without difficulty. “You are going to receive something besides a view Zacchaeus!” Faith shouted boosting him upward.
Faith was right, always pleasing to the Lord. “Jesus come by here!” She shouted. Jesus did stop and looked up. “Come down Zacchaeus, quickly.” Jesus smiled motioning him down. “Today I am going to be your guest.” Gasps arose in disbelief and apolled. “He is a sinner,” a lady leaned over to her neighbor with her nose in the air . Branches and leaves cascaded around as he climbed down. “You see, Lord, half of my belongings I give to the poor; and if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold.” Zacchaeus finished dusting himself clean as he once and while glanced up at Jesus. “This day is salvation has come to your house. For you are also the son of Abraham. I have come to seek and save that which is lost.” (Luke 19:1-9)
The creation of the tree was for Zacchaeus to climb especially. I believe this!
“And the earth brought forth grass, and herb yielding seed after his kind, and the tree yielding fruit, whose seed was in itself, after his kind: and God saw that it was good.”Genesis 1:12 KJV
Another author posted a message on her Facebook page that caught my attention. “Not everyone is on your prayer assignment.” After reading it I silently laid still to give what she wrote some thought. The parable of the ten virgins dropped in my spirit. Five were foolish but the other five were wise. Here is the revelation revealed to me by the Holy Ghost. Five of the wise trimmed their lamps. “Give us some of your oil. Our lamps are going out.”
“No,” the wise replied, then we will not have enough for ourselves and you. Go to those who sell it and buy for yourselves.”
This parable is about the bridegroom coming unexpectedly. (Matthew25:1-13) But let’s look deeper into this. How many times have people worn us out because they didn’t want to help themselves? They want you to pray, and not pray. They want direction but do not seek direction themselves. Soon we wither under weakness. Our own minds are invaded by the negativity ruling their lives. Guess what? We run low on oil, just like a vehicle does when it keeps going without a refill. Wicks that are burnt black will barely light. It goes out, smokes until the wick is trimmed. After that it’s good to go.
“My cup runneth over, when it does it spills! More than anything I would love to experience that every single day. We are human. Valley experiences are going to come. Keeping ourselves connected to God is a must. Stay strong by plugging into God’s power. To help those who are helping themselves we need to be strong in the Lord ourselves.
Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 KJV
“Lord if You would have been here my brother would not have died,” burst from her mouth. Unable to stay in silence the mourners began wailing. Trouble stirred within His spirit groaning within Himself. “Where have you laid him?”
“Lord come and see.” The mourners motioned Him to follow their lead. His own tears surfaced each step that took Him closer to the grave of Lazarus. In a whispering tone the mourners began conversing among each other. “Oh, how He loved him.” Another replied softly, “Could not this Man which opened the eyes of the blind, not heal this man- so he wouldn’t have died?” Jesus groaned within Himself as He stood in front of a blocked cave. “Take the stone away.” Shocked, Martha turned to Him as she stood by His side. “Lord by this time he will stink. He’s been dead for four days.” He unfixed His eyes from the tomb and onto Martha. “Didn’t I say that to you if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” She couldn’t say anything more. The men who walked with them approached the cave to roll away the heavy stone. Looking at each other His fellow disciples still did not understand. Lifting His eyes into the heavens Jesus began to pray. “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. And I know You hear Me always. But because of the people who stand by I have said it, that they will believe You have sent Me.” His gaze in the heavens then fell to the opened grave entry. He simply said, “Lazarus come forth.” At the mouth of the tomb, he who was dead came forth. From head to foot, he stood before them dressed in graveclothes. Gasps arose from among the people as they saw Lazarus taking breaths. “Lose him and let him go.” Martha who stood by Jesus turned to around looking into Mary’s eyes. For a moment, the silence said what could not be. Hushed by the miracle all waited to see the image behind the graveclothes. Life and restoration revealed itself as the men removed the cloth covering his face. Lazarus opened his eyes seeing the face of His Redeemer. Lazarus lives because Jesus conquered the grave.
As King David wrote, “Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth,” Psalm 30:11 KJV
You may feel the Master has forgotten you. Remember this, His delays mean He has something greater up His sleeve. It will be a mess, but the aftermath is unforgettable!
“Martha, Jesus has come.” Refael’s heavy steps reached her ears before he entered the door of her house. She propped the broom against the fireplace and followed him out. Staying busy kept her mind from wondering.
The sun’s light embroidered her stature as she walked towards Him. “Jesus, Lord, if you would have been here, my brother would not have died,” easily flowed from her lips. Her swollen bloodshot eyes revealed anguish. “But I know, that even now, whatsoever You will ask of God, God will give it to You.”
Jesus waited for Mary to trail behind her. The whole thing became an enigma. Mary, Martha, or anyone else could not perceive it. Her brother was dead. A reliable source delivered the message to Jesus that Lazarus fell terribly ill. “Why? Why did He wait until after her brother died? Why?
Walls of isolation kept her fragileness safe.
“Your brother will rise again.” Jesus softly spoke with assurance. She wasn’t prepared for the glorious manifestation about to transpire. “I know that he shall rise again in the resurrection in the last day.” Jesus focused His eyes on her as He placed a hand on her arm. “I am the resurrection, and life. He that believes in Me, though he were dead will live. And whosoever lives and believes in Me, will not die. Do you believe this?”
“Yes, Lord, I believe You are the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world.” Did she believe it or was she simply speaking it, to be speaking it? She broke eye contact with Jesus as she turned to walk back to her house secretly to get Mary. None of this makes sense! He healed the lame, opened deaf ears, turned water into wine, delivered demoniacs and the list goes on! But why, oh why didthis happened to her beloved brother Lazarus?” Martha could no longer try unraveling the mystery. It only worsened.
Martha opened the creaking door to find Mary at the table with her face buried in her folded arms sobbing. She stroked the back of her sister’s scarf covered head. “The Master has come, and He is asking for you.” Her hidden demeaner lifted. Without hesitation she ran out the opened door leaving Martha behind falling at Jesus feet.
Once again, she found herself at His feet, only this time overcome with grief. Heavy hot tears spilled from her eyes onto the opening of His sandals. Her wails froze the rest of the mourners in position.
WRITING GOD'S VISION----AUTHOR DARLENE JUANITA CONARD 
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