I Shall return to the Source of My Existence~

"I shall return to the source of my existence"

In the solitude and silence there must have been a thunderous sound of power through this eternal God.  A sound that would birth, breathe and brood over all the non-existent, yet unformed seeds of creative power.  Suddenly the voice of the Word came like the sound of a mighty rushing river. Bursting with life, it came overflowing its banks with incredible joy, humming with the rhythm of the song of the redeemed and teaming with life.  Great cataclysmic chasms, ruptured the waters, as mountain lifted themselves and filled the galaxies, and then, as an after-thought fractured the mountain peaks to expose giant gorges filled with river beds, water ways, fields and streams and endless lakes.  

Seven times the voice spoke and seven times the creative power of God brought forth something out of nothing.  All that was, is, or ever shall be was created.  The eternal voice, with no beginning and no end, spoke and the echo of the voice reached out into the limitless cosmos, where time, nor space would control His infinite power.  

The abundance came, not withholding, not restricting, but resounding with the laughter of Love unleashed into the universe.  This mind of jewels and gems of power wrought forth a garden sown with seeds, seeds still yet harbored in the distant hallways of man consciousness, a place where communion brought creativity, where all is in order, where all is perfection and where rest was found for every living thing. In this garden the apple of God’s eye was formed, not created but formed by the hands of the One who treasured them in his heart, His crown of all that was fashioned for His pleasure.  This creation was His companion. 

But man failed and lost this place in glory.  He fell into the abyss of the ever-pervading darkness. There he struggles and vanquishes until God’s love ignites the long-forgotten memory and man says,

“I shall return to the source of my existence.”

Memory Healing...

One has to own their own sin to receive salvation—and likewise one must own their own salvation to know surrender to His Lordship.
Recently I had occasion to revisit a place I had been some years ago.  It was a time and place that God had chosen to meet a certain priest, a man who gently helped me as I journeyed through a ‘crossing over’ a deep ‘letting go’ season of life.   Now many years later I find I am in this place once again and note that there is still the washing away of remnants of those hours—like the scar tissue that remains from past surgery God’s healing reveals even the scars have been removed and I am at peace.

As I ‘think on these things’ the depth of ‘letting go’ is far deeper than I can fathom.  I’m reminded of the work of the Holy Spirit in my life during other seasons and how the Lord used them to bring out so much grief of past loss, for one cannot release without first revealing what lay hidden.  In a very real way I am still releasing my homeland and all that has meant to my heart.  Closing takes a long time, it’s not a simple act of walking away but continually without fear, or even with fear, releasing your heart.  The only safe place is into the hands of the Father.  Each and every moment that we have a ‘flash back’ or reminder, we sense and recognize that life without the things we held so dear is safe and secure,  that they are molded and melted into who we are and therefore can never be lost.  Only the Holy Spirit can do this work as we yield to His sanctifying work within us.  Our joy then comes from being able to allow our memories freedom in making us uniquely designed and living our lives openly in surrender to Him as radiant stars in the universe.

HANDS…how beautiful the touch of hands so dear, sweet flowing motion to wipe away a tear.  To sooth a fevered brow or calm a pounding heart, the last soft touch of love before we part.  Moving to the rhythm of pain and blinding sadness, inside so deep the hurt and fear is soothed away by hands so dear.  Hands that reach for loved ones lost, that speak of all that love has cost. Hands that hold the healing power, hands so gentle full of love.  The Mighty hands of God above.  

“And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, Into Your hands I commit My spirit”  - Luke 23:46 -

 

 

"Don't you see that children are God's best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy?"

Let the little children… come unto me.

Every problem an individual or nation faces is, at the root, a spiritual problem.   Only those seeing life through the lens of The Holy Spirit will understand that the issue is not politics, the economy or poverty.  The issue is spiritual.   Developing the horizons of our communities to influence and affect this nation begins in the smallest of them.  It is here in the grass roots that dreams, visions, and hopes of “we the people” move us forward.   A pioneer spirit, once stirring deeply in our hearts but now crushed into servitude, is not the destiny of a people chosen by God! 

 

History teaches that the compass of man’s life is moral and, once broken on a large scale, nations fall and crumble.  Yet there is always a remnant, a group that has not, nor ever will yield to the battering ram of temptation, the self destruction of consuming upon its own lusts the very blessing and freedom that created this nation.  These are those with the spirit of the pioneers, men and women who were willing to risk all for a new land, pioneers who kept moving toward the sunrise, heading for the horizon.  They were seeking new places, new cultures, and new beginnings.  As they conquered each new frontier and touched the horizon, the desire to reach into the unknown infused them with courage.  Outer space or cyber space -- nothing can stop the pioneer spirit that this nation was founded upon.   Pioneers are prepared to keep going, to journey on, to stay on the path. Vision empowers perseverance in a world that taunts and tests with persecution.  All along the way, pioneers have insight given to them.  ”Surely the Sovereign Lord does nothing without revealing his plan to his servants the prophets” (Amos 3:7).

 

Were these pioneers the prophets of their day, men and women who listened to the moral compass within and followed the course predestined while they were yet in their mother’s womb?  Strangers in a foreign land and much like the Israelites of old, they moved into this land of promise, drove their stakes into the land and persevered so that posterity could prosper.  Where are these pioneers, these visionaries of old, now?

 

They are those who would move mountains for the common good of man; they would build great places of healing, education, and scientific exploration.  Something happened; something is stealing away the rights and privileges; something has upset the balance and the compass spins in all directions.  How do we come back?  How do we refocus?  Only God can draw, like a magnet, people back to Himself; only He can reset the compass and point the hearts of people to due north.   Let our hearts cry for new eyes to see and ears to hear.   We must watch and wait and allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse and readjust our sight to higher realms and deeper understanding.

 

This nation that is sin sick from the murder of millions of unborn babies is now faced with an awesome opportunity of opening its borders to thousands of children from other lands.  They too flea from the tyranny and bondage of wicked men and women.   What mercy and grace would risk giving such responsibility to those who have failed so miserably.  We can look again with the eyes of the creator God and see the manner of His love.

 

 Only God knows the deep things and only He can extract the precious out of the vile.   Christian, let your voice envelope all other voices until there is a sound from heaven that sends a tsunami of wisdom and compassion across this land.  

A Life Lesson--the Lesson of Life...

The lesson of life – to release or let go of all things, people, situations, dreams, desires.  Yesterday is gone; tomorrow may never be – to live in the beauty and peace of a moment.    To erase from our minds the bondage of should, aught, must, or what if’s.  Learning the measure of living in this place of victory is the measure by which we are able to receive the love of God!

The very moment Christ---gave up the Spirit—God began to move and in the interim of death and life was the power of release, the power of let go, the power of the resurrection!   Nothing could hold life down or cripple the life that would follow Christ! 

Years ago I had a decision to make—for me it was a big decision, as I fasted and prayed I spent time away from daily activities and I sat in the midst of God's creation watching as squirrels chased each other in the tree tops.   Suddenly the one in front found itself on the farthest limb with no tree close by, only a sapling growing between the distant trees.  The squirrel hesitated only a second before she leapt with grace that caught my breath but even greater was the wonder when she touched down on the small frail sapling and landed with such grace and balance the limb simply bowed gently for its visitor.  My thoughts returned to the moment of decision and I pondered.  “How can that squirrel take such a leap of faith and land so precisely, when I stumble and struggle so much?"  I heard  the Spirit whisper,   “She does not question but responds instinctively to who I have created her to be—when you respond to who I have made you to be, you too will take giant leaps of faith". 

David was very wise in knowing times and seasons….it is written “Then Saul went on one side of the mountain, and David and his men on the other side of the mountain.  So David made haste to get away from Saul, for Saul and his men were encircling David and his men to take them….he came to the sheepfolds by the road, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to attend to his needs."   Then David’s men reminded David of the Lord’s words, ”Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do to him as it seems good to you, And David arouse and secretly cut off a corner of Saul’s robe’…David  was sorry he had cut off the corner of Saul’s robe and told his men.  “The Lord forbid that I should do this thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, to stretch out my hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the Lord” 

So the life lesson of ‘letting go’ requires a deep sense of the value of every person, the right attitude is the most powerful response in this life lesson. 

Even the ebb and flow of the ocean speaks of things first touching then releasing—it is a reflection of eternal life to be able to hold on yet let go.  Only as one has unquestioning assurance and confidence in which God has made them to be can the letting go principle knows full power. 

To release the seasons of life is the secret to the much more of spiritual growth and development.  It is this release that impacts every moment of the future.   The momentum of life is kept at a steady pace, no weariness, no complaining, but joy as every moment replaces the moment just released.  James Matthew Barrie said, “You have been warned against letting the golden hours slip by. Yes, but some of them are golden only because we let them slip by.”  It happens in…a moment.

I remember the story of the old Pentecostals who were heard at the altar saying… “hang on sister, hang on to the horns of the altar and don’t let go until God gives the answer”, then another voice would call out saying…”let go sister, let go and let God!”  Havelock Ellis said, “All the art of living lies in a fine mingling of letting go and holding on.”

Letting go is a subject many books have been written about and most concern relationships. “Sometimes" said Gloria Naylor, “... being a friend means mastering the art of timing. There is a time for silence. A time to let go and allow people to hurl themselves into their own destiny." Letting go means you never leave someone behind, you take a part of them with you and leave a part of yourself behind.

There is the trauma of leaving jobs, changing locations, leaving home, and leaving school, leaving communities or churches.  Life is full of the ‘let go lesson’.   As time goes by and age grips the physical even the activities of yesterday must be replaced by less strenuous activities of today.  No longer can you dig and rake the gardens, travel the world, run the marathon or climb the highest mountain.

Technology has spawned new ways of communication, faster; right now responses have pushed the human physic beyond the limits of the previous generations of mind mapping abilities.  All this requires we let go and let tomorrow set the boundaries of limitless thinking.  “We must be willing”, said Joseph Campbell, “to let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the life that is waiting for us.” 

Letting go of your past and memories are also extremely hard. Even though old memories can be tormenting, yet you might hold on to the past and refuse to move forward but refusing to let go of the painful past only serves as a roadblock to the future.

Seasons teach us that without the power of their persuasion we would not be prepared for changing climates.   Leaves drop sadly to the ground to give way, to yield to the next season and bulbs and roots must rest before the Spring can come again.   From  babies loss of first tooth, potty training and the stumbling steps taken  into daddies opened arms, letting go is an art and a crucial ‘life lesson’

The deepest most painful art of living is experienced in the letting go of self—the depth of self abandonment is immortally viewed on the Cross and can only be known as you walk in trust and obedience to God.  When God ‘let go’ of Himself it was the gateway, the heavenly portal, the door to life everlasting, a place of freedom that words alone cannot express.  Letting go of the old self and the process of allowing the new to emerge can be one of the scariest experiences in life. But by leaving behind your old self and taking a leap of faith into the unknown, it might just reveal what you are truly capable of becoming.

This is the secret and the reason ‘letting go’ becomes a life lesson, it is learned through the moments of life.   Oprah Winfrey caught a glimpse of this when she was able to say: “Breathe. Let go. And remind yourself that this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.”

First Love

First love…

As a child I cannot remember my parents or siblings or friends or myself using the word ‘love’—and as I reminisce I realize love was something that was experienced through action rather than heard through words.  

Remembering those days I am unable to differentiate my feelings of love for an individual.  Love was a family thing—it was who we were and how we lived and worked together and yes sometimes fought and became angry with each other.  To love was to know each one had a place in the family, each had a responsibility to ‘set the table before the meal’ or ‘wash the dishes after the meal’, to use the sweeper under and around the table.  Each had a task which meant we were part of the family.  It was our world, we rarely used the word ‘love’ but somehow we knew it was not a word but something exemplified in how we lived together.  We just knew we were loved and cared for, and we loved and cared in return by our respect and obedience. 

 Words like ‘love’ were saved for special moments in grown up lives, a word that if  defined would mean, hard work, joining together in the tasks of everyday living with a special person, a person chosen to duplicate this same world of love.  At times this love meant doing the things we would rather not do but understood somewhere deep within that if we didn’t do our part then someone would go without, including ourselves—and of course there would be consequences for leaving the thing undone.     

 Love was the reason why dad worked hard and would work at any job in order to put food on the table for six children.  Love recognized that there was a place around the table for each of us.  Love for me began with the security that home gave when bombs were falling and we were all in it together—taking care that when we huddled together in the darkness of the air-raid shelter no one was missing.  

Love was also evidenced through the friendships I made, not many but enough and when the appointed time came with a yearning in my heart for something more—I heard of God’s love and through my own great need, love was sown into my heart.  Through love friendship with Jesus and deep passion for the Church laid a foundation in my soul.  

It was out of this backdrop that love came to me as a very young woman and  made way for commitment to one man—a passion that focused on one relationship that would pay the cost of leaving home, family, country and all I knew of life.   Love so deep that through 56 years it has stood the test of time, many trials, many struggles and steep learning curves that proved love endures and transforms the soul.     To love another is to know them and in knowing them love discovers the awesome value of a single soul.  

As I write these words I realize that I have sometimes consciously but mostly unconsciously lived life establishing the same womb of protection for our immediate family.  I have learned that the world we live in has changed drastically.  I have grown to realize that people, especially our own offspring need to hear the words ‘I love you’. 

I have learned that love is the foundation and motivation for my actions, it is why I do what I do—love is not just words or feelings but passion that acts on behalf of others.  Love is an attitude that says…I have a destiny, I am a part of the whole…I have a task to do…for the Glory of God and the good of all mankind.

“What manner of love is this that we should be called the children of God”

[1 John 3:1]

Continuing in Prayer

Continuing in Prayer…

Some of my most glorious memories are of those special times when the Holy Spirit has opened the way for me to share Jesus with family members.  After a number of years evangelizing in my homeland my mother’s struggle with the wall against ‘Pentecost’ finally broke down.  Sitting in the back pew of the Church of England, ‘checking out what on earth her daughter was doing preaching the Gospel,' The Holy Spirit heard my prayers, saw her hunger and mightily saved her soul.  She wept and shook for three days—some time later she remarried [my dad had gone to be with the Lord some years prior], and on another ministry journey we stopped by to visit.  I shared Jesus and led my step-dad to the Lord. They both spent the rest of their days serving in the local church and my mother, still weeping, would attend our  U.K. Truelight Ministry prayer meetings. 

The enemy always wages war against the families—he always finds the weak spots, the young, the old and the ones busy at providing for their families!   We have a mandate to keep our families covered—God desires for us to be LIGHT that is set on a hill.  Over the years I have had the privilege of leading many others in my family to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.  

The Trinity has often been described by using the light bulb—well if the seat of connection is God the Father, the filament is the power of the Holy Spirit and Jesus is the LIGHT then families become the housing of the bulb itself and must connect to God the Father for the power to flow!

So many of the requests we receive are for agreement in prayer for loved ones.  Through our prayer ministry we hear wonderful testimonies of how prayer has radically changed many households. 

At DHM God has given the increase and in the new location we have an inner room that has been dedicated as the ‘inner prayer room’.    Our prayer ministry team pray for the requests that come to us either personally, by e-mail or telephone—led by the Holy Spirit we join the intercessory ministry of Jesus Christ, who ever lives to make intercession for us all.

It would be a privilege to agree with you to intercede for your families—this is the way of love, continuing in prayer one for another.

If you have a need please let us know either by calling: 692 5971 or e-mail dhale2@windstream.net

May God divinely intervene in every household as it is written—“…believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved –you and your household.” you shall receive household salvation.  Salvation means; total restoration through redemption, deliverance, healing and the full inheritance, everything God has purposed for His family—the full blessing of God.   –Diane

 

The River....

                                                              The River

 “The Lord has made everything to accommodate itself and contribute to its own end and His own purpose—even the wicked are fitted for their role for the day of calamity and evil.” Proverbs 16:4 AMP

The movement of God during the closing of this season of ministry, which includes the journey to England, Austria and the Dominican Republic, was as a mighty and deep river.   This verse brings understanding about the river of God and helps us to understand the following truths:

A deep and wide river moves swiftly, its speed dependent upon its original spring.  “Then He showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb.”  Revelation 22:2

Whenever there is resistance within the river the resistance does not create the power to increase its depths and its borders.  It is the source from which it flows that brings power and healing to the nations and all that it touches. “Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.  On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.”  Revelation 22:1-2

Hindrance or pressure does not make something increase but exposes what is already there and by that virtue increases itself.  [I.e. the gymnast is not developed by what they do but by the strength and determination within themselves.]  Not what they do but who they are!

a.       The river  allows itself to increase and re-shape as it flows.

b.      Whatever is received has enough power to fulfill its potential, it cannot be stopped by any external force or hindrance.

c.       The deeper the river the less observable is its movement and power.  There is a ‘stillness’ to depth. 

d.      The ratio of width and depth is reflected in balance and reflects harmony – when a hindrance occurs the water begins to churn in the depths making it even deeper.  The depths then increasing restores balance and harmony.

“A just balance and scales are the Lord’s; all the weights of the bag are His work [established on His eternal principles” Proverbs 16:11

e.      The churning of the river causes the hindrance to either succumb by submission  or be washed away by the power of the river: 

“Be still and rest in the Lord; wait for Him and patiently lean yourself on Him: fret not yourself because of him who prospers in his way, because of the man who brings wicked devices to pass.”   [Psalm 37:7]

Diane - July 2013

Glorious Grace

Glorious Grace

“But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”   [1 John 1:7]

This verse teaches us something about the glorious grace of God—Grace is not just an escape mechanism when we are tempted apart from His Presence.  Walking with Him in the Light is to know the full power of His Grace.  Praying… lead me not into temptation, when believed, allows us to freely walk in the Light of the Glory of the Son of the Living God.

Grace is the power of Light!    Walking in the Light with Jesus means the act of walking in the power of the Light continuously, which provides for the continual adjustment of our responses.  It protects us from making the wrong moves, thinking the wrong thoughts or taking the wrong actions.  When our thoughts need realigning the Light does not discard the thought—the Light fulfills the thought so that it is in alignment with the mind of Christ or truth.

For example there are many times we make a response to circumstances that is perhaps a little ‘out of character’ or not our usual response.  Or we suddenly find ourselves thinking ‘strange thoughts’.  Our immediate response is…”oh my goodness, I should not  think like that” taking the thought into our union with Christ will keep us from beating up on ourselves and allow Christ  to share with us the truth of what is being thought. 

 As Christians our first thought, as in all human thinking, is to justify ourselves.  Well I responded as I did because, fill in the blank.  If we fail to remember we are walking in and with the Light of Christ we become our own accusers and the enemy partners with us to knock us off our feet by accusing us of ‘judging’.  In actual fact our response has changed not because we are judging but because we have discerned something unseen or unknown before.  The Light we are walking in has given us more information with which to give a response and pray with greater understanding.   This is the Spirit that  “judges…with righteousness…”

When we walk in the Light we are walking in the Spirit of Christ Himself who aligns our responses to the Light and creates a pathway within His boundaries, revealing the highway of holiness.  

This is the process of renewing the thinking and transforming the soul.

This is not an excuse for sin—sin whether thought, word or deed, by its very nature is separation from God for and from which the Blood has cleansed us.  What this teaches us is the depth of our belief and maturity in Christ.

Diane – July, 2013

Glorious Vision

“…to you it has been given to come progressively to know to recognize and understand more strongly and clearly the mysteries and secrets of the kingdom of God…” [Luke 8:10 AMP]

Being ‘progressive’ in the world may have a negative connotation but not in the Kingdom of God!  The ‘church’ is stymied by the religious spirit and structures that will not allow a power greater than itself.  A power that will move individuals progressively into the great vortex opened to them by the rending of the veil. [Matthew 28:1-3]  Through the very flesh and blood of Jesus Christ saints have moved into this vortex—a vortex involving a whirlwind drawing into its epicenter all that surrounds it and those that will yield to its reality!  This is a heart that has spent the wellsprings of life seeking and searching to know God. 

Caught up in this vortex the saint of God finds his footing on the courtroom of heaven—“Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access to My presence and places to walk among these who stand here.”  [Zechariah 3:7]  The ‘progressives’ join the great throng who worship in spirit and in truth and in this revelation  they walk in the Light as He is in the Light—they have trained themselves by use of the Word of God to discern good from evil. [Hebrews 5:14]  The one with glorious vision is able to say and know they have arrived—they have progressed in their understanding in knowing they have “…come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem…”  [Hebrews 12:22]  Living in the world and not of it means I am living somewhere else, a spiritual dimension more real than the temporary and “No one born [begotten] of God [deliberately knowingly, and habitually] practices sin, for God’s nature abides in him [His principle of life, the divine sperm, remains permanently within him]: and he cannot practice sinning because he is born [begotten] of God” [1 John 3:9 AMP]

 We have ‘progressed’ to be among those who hear the Judge read the verdicts, reports, readings from the books of heaven [Daniel 7:9-11]—the destiny of individuals, families, tribes, regions and nations.  We are among those who receive assignments that prophecy into the earth the Will of God as the Kingdom of God extends its borders.  The Light of this Kingdom blinds those behind the walls of religion for they are those, “…who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked and suffocated with the anxieties and cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not ripen [come to maturity and perfection].”  [Mark 8:14 AMP]  These are those who do not progress!

The entrance into this Kingdom cannot be known unless there is a new birth, both of water and of the Spirit—eyes progressively open and slowly glimpse, as if through a portal [open heaven], the sights and sounds of heaven.  This is the experience of one who receives a ‘word’ from the Lord, a ‘picture’ while in God’s presence, a dream or vision in the night seasons.  Even as Jacob [Genesis 28]  who dreamed and in his dream saw the activities of heaven as the angels ascended and descended the ladder—later Jacob would progress and enter into fullness by risking his life to ‘know God’.  [Genesis 32]  Peter, James and John were lifted into a portal to taste the atmosphere of heaven and witness Jesus Christ hearing the verdicts spoken concerning His destiny.

There are three stages to living in this ‘glorious vision’ – to be born again is to rise in the resurrection power—to walk in the Spirit of God is to rise in the ascension power—to hear, speak and act upon His Word is to be placed into the very court room of heaven, to walk among those already dwelling there and experience the dominion power flowing from the seat of God’s government—Mount Zion the heavenly Jerusalem!

June 2013

Life at the Limits

The Secret of Life at the Limits

For some time now the use of the word uncertainty has been used as the cause and effect of economic, social, and moral breakdown of people and cultures.  The effort to stay in control of things becomes more difficult all the time.  For hundreds of millennia in the prehistoric past, individuals defended their own land and built their own shelters.  Communities were far apart; tragic events affected relatively few people.  Today, people living close together in complex social networks become victim to the stress filled, hate empowered binges of mindless acts  of futility and the  value of life and morality denigrate into the mire of stagnation.

             Into this ever increasing darkness God is raising up a people.  A people who are prepared to stabilize the environment and reveal that there is one true constant in the midst of global uncertainty.  They are a people with steel in their backbone and iron in their souls.  They know their purpose; they increase their productivity and are sustained by the power that issues forth from the core of their being.   You can recognize these people by the lives they live and the belief system they live by.  Broken and undone by the very presence of a Holy God these people of weakness are those whose lives are no longer their own, their profession is, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.

            They are weak and make mistakes but this same Holy God has equipped them with wisdom to arrest their frailty use it for good and allow circumstances to blossom into goodness.

           When moment by moment the natural life of men and nations seem to be reaching limits of imminent danger and catastrophe the presence of this Holy God stays the hand of man because He and He alone holds the keys of time and testing.  Make no mistake about this God is Sovereign ruler of earth and is fulfilling His purpose in the earth today.  Not a second early or a moment too late…His timing is perfect!

            His people have learned to live in uncertainty—they gladly bow the knee to His higher way in every situation and in doing so remain calmly focused on the goal of life and God’s purpose for every man.  “To worship God and serve Him only”

Building A Life

“The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual”

For a year now we have been living in the midst of demolition of the old court house and construction of the new seat of justice in our town.  It has been a constant reminder of Paul’s words to forget the old and put on the new spirit man.  Metaphors are created by looking through the window of the natural to see the spiritual dimension that is as close as the air we breathe. Dealing with lives that have and are in the midst of destruction has caused me to ponder and draw parallels to the need of mind renewal—the transformation created by the old to new, death to life process.  And so I have written… 

      Everywhere lives are lived out as best as the individual knows how.  Coping with life in this 21^st century is full of pitfalls, misguided information, and sudden catastrophes.  Technology and the speed of evolution crushes the personal touch and the ability to maintain a sense of self worth is lessened.  Personal worth is decreased when the overwhelming matrix of technology impinges upon daily lives at alarming rates. 

      Here in the midst of the human condition gone askew, determination to move forward becomes the life link that breaks from the pathway of destruction to push toward some unknown territory, known as a healthy existence or happiness. This determination cannot -- neither should it be-- hindered since  the power of the moment throws all to the wind and “goes for it”.  The unknowing innately contains the very seeds of development that drove the life to this juncture, but if a person is loved and guided by the Creator, happiness can be lived out along the path of growth.  It’s a matter of faith or belief in a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, God’s presence becomes a reality.  Faith  is the gift and fruit of a life turned over to God and the spirit man being “born again.”

      Minds full of past mistakes, of children lost, of abusive relationships, or of knowing themselves to have become the abusers, are minds thwart with obstacles. Only the God of impossible situations can realign and reignite the hope and passion to push forward.  Only by the Holy Spirit can lives be interrupted and direction changed.   Life must be surrendered; yet, even the willingness is impossible without the grace and mercy found in  God’s presence.  Our Father’s presence is the most significant, secure and saving truth. 

      Rebuilding life from the inside out becomes the single most important endeavor.  It is not so much where you are going, though knowing the goal posts is paramount to maintaining alignment, but using building blocks that are practical and easily performed is a secret to building a life that will not fall.  The building blocks are the moments that are available day by day.   Building by oneself never works or works to a point where one wrong detail, one detail missed, can shift the whole project.  Details are the place where the input from others is more important than self knowledge.  When building alone, the individual suddenly becomes “awash”  because details are missed and life has broken boundaries, places where the self, the world or even the devil can gain access. 

      Being in the midst of the building site reminds us that construction is messy.  Life that is growing and changing also becomes messy: things do not fit in the usual space or place.  In this atmosphere of change, strange people with differing gifts must be allowed to augment the needs of the project.  Specific pieces of equipment are used at specific times and loom into our space as overbearing, awkward and obtrusive.  The dirt and grit that building stirs up gets into every crack and cranny of life.  The noise of jack hammer, motors, saws and foul language of the workers pollute the air around you. 

       Blueprints are the most valuable piece of information necessary.  Without the diagram nothing will be “fitly joined” together.  It is smudged and smeared from coffee spilled when eyes are tired and limbs ache with the constant effort to “keep it according to the blueprint.”  In plain and public view, the blueprints are spread out for all to see, though few can read and even less understand the marks of the construction boss.  Supplies arriving early are stacked in inappropriate places while supplies needed arrive late and tempers rise.

       Soon the building blocks are rising higher, and amidst the canopy of chaos, a slim but solid glimpse of hope and possibility leaves the worker with a sense of what could be.  Past scaffolds are knocked away and lie among the debris. That which was yesterday’s need and security is no longer useful in today’s state of development.  

      The outside has form and substance, but inwardly the work is just beginning.  Inspiration sparks as workers move away from strict structure and creativity is allowed its freedom.  Color, shape, and form bring joy that strengthens hope; and energy brings light and laughter.  This metaphorical analysis of the transformation or renewal of the mind explains the way man thinks.  

      This development of thought is the whole meaning of evolution or the enlightenment of mankind.  The chains of thought, like the links in man’s DNA, empower and drive the human to either resist the process of evolution or empower toward higher levels of human thought and existence. 

Diane M. Hale - March 2013

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Close of the Season

January – 2013

Man has plans but God’s purpose prevails---this was the word of the Lord when leaving the airport. The last month has been a whirl wind of activity and celebration.  Cramming into a month everything that the extended family has missed while being separated by the vast oceans.   Last Christmas Joe and I were in Austria for the Christmas, holidays.  Everything we did was with ‘us’ and a few friends the rest of the family remained at home in the U.S.  As I write it reminds me of when the entire family were all in England for Christmas—we were together and that’s all that mattered.  Both of those ‘out of the country’ experiences at Christmas were thwart with sickness but somehow we got through with peace, love and joy.

This year we had the thrill of picking out the tree together, watching the farmer cut it down, bringing it home and decorating together.  We shopped till we dropped, watched the Christmas movies including my favorite kind, an English TV. series that had been sent from the homeland as a Christmas gift.  We baked cookies and all kinds of goodies for the holidays.  Fellowshipped with other Christians worshipped at the same church and sat around the fire and talked.  We shared gifts and stories about the Lord’s leading, life’s disappointments and the joy of being called the chosen of God.  And yes prayed for the urgent prayer requests that came, maintained a necessary time at the ministrycenter, attended the funeral of a dear friend and celebrated the wonderful Christmas Eve candle light service.  
 
The house is quiet now, no little feet running and skipping through the house, no squeals and
screams of delight as uncle or cousins take to the floor with the excuse of the little one among us to ‘play’ again.  There were moments when lamps hit the floor, a screen torn from the window as dad had to force his way into the house having left his key inside.  There was times when the wood wouldn’t burn and the birds were want for food and tears of 'I want--but didn't get' sounded out the presence of a 4 year old.  There was no snow this year, but mist and cold rain created the atmosphere of Christmas, days sometimes drearily wrapped its arms around the house and closed the evening in early, it was then the yearly puzzle became the challenge of the holidays but by boxing day the ‘hurrah’s rang out with the final piece [found underneath the sofa of course] slipping into place.  

Late nights brought not so early rising but still time to hear Ava singing out…”come quickly Nana and Papa, come quickly,” following her bidding we were ushered into her mum’s room to see the morning sun, round as a red ball of fire rising behind the wintry, bare tree lined horizon.  Everything became hushed as the light of the day made its entrance and we were reminded of the beauty of creation and the faithfulness of the One who fashioned it.  

Turkey and dressing, carrots with parsnips, brussel sprouts and mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, raisin sauce and ham, mince pies and California torte cake and so much more—all that everyone would enjoy found its place on the dining table. Full to the brim we sat and reminisced remembering the high lights of the year, the sad and dark times and the happy and glad times, all were part of those days we remembered--and we were thankful.   Even moments of frustration soon fizzle and fade away as twinkling lights remind each one that nothing takes the place of being together.

As the year closed so too was our time of togetherness.  As midnight drew close we prayerfully entered into the new year, its circumstances unknown to us but knowing who would hold each day and each one of us in His Mighty Loving Hands.

WHAT IS HEAVEN LIKE?

MY GLIMPSE OF HEAVEN…

I must write about heaven, my view of what that means, a perspective seen through a mirror dimly.  So I meditate on the most beautiful things of this earth for they are at least a portal to see that which as yet cannot be seen. 

We understand that all of life is seasonal, that all things must germinate, grow and then fall to the ground and die.  There are secrets to this seasonal life—secrets that somehow I wish could be, yet cannot be completely translated into the heavenly realm.  Since there is no death nor dying in that realm then something of the seasonal secrets could not be tasted there and yet for now they do give us a glimpse of glory.   The beauty of every season lies within the creative power that brings forth fruit—in its season.  To miss a season would be to miss the intrinsic beauty and value, the fruit within each of them and therein miss a glimpse of heaven. 

The secret of an abundant life is to draw from every season that which only that season can give us.  When fall is approaching there is a stillness in the air, there is a flurry of activity as bird and beast prepares for winter months.  Colors begin to drape the leaves as though touched accidentally by an artist brush.  I sit in wonder as beauty explodes from the gentle opening of butterfly wings.  Everything waits and ever so slowly slips into a deep rest.  Winter never discloses herself but covers herself with frost and winter snows.  The hard shell of earth protect what is hidden in the earth and the sharp air defines the nakedness of tree and limb even as the misty clouds hides the horizon—the barrenness cloaks all things with its own warmth. This glimpse of heaven shares with utmost care its truth of deep rest, great peace, the glorious colors of creation and warmth and depth of intimacy. 

It saddens me to think there’d be no seasons.  No death to bring forth Spring with fruit of excitement, anticipation, renewed strength and awesome regalia of color.    Flaunting its gay apparel, blossoms proclaim to bees and bunnies “I’m here for your pleasure” offering its fruit for the taking and  bursting the earth to bring new life or build upon its new thoughts new dreams or new beginnings. This glimpse of heaven is one  that reveals it is an exciting place of continual strength, newness, freshness, fruitfulness and abundant joy and love that cannot do naught but create more beauty.

To think there’d be no long hot summer days—changes of pace as we fellowship with family and friends, enjoying buzzing bees, flitting butterflies or the smell of ripening fruit preparing to fill the horn of plenty.  This glimpse of heaven is one  that reveals  it is the essence of harmony where both kith and kin are in oneness, life is the great gift and abundance is the atmosphere. A place where family is eternal, enlarged as heaven itself, where fellowship, family and friendship are of the highest order as we rest together with Father God and elder brother. 

My view of heaven?  Surely there shall be something more glorious if when passing over they’d be no seasons—my glimpse of heaven is the beauty that is fragmented in this earthly realm but when one takes the time to see beyond the brokenness, then heaven like hell can be glimpsed even now.  The one we choose is the one we taste and can in knowing the secrets, see life now… as a glimpse of heaven.

Diane ~ August 2012

To Dream the Impossible Dream

”…We were like those who dream, then our mouth was filled with laughter and our tongue with joyful shouting.  ...”  [Psalm 126:1-2]

The intercom sounded and my name was called—I picked up the phone and life paused.  There has been an accident— “so sorry”, came the deep voice of the surgeon, “a main artery has been cut, we have called in a specialist.”

 Where does the heart go when words are spoken and the unthinkable draws close?  There must be a special veil that is drawn across the heart of a mother, when such information is given across the wires and as factual, as precisely as a temperature reading.  

I stood there not really grasping the words but only to think to call her husband and for a moment use the action to distance my heart from reality; our daughter’s life was in danger.  The waiting room became vague the noise slipped back as if no longer part of the physical environment.  Numb to the obvious we  waited—my sister and I—for such a time as this she had been sent on ‘holiday’, four thousand miles,  for just a visit.  As always throughout my life the awesome Sovereignty and watch-care of God was being displayed, by her very presence and when I needed my sister the most she was beside me!    

A simple surgery—growing from deep desire and longing—to become pregnant, to birth a child, to have a family. 

From the beginning of time God ordained it, sown in all of creation this desire for procreation cannot be denied, no misfortune can snuff-out the hope or diminish the dream.     To bear a child, to grow a family, to extend life.  Why now, why such agony of fruit from such a Godly desire. 

There are no answers in times of the valley of the shadow of death only hope, only desperate cries for help and healing.  This was not the first attempt to ‘make the impossible possible’—many others had taken this road and lived to birth a family like a hen gathering her chicks beneath her wings.  But for our daughter this attempt would prove to be the last—no more man-made attempts, no more experiments.  If this Sovereign Creator wanted to fulfill His Word, that man would procreate, then it would be done by Him alone!  This was the verdict and this the faith.  Not my will but thine be done.

Time went by, faith at times lagging but never far away— God holds fast to the heart and the heart holds fast the promise of God.    A few years pass—the home is made ready—a big home with room to play and to provide a nursery—faith lives.   I watched as hope struggled within the one who sought to stay strong and believe the miracle would come…and it did!

Not as man would think but as God had planned—conceived in less than love a little one was growing in the womb of one of no desire—but God had a plan.  Divine connections were made at the funeral of a friend of a friend and the plan of God moved into action.  Seven weeks later in a far-away place this miracle child was born and moments later placed in the arms of desire of our daughter. —The dream had come true!   What a gift of absolute joy.   At that moment a family was born, hope was fulfilled and the fight of faith was over for this miracle.    

REMEMBERING....

The Hill

I awoke this morning to see the dawn creeping over the ridge of mountains, the hard earth against my body did nothing for the ache inside, I wrapped the linen more tightly around me, as if to take away the sudden chill, knowing it was not the morning air but the happenings of the past few days that made it so,  surely...today will be a different day.

Stirring myself I remember our  journey  together and wonder what will this day  hold, how will it be now that our Master is to be crucified on a Cross and  treated like a common criminal.  I rise to go and mourn as many will for generations to come.    

I walk slowly up the hill hoping desperately things had changed—that somehow during the long dark night something miraculous had happened and our Master will not have to go through this valley of death—but it was not to be,  already in the dawns early light He hung there and my heart twisted with the reality that nothing would ever be the same.

The sudden silence—as if all creation, even the universe, is holding its breath, waiting…will man survive;  will this unseen war reach its bloody conclusion soon.  The time ticks by, how long will the silence last?  His chest suddenly heaves again and the silence is broken, life as we know it continues for yet another immeasurable moment in time.  As the chest falls, ripping and tearing the broken flesh and the dripping blood staggers the mind…He was to be our king...All around us  this strange fading light screams at us of dissolving dreams, shadowing hopes—those desperate desires that things could change and be different.  Wickedness, and her spawn evil laughter, chuckle gleefully as  anger gives way to despair and all around women weep and men turn their faces away from such defeat. 

I remember another hill not many days past when children laughed, and parents listened to the wonder filled words that  seemed to flow from His lips.  And now…what now…can I really absorb this reality and live?  I hear the crack of a whip, probably the same one that struck his back gouging and ripping open the flesh that now hangs in raw agony against the wooden post he’s nailed to. 
My mind is full of words, words of truth spoken by men of old in ages long past—who was it? –yes, I recall, it was Job who said "He marks out the horizon on the face of the waters for a boundary between light and darkness!"  [Job 26:10]

Between light and darkness---could it be this strange fading light is being marked by this man that claims to have owned the horizon?  Another sharp crack and I stir myself—“what did you say”—I ask of the man mumbling his words beside me, this soldier standing by watching his assignment of death by crucifixion,  his words are lost to my ears as wind and gathering storm carry them away.  He mumbles again a little louder this time, —“who is this man,?  he asked, as if baffled by the sense of impending wrath of God, for surely this untimely roaring cloud, crushing wind and rushing darkness has never been seen on such a bright and sunny day. 

I listen now to the One who suffers so—hanging on a roughly hewn Cross silhouetted against the darkened sky.  This Cross is stark and cruel, rough and raw,  like a bridge hung between heaven and hell.  I am undone by the sight of such cruelty and struck dumb by compassion as He speaks. “Father, forgive them. For they do not know what they are doing.”  Surely this is no human response, no man can draw from his own well this all consuming, unconditional love.

There are no children on this mountain—and many adults have left, only a few remain, drawn perhaps by something beyond their knowing yet gripped by their own sense of loss and shame.

 I move forward slightly as He turns His head.  I wonder what He would say to those whose life also hung in the balance, those hanging on their own cross beside Him—paradise He says to one of them, “…today you will be with me in paradise…” The other made no sound but smirked, I suppose at such a thought.

A sudden and wrenching cry escaped from deep within His brokenness and His words  echo around the mountain and a piercing pain almost tangible touched my ears —“My God, My God why have you forsaken me?”  Such depths of agony weaving through His cry made my soul shudder and my eyes weep in utter abandon to such hopeless, helpless suffering. 

There are muffled sounds of weeping coming from the small crowd and the atmosphere is one of deep sadness and unbelief that this could be happening.  An undeniable anger stirred within me when I remember the last three years—yes we had failed Him many times but we were human…here in this gathering darkness hung the Son of David the Messiah, heaving, shaking with pain, void of power—no miracle worker this—and we are left to stand or fall in the wake of such defeat.
Just as suddenly I return from my spurious journey and settle into my place beneath an empty Cross—I smile to myself as praise floods my soul, looking back has brought me unbelievable Joy.  He is no longer on the Cross neither is He in the tomb but faith assures me He sits beside His Father and intercedes on my behalf—what power this love is that would defeat death, hell and the grave and make a way for me to journey home to Him.

~DINX~  March 2012