Snowglobes

Just this week, as the Christmas holiday approached, a memory was brought back to me from my childhood. When I was little, my mother would sometimes receive snow globes as gifts. At Christmas, she would put the snow globes out, and I would shake them, and look into them. They did not contain the beautiful, complicated scenes and figures you might see in snow globes today. These snow globes of yesteryear were made of plastic, and the scenes inside were very simple, almost crude in workmanship. I would shake them, watching the snow swirl around inside them, and I would wish that I could live in the scene inside the snow globe. I could picture myself playing next to the snowman inside one globe, or living in the little house inside another globe. The scenes were sweet and wintery, and for a few moments, with my child's imagination, I inhabited those scenes.
I wondered why this old memory would come back to me so suddenly. I think I know why now.
We cannot escape the works of darkness that seem to fill our times and events. Every day, we hear and see news items from our own country, and from around the world, that reflect the very worst of the sinful nature of man. We are bombarded with these images and words. Television and the internet have made it possible to know of these events almost at the instant of their happening, like never before in history. We hear and see the weirdest shenanigans of celebrities, politicians and neighbors. Not much can remain hidden any longer.
I also hear communications lately from friends, loved ones, even fellow believers, filled with sadness, anger, depression, discouragement, anxiousness, and worries.
We even begin to look at the Body of Christ, fellow believers, the same way we look at the events of the world. We see the faults, we feel disappointment, and even betrayal, the "let-downs". Our whole eye has become filled with the fruit of the darkness that we see around us. Our mind and emotions fall victim to this world darkness. We become what we look at, what we fill our eyes with. Scripture tells the story of Jacob changing the color of sheep by what he put in front of their eyes, and in their drinking troughs (Gen. 30:37-43).
Our souls and spirits have become sickened because of the dark reports we have been surrounded by, and we don't even realize it. No, contrary to recent stories, it's not the air freshener, or the candle burning in the room that's making us sick, but it's the evening news. Much of our society has "shadenfreude", being entertained by, or getting perverse enjoyment  from, others' misfortune and tragedy.
However, while we live in the world, our purpose is not the same as the rest of the world. While, granted, the reported events of this world hopefully bring us to prayer, our eyes should not be filled with the darkness of these things, lest we become like them, and begin to suffer from the same repercussions of that darkness from which the world suffers:
"My eyes bring suffering to my soul because of all the daughters of my city."  Lam. 3:51
Jesus said, "The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore, your eye is good (healthy), your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad (evil, unhealthy), your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore, the light in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!" 
                                                                                                    Mt. 6:22-23
Our vision should be like our words (Rom. 4:17): Seeing things not as they are, but seeing things as they are meant to be, calling and seeing those things that be not, as if they already were, processing those dark things internally, as if they are light. How can this be done?
What we "see" is not dependent upon current events. It is dependent upon us.
You may insist that, unlike when we were children, it is not possible to inhabit a snow globe. You may say that we live as adults in the real world. So we do. However, what is to be our reality in this "real" world? This reality is described as part of our calling:
"For you see your calling, brethren...God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world, to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base (lowly) things of the world and the things which are despised, God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence."  1 Cor. 1:26-29
We are here to bring those dark, proud things that exist to nothing. They shouldn't be becoming part of us, troubling and sickening us.
Jesus taught about the unrelenting darkness of the end of the age. He taught about deception, wars, earthquakes, famine, pestilence, fearful sights on earth and in the heavens, persecution, betrayal, accusation, men's hearts failing from the fear and expectation of what was coming. (Lk. 21:8-26). However, these same events should cause a different expectation in our hearts. Jesus says that these events should be seen by us as the coming of our redemption, causing us to lift up our heads, to look up and see His coming. When we see these things happening, unlike other men, we are to see the kingdom of God drawing near. He says we should see these things as like seeing the budding of the trees, which promises the coming green leaves and fruits (figs) of summer. (Lk. 21:28-31) This should be what we see, and expect. What others are processing as horror and fear, we are processing as coming hope.
Jesus already told us above how to process the surrounding darkness, turning it into light and hope inside of us. The Apostle Paul also told us that we have been delivered from that power of darkness (Col. 1:13). In Phil. 4:4-9, he also said:
"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!...The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy-meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." 
When the Lord brought to my memory the scenes from the snow globes, and reminded me of how I used to desire to inhabit those scenes as a child, I think He was teaching me, in His unique way, what Jesus and Paul were teaching us above. In our spirits, we have the ability, even the power, to see darkness as light. We are commanded to see darkness as light. It is in us and through us, that the kingdom of darkness loses its power, and is transformed into the kingdom of light. It doesn't matter what everyone else reports and perceives, it matters, as sons of God, what we report and perceive. From the impression I have, I don't think Jesus kept His eyes on the workers of the darkness all around Him. He said that He did the works that He saw His Father doing, so His eyes were on His Father.  Where are our eyes looking?

Our Father reminds us to look into the snow globes.

"Whatever is True"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1M_-8dD_sI


"I Lift My Eyes Up (Psalm 121)"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9g4eqKDkDiw

Handled

The scripture that caught my attention and thoughts today is from 1 John 1:1:
That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life-..."
The writer of this book, the Apostle John, wants to make sure his readers know that he is not just writing about something he heard second hand from others, but he is writing to them of things he heard, saw, and touched, himself. He makes the point that he handled Jesus, touching Him with his own hands. 
From the moment He was born to His resurrection, Jesus was touched and handled by others. He allowed Himself to be touched in so many different ways, and circumstances.
As a baby, His mother, Mary, wrapped Him, and cared for Him with a mother's tenderness.
The song, "Mary, Did You Know?" beautifully asks if Mary knew when she kissed her baby's face, that she kissed the face of God?
As Jesus travelled and ministered, and taught about His Father's kingdom, many touched Him.  The scriptures relate the story of a woman who was desperate to be healed, who only touched His clothes. Jesus perceived the healing power that had flowed out of Him. He asked "Who touched Me?" His disciples were amazed at the question because many were touching Him: "Master, the multitude throng and press You, and You say, "Who touched Me?" (Lk. 8:43-45). Not only did this woman touch Him, but He was pressed and thronged by many in that same moment, pressing against Him, grabbing at Him. Out of the many that touched Him in demand, He perceived the one who touched Him in faith, and hope.
In a much different manner, on a different occasion, Jesus' family and friends tried to seize Him, to take hold of Him, because they said He was out of His mind. (Mk. 3:21). What a terrible thing to think of now, when we know who Jesus is! And yet He had to endure this type of handling from friends and family.
Similarly, those who were angered by His words, took Him into their hands and thrust Him out of the town, taking Him to a cliff where they intended to throw Him off. (Lk. 4:29).
There is a precious story of a woman who touched Jesus in thanks and worship. She came into a dinner being held at a Pharisee's house, and began to wash Jesus' feet with her tears, and dry them with her hair. She kissed His feet, and anointed them with perfumed oil. He received her touch. However, because He allowed her touching and handling, the Pharisee who was His host, judged that Jesus could not be a prophet, or He "would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner." (Lk. 7:36-39). Her touching of Jesus greatly offended the Pharisee, but it didn't offend Jesus. The religious are offended, but the humble who handle Jesus this way are raised up.
Jesus allowed His disciples to physically lean against Him for support, and affection. (Jn. 13:23).
He was betrayed with a kiss from a friend. (Lk. 22:47-48).
Jesus was handled with violence upon His arrest, and crucifixion. He was punched, spat upon, hands grabbed His beard and pulled it out. He was beaten with reeds, scourged, stripped in humiliation, and punctured. This is also how men handled Jesus.
Other men's hands gently removed Him from the cross, wrapped a sheet of linen cloth over and under Him, and laid Him in the tomb.
After Jesus was raised from the dead, He encouraged one of His fearful and doubtful disciples, Thomas, to handle Him, to touch His wounds, to see that He was not a ghost, but the same Jesus the disciple knew and loved:
"Then He said to Thomas, "Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here, and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing." And Thomas answered and said to Him, "My Lord and my God!"  Jn. 20:27-28
When Thomas handled Jesus at that moment, he received a life-changing revelation, even though he had witnessed Jesus in ministry and teaching many times before. At that touch, he declared to Jesus, "My Lord and my God!"
Men were allowed to "handle" Jesus. How they handled Him either condemned them, or saved them. The same is true today. He still places Himself into men's hands. How will we touch and handle Him?

Our Father gives us His Son to handle.

* Painting at the top of the page:
"Doubting Thomas" by Caravaggio


"He Touched Me"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kW3BRX0B8f0

"If I Can Touch the Hem of Your Garment"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=exs9KdAckD0

Light

During this season of Hanukkah and Christmas, we express a spiritual truth using lights. Hanukah is called the Feast of Lights, or the Feast of Dedication, and a menorah is lighted each night for eight nights, to celebrate the fact that the LORD extended the oil needed to keep the Lamp of the Temple lit beyond the one-day supply of oil that was on hand. As that Feast is observed today, the menorah is placed in a window, so the light of it can be seen by others.
The command of the LORD to Moses generations before regarding that Lamp in the Holy Place was that its lights should remain lighted continually:
"And you shall command the children of Israel that they bring you pure oil of pressed olives for the light, to cause the lamp to burn (ascend) continually...Aaron and his sons shall tend it from evening until morning before the LORD. It shall be a statute forever to their generations on behalf of the children of Israel."   Ex. 27:20-21
Our celebration of Christmas, the birth of our Savior and Messiah, Jesus, is also filled with lights. We cover our homes, trees, bushes, and anything that stands still long enough, with lights.
The quality and power of light cannot be separated from God:
"This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare to you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all."     1 Jn. 1:5
It is His first act of creation in Gen. 1. The darkness that had entombed the earth, before the command of light was given, was total, and so deep and thick, it was like the darkness at the bottom of a pit, or an abyss. The light of God, contained in the power of His word, broke through the darkness, and light and dark were separated, even severed. When He spoke "light", it was not just natural light. By meaning of the word, "or", it is the light of day, the light of a lamp, the light of life, the light of prosperity, the light of instruction, the light of a face. In this case, the light of the face of God.
The importance of the light of God is revealed in His word:
"For You are my lamp, O LORD; The LORD shall enlighten my darkness."    2 Sam. 22:29
The light of the LORD is His quality of righteousness and salvation:
"For Zion's sake I will not hold My peace, and for Jerusalem's sake, I will not rest, until her righteousness goes forth as brightness, and her salvation as a lamp that burns."
                                                                                                              Isa. 62:1
The Biblical prophecies of the birth of Jesus, and the description of His purpose and power, are very much tied into the lamp, and light of His Father:
"...By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death, upon them a light has shined."    Isa. 9:2, Mt. 4:15-16, Lk. 1:79, Lk. 2:32
The light of a star gave revelation of Him, and showed the way to His presence in the manger, the place where God touched the earth in the form of a baby. (Num. 24:17, Mt. 2:2).
The light quality of Jesus' life was told in John:
"In Him was life, and the light was the life of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend (seize, overcome, overtake) it...That was the true light, which gives light to every man coming into the world."   Jn. 1:4,5,9
Jesus identifies Himself as the Light:
"...I am the light of the world. He who follows Me, shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life...As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world."   Jn. 8:12, 9:5.
However, He didn't come to keep the light of God to Himself only, but to manifest it through men. He redefined those who would follow Him, and revealed to them God's great purpose in them:
"You are the light of the world. A  city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden...Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father in heaven."
                                                                                          Mt. 5:14, 16
Apostle Paul tells us this same thing beautifully:
"For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God, and not of us."    2 Cor. 4:6-7
During this time in which we live, it seems that darkness is raising its prideful head as never before in the earth. More than ever, the light of the promise of our Christmas Savior, and the lamp of Hanukkah, need to shine forth to dispel that darkness. It shines forth through us, by the Living Word, and Spirit in us. Out of the thick darkness, the voices are crying out. If we stop and listen, we can hear them around us. It is the light of God through Christ in us that pushes back that darkness. We should not be fooled, frightened, nor overcome by the darkness. Even more so, we should SHINE!
"Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; But the LORD will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you. The nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."       Isa. 60:1-3
Hallelujah! Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah.

Our Father shines His saving, glory light through us.


"Mary, Did You Know?"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifCWN5pJGIE

"Light A Candle"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6K2ocj4BvUQ

"Go Light Your World"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsM5lt9tCFo