The Crown(s)

^Rev.8 And the four living creatures, individually having six wings, were full of eyes all over and within [underneath their wings]; and day and night they never stop saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty (Omnipotent), Who was and Who is and Who is to come.  ⁹ And whenever the living creatures offer glory and honor and thanksgiving to Him Who sits on the throne, Who lives forever and ever (through the eternities of the eternities), ¹⁰ The twenty-four elders (the members of the heavenly Sanhedrin) fall prostrate before Him Who is sitting on the throne, and they worship Him Who lives forever and ever; and they throw down their crowns before the throne, crying out, ¹¹ Worthy are You, our Lord and God, to receive the glory and the honor and dominion, for You created all things; by Your will they were [brought into being] and were created. (AMP)

Crown: the royal authority given tot he victorious co-heirs of Christ.

When I was a young girl we used to play a game called ‘capture the princess’.  I was one of only a couple girls that played, so I always got to be the princess.  I had a cardboard crown and sword.  There was a gulley with a hill on either side.  On one side were the paupers and on the other side was the Royal Family.  The King’s men were to keep the other guys from getting up the hill and stealing the princess.  If they got through the warriors, they would take the crown, throw it on the ground to denounce her royal position and she would become a pauper.  I fought for that crown as much as any of the others, grabbing it back, picking it up off the ground; I screamed and kicked as they took me to the other side of the gulley.  I wanted to stay a princess.  My status, my worth, my significance during that game was that I was a princess.  Losing was really not an option.

I still feel that way.  I am a princess of the One, True God.  Losing out to the enemy is not an option.  I fight to find my value in Christ rather than the world.  Often Lucifer tries to get the best of me through pride, title-seeking, self-importance or the desire to be needed.  I want to cling to my crown.  Sometimes I long for the physical sound of applause and ‘bravo’s’.   As God shared this word with me, I began thinking specifically about the elders 'casting (to shed or throw) their crowns (headdress of royalty, achievement, title or victory) on the throne. 

An act of adoration, they fell down before him.  Crowns flying in the air, abandoned at His feet.  No longer needed was the thing that made them great while living in the world.  No Kingdom, no riches no man's validation; a willing surrender of their authority in light of the worthiness of God as Creator.  What is perishable in life is imperishable in eternity (1Cor 9:25). 

At His feet, they found all humility, reverence and Godly fear.  All Glory owed to Him as they acknowledge that "His crown is infinitely more glorious than theirs and that it is their glory to be glorifying God" (Matthew Henry).  They now, as we will will one day, wear the crown of righteousness (2Tim4:8), crown of life (Jms1:12) & the crown of glory (1Peter5:4), yet still  throw them at the throne of God knowing they can give Him nothing but owe Him all.

During service today we sang "I'd rather have Jesus" summing up my thoughts of the past few days.

"I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold;

I'd rather be His than have riches untold;

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or lands;

I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand.

  Than to be the king of a vast domain

   and be held in sin's dread sway;

   I'd rather have Jesus than anything

   This world affords today.

I'd rather have Jesus than men's applause;

I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause;

I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame;

I'd rather be true to His Holy name."

I fall to my face, in reverence, before Him and cast my crown(s) at His feet.

Just a few thoughts....

Dancing with my precious King

I was dancing with the Lord this morning.  An easy, slow rhythm.  He looked at me, smiled and twirled me with a little extra step.

 “Let Me lead” he whispered in my ear.  I glanced at him quizzically.  “of course” I said.  I mean, men always lead when dancing and surely I trust the Lord to lead me in life. 

We danced a few more steps and stopped.  “Let Me lead”.  Oh dear, I thought, I’m not doing well here. 

We danced on. … and stopped.  “I will lead”.  “I’m so sorry.  I will not move my feet until you move Yours.” 

The dance that erupted was more like a ‘swing’ than a ‘waltz’ and much more fun.  I was laughing when I heard Him say, “That’s what life is like when I lead”. 

The Heartbeat

When John lay against your breast at the supper table, I imagine all he could hear was your heart beat.  That sure and steady sound enveloping him, keeping him standing beside you through the trial, up the hill and next to your mother at the foot of the cross while others scattered and hid. 

Your voice, your heartbeat over mans is what I desire most intently.

 “Press in, press in, press in.  Lean into my breast as John did and listen to the heartbeat of One that loves you beyond all measure; beyond all words.  For you who come void of need, void of questions, just to be closer;  still you, my beloveds of all, receive as you seek…the pureness of the river of life descending from the throne, clear as crystal offering its healing.  And in this time of darkness and terror you will find peace in the arms of One who sees beyond and keeps you untouched in His arms.”

Endless Love

Swim in the depths

flowing through the eyes

of He who created you.

Endless love

Endless peace

Endless Grace

Run to the throne

where wholeness is found

reaching up to embrace

all power and authority

freely given

as you speak

 the Name Above all Names

Climb under the wings

of refuge and rest

calling on the Name

you’ve trusted

to answer

to protect

to cling to.

Lay your head

on His breast

hearing the heartbeat of life.

Listen.

It will guide you into perfect will

& lead you

down the path

of righteousness.

A Light in the Dark

It was pitch black and yet from my window a small but discernible light caught my eye.  Attracted to the shining orb, there was a comfort stemming from the knowledge that all was not dark. I sat without moving drawn to the peacefulness it offered.  I couldn’t see movement from beyond the curtains, yet warmth consumed me in the smoke rising from the chimney.  Had I been a weary traveler, I would have chosen this home to rest from my sojourning, expecting to be wrapped in a cozy blanket and offered a warm bowl of soup. 

I was reminded this morning, through the word of another, something I forget in the light of all that is tragically going on in our world & through our government’s hands.  I am called to discern the times and pray accordingly.  To a certain extent, I succumb to how satan is trying to show himself more powerful than the Father we serve and at times  find myself speaking death rather than life over our country’s leaders or the situations that have been created over the years.  I am touched by the Father’s need for us to walk in His image bringing “light into a dark world.”

The fact is I just want to be a mouthpiece, prayer warrior and servant of the One and Only thing that matters most in my life.  It should be so simple.  I just want to have dove eyes for the things of the Kingdom.  I want to call Heaven to earth and live like the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand.  I want to walk in the Glory, heal the sick, raise the dead and cleanse the leper.  I want to speak only of the things of Jesus & draw others to His breast. 

Some tell me those thoughts are too lofty, too ‘heavenly bound to make an earthly difference’ but I believe that being ‘heavenly bound’ is not only our goal, but the only way we can save the peoples of our nations.  It sounds easy, it sounds zealous; it also sounds ludicrous but it’s how the disciples and apostles were.  They pronounced the Name of Jesus everywhere, exclaimed over the signs and miracles, tried to emulate Him and didn’t make excuses for His sovereignty. 

And isn’t this what God has called us to in Matthew 5:14-16?  “You are the light of the world.  A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand and it gives light to all who are in the house.  Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your father in heaven.”

1John speaks extensively about what it means to ‘walk in the light’. 

“God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in Him.”  (the MSG) John goes on to say, we mustn’t stumble around in the dark or claim we are free of sin.  We must keep His commandments and love our brothers and sisters.  “It’s the person who loves brother and sister who dwells in God’s light and doesn’t block the light from others.  But whoever hates is still in the dark, stumbles around in the dark, doesn’t know which end is up, blinded by the darkness”.  (the MSG) 

We mustn’t love the world’s ways but know Who we belong to, Who has anointed us and to walk in the truth. “I’ve written to warn you of those who are trying to deceive you.  But they’re no match for what is embedded deeply within you – Christ’s anointing no less!   You don’t need any of their so-called teaching. Christ’s anointing teaches you the truth on everything you need to know about yourself and Him, uncontaminated by a single lie.  Live deeply in what you were taught.”   (the MSG)

We must love one another. “The way we know we’ve been transferred from death to life is that we love our brothers and sisters.  Anyone who doesn’t love is as good as dead.  Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know very well that eternal life and murder don’t go together. This is how we’ve come to understand and experience love: Christ sacrificed His life for us.”  (the MSG)

Walking in the light of truth and love makes us the welcoming home to the weary sojourner.  Cindy McGill says, “We all feel it.  God is preparing the stage for a huge move from heaven.  Reformation and revival are on the way.  Creative words rest in our mouths.  Life words will defeat dead works. When we speak life into dangerous situations, we can actually see the transformation and situations can turn around in a moment of time.”

Today, I choose to stand on top of the hill!