Do you believe that one of God's main objectives is to give your soul rest, to refresh you?  Do you believe He breathes upon you to do so?  If you are a Christian, do you believe it was a one time event at point of your belief in Jesus or freshly made available?  

I am learning a little bit about the Hebrew language; and how word meanings are tied to each other.  More specifically, I see there are "beginning" root words that have "offshoots" of many other words.  Those offshoots stay tied by meaning to the root word which gives greater depth, important context, powerful images, and clarity of meaning to the "offshoot".  

The Hebrew language ties object to genesis of beginning and purpose. A simple example for root being tied to the offshoots might be a "Which came first, the chicken or the egg?" kind of idea.  The egg did not come first, the chicken came first, Genesis 1:21.   Therefore when we hold a chicken egg in our hand, it is not merely an egg, it is an egg that came from a chicken. Seems obvious, but not all examples are as clear to people.    Some relationships between 2 separate words invite debate and reveal clear differences of belief.    

Let's take the example of soul and breath.  How much controversy and opinion might come if you asked a group of people, "Which came first, the soul or the breath?"    Some believe the soul is a figment of people's imagination and doesn't even really exist.  Some people believe the soul can live beyond the breath leaving the body; but in NO WAY would they argue the soul lives beyond death due to the breath of God giving it life beyond the grave.  This is the belief that human consciousness lives on after a person dies in a new level of consciousness that just is... period end of argument for those type of folks.

Yet in God's original Hebrew language, in His design, God has tied the soul and breath together for life beyond the grave.  Do you know what you believe?  Which came first?  The soul or the breath?  

Answer: see Genesis 2:7

Human beings have living souls because the breath of God first breathed into the first human Adam.  

Note in the images below, in the 'Root Word Etymology' column, which word is the "primitive root" and which one is "from" the primitive root of H5314?   Look at how similar the Hebrew letters are that form both words.  They are inextricably tied.  The living soul comes only from the breath of God, Genesis 2:7.  

Unfortunately the refreshing of the human soul was cut off when the first humans preferred personal will over God's will, read Genesis chapter 3.  God must breathe on us again to redeem our souls and give us life.  The LORD has sent His breath and we choose whether or not to receive Him, 

John 3: 5 Jesus answered, “Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, ‘You must be born again.’ 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.”

The root word of naphash (H5314) is described in the Hebrew Chaldee Lexicon as a type of breath that breathes strongly, to pant.  It further states that it is about taking a breath when wearied.  This gives a picture of someone who has exerted themselves.  Who is the breath that exerted Himself to a point of giving up his own breath?  

Mark 15:37- With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last.

Who offers his breath as a gift of eternal life? 

John 20:22- 22 And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit."

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Has your soul ever been made alive by His breath?  How recently have you felt refreshed by His breath?   

Mark 6:31b- he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.”
Matthew 11:28- 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

God is gracious.  God longs to refresh the weary soul.  He made a way for human souls to be refreshed once again.  He longs to breathe life.  He longs to give souls rest.  He died and sent His Spirit as His breath that raises up by blowing on those who call upon His name for eternal life, 

Ephesians 2:4-5- 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

EXERCISE:  1) Take time to ask for refreshing.  "Breath of Christ come."
2)  Take 30-45 seconds to slow your own breath and focus on filling your lungs and expelling out the stress of the week.  Continue breathing deeply inviting Christ to come.
3)  Make a simple request, "Jesus breathe life into my soul, refresh me with your life giving breath."
Remember spirit gives birth to spirit.  
4)  Ask for renewal by His Spirit.  Then just wait, keep breathing and to keep your mind from wandering, continually repeat his name, "Jesus."
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Try that simple exercise and experience the life giving power of the Name you are calling upon.  He loves you and longs to breathe new life into your soul.  Blessings.

I am going back to the place God provided as part-time employment for a little while last year at a wage I haven't been paid since my 20's. This week I worked full time getting a training refresher so I could begin 12 part-time hours going forward. It is not a position I would ever take or pursue, but God is leading, not me. There is kingdom harvest there as I mentioned in testimony from the post of 6-9-17.

God's ways are not our ways. We do not love the way He loves. We are not predisposed to forsake our power, our position, and plans to humbly follow by faith wherever the Spirit leads. We want control. We want glory. We want to be important. We want what we want when we want it, in the way we want it. But left to ourselves, we will never see His reflection looking back at us. He alone knows how to conform us to his image.

2 Corinthians 317 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

He calls us to meditate and ponder the extreme extent of His love. He calls us to be willing to taste some of that suffering for ourselves. Certainly no one will ever "taste" what he tasted on our behalf, but we can know the flavor.

This has been a big part of what the Lord has helped me with in my relationship with Him. Over many years, He has shown me how much my own will is in direct opposition to a Savior who gave up all His glory to willingly suffer extreme forms of humiliation, rejection, poverty, pain, betrayal, loneliness, mental anguish, unjust punishment, false accusations, torture, and God's wrath.

The more clearly I have seen his glory and walked a path of tasting the flavor of his more extreme taste, the more clearly I am seeing his heart being formed in me. Praise God the gift of His Sacrifice is an unending supply of grace, because I have needed it as I still battle him. But He wins more quickly, I am loving in ways I have never loved, praying in ways I have never prayed, being content in ways I have not been content. I am seeking the lost and feeding God's own at the loss of myself. But there is treasure to be discovered there, there is a longing for salvation. There is a desperate need for peace and joy and release from captivity.

I see it in the face of 92 year old the Lord sent me to go visit recently, the 80 year old too that is her faithful friend. I hear it in the 67 year old just diagnosed with prostate cancer. It is in the whisper of the spirit I recently heard as the Lord impressed me to stop what I was doing and go talk to my retired neighbor. It is in the call to go back to the medical facility and "see" and "listen" to people, talk to them, and share "Good News".

It has been a stretch of faith to depend upon God for my daily needs, to believe the $60 I need for a bill will come on the day I need it. But God is faithful and provides!

Jesus says "Seek first the kingdom of God and 'all these things' will be given to you as well." As the Lord has reordered my life, He does give all we need. In ways I never imagined! In my mid 30's when I made a choice to let go of career and follow at all costs, I let go of my nice size retirement account and any thoughts of replacing it. Many call it crazy and irresponsible. Not God. Recently someone was burdened for me and and has made sure I will be okay when I reach that time in my life! That is the miraculous provision of God! That is a God who goes above and beyond! 15 years later, He stepped in and replaced a "nest egg" I let go of plus some! Seek first the kingdom of God!

Take time to meditate upon whether your eyes are healthy or unhealthy. The reference is a picture to ponder about a greedy or generous soul. Ask the Lord to cleanse, purge, and fill you with His light. It is not about condemnation, it is about the humble cry of, "Lord, I need you to change me because I can not. Help me!"

Exercise:  

1. Ask the Holy Spirit to bring revelation.  
2. Read the Matthew 6 section below several times before praying to assess the state of your eyes.  Notice what words jump out at you.  
3. Note what thoughts that come up and simply tell God what you are thinking and feeling.  Ask Him to help you understand and direct your mind to a state of renewal by His love. 
4. Assess whether you think you have to work for everything or if you believe that He promises to give you all that you need as you make Him priority, Matthew 6:33.  

​Matthew 6: 19-34- 19 "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.
21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22 "The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light.
23 But if your eyes are unhealthy your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24 "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.
25 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?
26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?
28 "And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.
29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?
31 So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'
32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
​34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.


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When in Old City Jerusalem in 2015, I heard the sounds of little children calling out a familiar word. "Abba!" I wish I could type it out the way I heard it because it was so very different than how I had pronounced it. There was a sweetness, a dependency, a lilt, an emphasis on the 2nd syllable that clearly communicated dependency and expectancy. It made an impression. It brought to mind the scripture from Romans.

Romans 8:15- The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba. Father.”

There are many Christians, many people who will stay distant from God because they have arguments in their mind about God being a good father. I have prayed for many men and women who come to tears almost instantly when I inquire how well they know God as Father. Unhealed wounds are still very alive, the scab easily picked and bleeding again.

God designed a father to play a vital role in affirming son or daughter, calling them up and out of a mother’s care, to mature into healthy adulthood. One of the critical seasons a father plays a vital role is during puberty. Prominent Christian psychologists like Dr. James Dobson and Dr. Larry Crabb have noted often in their teachings that a father plays a critical role to affirm with words and their presence. Loving and safe fathers help their child establish a healthy foundation as they enter formative adult years.

Affirmation and presence. This is available in a healthy prayer relationship with God.

There is a Father available to all who is the Master of Affirmation. Jesus knew this as a child.

When we consider that we have one account of Jesus in childhood, it is at the age of 12. For Hebrew children this was their coming of age season when they were now considered accountable to God for their actions. For girls it is age 12, for boys it is age 13.

Jesus, at the age of 12, is documented as staying behind after the Passover Festival in Jerusalem. His parents spent 3 days searching for Jesus because they didn’t know where he had disappeared to. They found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. When they asked him why he did that to them, he said’; “Why were you searching for me? Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” - Luke 2:49

At the critical age of forming identity, at the age of coming into adulthood, Jesus knew that who he needed the most was His Father in Heaven. If it is true for Jesus, it is true for those of us who have been adopted as sons and daughters by God in Heaven!

If we look later on in Jesus’ life, we find an account of God the Father affirming his Son in the presence of others.

Matthew 7:15- “While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!”

Here is evidence that a good father affirms their child by letting them know they are loved and accepted. If Jesus needed to hear and know it, you and I need the same.

Maybe this is a journey of discovery for you that will take some time; but as part of a prayer time for the Father’s Day weekend, ponder and assess how you view the Heavenly Father. God the Father calls us out from an identity of flesh, recreating our identity by Spirit. Flesh gives birth to flesh; but spirit gives birth to spirit, John 3:6. Through Christ we are “born from above”, eternally adopted by Him. By his Spirit in our hearts we then cry out, “Abba, Father.” No longer a slave, no longer afraid of feeling condemned in the presence of our Father, but a child loved and accepted. God’s child and heir of the Kingdom, Galatians 4:6-7.

How much we need to be known, loved, and accepted despite our deepest darkness! God loves us anyways through the gracious forgiveness given in Christ. But we must come to Him to receive that love and know that forgiveness.

Take time to really consider what you need to hear from the Father. If Christ were sitting in front of you, what would you tell him you need to hear from your father? From your Heavenly Father? Wherever tears may start to form or feelings of anger rise up, these are hints you’re thinking about an area in deep need of healing by the Heavenly Father. Ask Jesus to give you eyes to see and know him, because whoever sees or knows Jesus also sees and knows the Father, John 14:7. Ask Jesus to heal and lead you on the journey to wholeness. Ask him to give you ears to hear the whispers of the Father's love by the Holy Spirit.

To help you begin, consider using the form below. I handed this out in “The Father’s Love” meditation held last year in a group setting. Participants found it helpful in assessing specific areas as well as pinpointing one aspect of the Father’s love to focus in scripture study going forward. May you, at a minimum, be vulnerable and willing to whisper, “Abba” in prayer. If that is the only word you utter, in a prayer time with God, it is a very good Word. He loves you!

Matthew 19:14- Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."

Come all who are thirsty, come to the waters- Isaiah 55:1a

What waters?  Do you know how to translate Jesus' invitation? 

Whenever I’ve talked to anyone about God, I’ve never started with a teaser of sorts, “If you knew the gift of God…”  I’ve never told anyone to ask Jesus for a drink of living water.  In terms of talking about God to people who do not know Him, I do not use that language that Jesus used.  I wonder why not; and, I think I should try it because I want to be more like Him.  He provoked people to ask more questions.  He stirred curiosity.

One thing is certain, people are thirsty so it should not be hard to provoke people to inquire about waters that satisfy the soul.  Jesus promises that for all who are thirsty, to come and receive “living water”. 

John 4:10 Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water.”

How is living water different than water?  It is supernatural provision for our soul sent from above and given through Christ (John 4:10, John 7:37).  The Spirit is living water meant to fill our souls; He is meant to be poured out for others to drink.  How often have you poured him out?  Increasingly I feel this challenge by the Holy Spirit to pour out.

John 7:38- 38 Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

As part of arranging my life to prioritize ministry, I have been working part-time and relying on God to provide the rest.  One of the part-time positions I took for 3+ months last year was for a large local employer, placed within a department of 100+ people.  While in this position, I quickly saw it was one of God’s ways to open my eyes to a world of spiritual hunger and thirst.  Addiction, physical pain, emotional distress, fear, anger, strain, brokenness, tears, spiritual confusion, etc were all part of what was communicated as I talked with patients.  And while I could not talk with patients about God, I could talk to employees.
 
When asked by employees why I was working there part-time, I told people I had started a ministry for biblical meditation and prayer resources, and used the rest of my week for that ministry.   Many had immediate curiosity.  Several kept asking about it.  One woman stayed persistent, continuing to be curious about God, prayer, church, my story, etc.  God kept my “eye” on her in particular, that fountain within me that is meant to pour out living water for another to drink. 

John 4: 14 but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I kept asking God to fill me, flow out of me and give her living water.  She and I did not get a lot of time to talk because of how the schedules and breaks were set up.  We just had small flashes of time; but I took minutes here and there to visit her cubicle, listen, and then pour out.  In November, I left that job to start a different part-time job; but God kept her on my heart.   Long story short, she has recently started coming regularly to my church with her daughter.  Not only that, but she brought another woman from the department.  That woman is also bringing her 2 daughters.  The 3 teens are already attending a weekly youth group.  Thirst.

Is your fountain clear?  Is it filled?  Is it flowing?  Are you connected with the flow of the rivers of living water within?  Are you drinking deeply? 

Water that sits becomes stagnant, starts to smell, breeds bacteria, draws parasites, etc.  Living water is meant to touch your deep well to cleanse, fill, and overflow.

Scripture says that deep calls to deep in the roar of God’s waterfalls, Psalm 42:7.  The word translated as waterfall in our English scripture translation, comes from a word in Hebrew that really means a hollow water channel, most accurately a water spout or a gutter.  Take a look at these 2 types of hollow water channels.

The idea of deep calling to deep is a soul crying of thirst, desperate to be filled. The writers of Psalm 42:7 are expressing deep thirst and downcast souls. One deep is calling to another deep.

God’s deep fills. God’s deep overwhelms and satisfies. God’s deep cleanses. God’s deep is supernatural life.

The 2 images above give dramatic context for the soul either being overwhelmed by God’s Heaven sent provision of living water or of being filled to flowing, no longer an empty hollow channel, but abundantly supplied.

If caught under a water spout in Northern Israel (where writers of Psalm 47 reference) , the sight and sound would most likely take your breath away. You would be enthralled, wanting to drink in the experience as long as possible. Waterspouts form over warm waters and land and most often are a much milder form of a tornado, more awe inspiring than fear inducing. I did a search on youtube for water spouts people have captured on video. This one above is amazing! Note their response of awe and amazement! This is the deep soul satisfying experience time with God is meant to be! Living water satisfying our deepest thirst!

In contrast, our deep traps us. Our deep waters hate us. Our deep waters will drown us. Our deep channels crack and become empty; we forsake Heavenly supply. Our deep waters require a cry for supernatural help and rescue.

Psalm 69:2- I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me.

Psalm 69:14- Deliver me out of the mire, and let me not sink: let me delivered from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

Psalm 18:16- He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters.
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Jeremiah 2:13- “My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water.

If your gutter channel within or cistern is cracked and empty, a supernatural overflow and filling is what is desperately needed. Are you digging somewhere else, reaching for that which does not satisfy? How Jesus longs that we say “yes” to his always open invitation to “come to the waters”.

What is your thirst? What is your deep? Take it to God and ask to be filled. Ask Him to speak His Word over you. Envision the Holy Spirit hovering over your deep as He did in the beginning of time to create life and execute God’s perfect order. He puts disorder in order. For a picture on the Holy Spirit hovering, check out a previous blog. He lovingly hovers and broods with tender affection.

Once freshly filled, share your supernatural living water, pour out to others. They are thirsty; and more than we imagine, they want it.

John 4:15- The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.”

Yesterday had some unexpected tasks so I didn’t write the blog as I normally do.  I am wrapping up a part-time position that required most of the day, then had some friends over to wait on and worship in God’s presence.  It was very good.  I’ve been missing (thirsting) for those times.

When I lived in Southern California, I had access to many options to wait on the Spirit together with the Lord’s people.  On Friday nights, I could go to a home where up to 20 young adults would gather just for the purpose to worship and pray.  At my small group, we set aside at least 30 minutes to worship and pray at the end of our time together.  On Sunday evenings, a pastor led a bible study; but made sure we opened each time in extended prayer and worship.  It wasn’t hurried.  We always waited on God and expected Him to reveal himself as we shared our heart with him.  There was a woman named Roma who came to the Sunday night group.  She was a senior who loved God; and clearly, knew Him quite intimately.  She modeled for me what it was like to wait, to listen, to boldly speak what God was laying on her heart.  So often what she said ministered very deeply to broken places within.  I miss gathering together with the body of Christ and waiting in an unhurried way, seeking His face with expectant hearts.

In last week’s blog, I mentioned that tomorrow is Pentecost on our calendar this year.  It was the appointed time Jesus set to pour out the promised power and person of the Spirit.

John 14: 15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever--17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.

The disciples obeyed the One they loved and waited together on the promised Holy Spirit.

Acts 2:1- When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Waiting together, believing together, praying together.  I thirst for this and am realizing I have been thirsting for it for a long time.  

Last night as we waited together, it left me wanting more.  There is nothing like a gathering filled with the Spirit’s presence! The time flew by! 2 hours of prayer and worship seemed insufficient. 
  
IF YOU LOVE ME…

How do you develop your love relationship with God?  How are you repeating back to Him his words of life and pouring out blessing to the Savior?  King David was a warrior, a shepherd, a king, a mighty man of God.  He didn’t hold back his love, even in public settings, even in the rebuke of his wife, 2 Samuel 6:14 and 2 Samuel 6:20-23.  He was a man after God’s own heart. 

Individually, are we men and women after his heart? 

Corporately, do we freely express our love for him in public worship?  Are we willing to face loved ones rejection and reply as King David did, “I will celebrate before the LORD.”     Would we say that in the Body of Christ at large, we see a family culture that longs and thirsts for waiting in His presence?  Do we understand what that means?   God has put on my heart people simply don’t know what they don’t know.  If it has never been modeled for you, you probably do not understand.   
There is treasure in seeking Him.  Comfort, shelter, renewal, love, mercy, gentle whispers, sweet kisses, waiting on the Spirit of the Bridegroom.  Waiting together, we are knit together in love. 

Here is how last night looked for the 6 of us that gathered if you want to try it…

1. Each had their bible to reference in anticipation of the Spirit putting a scripture on our heart.  Some had journals to make notes of what the LORD put on their heart.
2. Have a computer device of some sort that plays a set of music.  I used my IPAD.
3. A prepared list of worship songs.  I used Spotify and had a set of songs to play.
4. We weaved back and forth between prayer and worship.   Example:   After a few songs passed, we took time to pray “You are the God who…”

• In “popcorn” prayer, short prayers simply proclaiming who God is.

i.                                You are the God who sees me
ii.                               You  are the God who opens the eyes of the blind
iii.                              You are the God who alone is righteous and judges with fairness
iv.                              You are the God who forgave me
v.                               You are the God who healed me

     5.  Then I started a set of worship songs again.  After a few songs passed, we took time to pray again.  Example:  We took time to confess weaknesses, proclaiming that God’s spirit would rest on us (2 Corinthians 12:10)

• Short, general prayers, admitting need and weakness

i.                                Lord I struggle with impatience
ii.                               Lord I struggle with pride
iii.                              Lord my mind is scattered, order my thoughts
iv.                              Lord I confess my thankfulness for your forgiveness
v.                               Lord I need to see more light, less darkness

     6.  Then started a set of worship songs again.  After a few songs passed, we took time to pray again. Example:  In step with the last song played, felt God wanting us to pray by name for those who need to know Him.

1. Lord I think you are calling “xxx”, use me to speak to her
2. Lord I see you working in the life of “xxxx”, show me how to love and share Jesus

7. We started worship again, and ended by praying for each other, praying for the person on our right.  We pronounced blessings on each other and asked for more of the Spirit in one another's lives.  We carried one another into God's arms.
 
I hope you consider a time like this.  Time in God’s presence transforms and renews.  Together is even better.  Love Him, our king is worth our time and heart.  

If you believe in the mission to inspire people to linger longer with Christ, consider becoming a monthly donor, consider a one time gift.  With the end of this last part-time position, I will be giving more time to the call and believing God for provision!  Read more about the call on the main blog page.  Click on the image for the article at the top of the page, written by Mike Bickle, the director of International House of Prayer.  Blessings and please feel free to share the blog!