If you are a Christian, there is a groan within.  It will not go away.  Do you know what it is, why it is there?  Let’s pray about it today.
 
Discontentment is a problem for humanity.  We always want more.  Nothing truly satisfies.  Maybe momentarily and for seasons we have contentment, but for the most part it doesn’t last.  This is true even for Christians.  But our groaning (Christians) within is different, and is set apart from the lusty groaning for worldly things. At least it should be. If not, we need to check ourself, before we wreck ourself. 

For us, the groaning within is to be revelation of holy longing.  We are to know that it means we long to be set free from our flesh life, and earnestly desire to be clothed eternally with our glorified state.  We long to be set free from shame, from feeling exposed and vulnerable, from feeling lonely and dissatisfied.  We groan and are burdened because we eagerly await the moment when our mortality will be swallowed up by life!

• 2 Corinthians 5: 1For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. 2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

 
How does this hit you?  Does that resonate within?  Can you see why you groan? 

You long for the flesh-based life to be destroyed.  You long for the eternity God has promised.  You long for the glorified state of eternal life free from sin, sickness, sorrow.  The discontentment burdens and creates the groaning within. Connect with it.  This will help you turn from thinking that "if my life only looked like this..." type of thoughts.  Connect it is your spirit that will not be satisfied in this sin-sick world.  You long for Jesus. ❤️

Direct your thoughts into the Spirit within you longing for holiness, for being set free from your flesh and being swallowed up by the life of God. 

MEDITATE- How would your life look different if you redirected the groaning away from flesh and into the Spirit life God calls us to?  Does it add more rushing around, or can you sense the Spirit of God calling you to slow down... and just enjoy a walk with worship music... talking to God as friend?  Can you sense Him calling you away from worldly pursuits?  Getting up early and journaling your reaction to a section of scripture?  Would you take time to write a letter of thanks to God for your right now season?  What is He teaching you?  How do you need Him?  Tell Him!  Turn your eyes off your own pursuits... Consider things like helping a neighbor or serving in a ministry at church.  Be content in the now...  You have everything you need.  You have Jesus.

A time is coming to be released from the groaning, the dissatisfaction.  Take heart!  It is coming!  In the waiting, let’s stay faithful to Him.  Let’s press in and ask for His life now through us!  Be content and thankful!
 
Follow along as I pray and respond where prompted...

​Lord, thank you.  Thank you so much for holy counsel in your word. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 tells us why we feel so restless.  You t;ell us why we struggle with discontentment.  We are groaning.  Yes we agree with your word!  We long to be set free from the flesh. 
 
Open yourself up now and say,

..."Yes, Lord I long to be set free from my flesh."
 
Lord we are burdened within, we feel the strain.  Set us free from traps and lusts and acts of disobedience.  Are we substituting holiness for pursuit of worldly things? 
 
Ask the LORD. 

"Reveal to me any area I am pursuing worldly things instead of saying no to temptation."
 
Wait. (Does anything come to mind?)
 
In the Name of Jesus, I bind up acts of the flesh in this one. 

Agree with that. 

I declare your promise, that you Lord, are faithful to provide a way out of temptation.  Agree.

"Lord I agree that you are faithful to provide a way out of temptation."
 
Are you willing to say to Him right now...

"Jesus, in the next moment of temptation, I will cry out and ask for you to deliver me from temptation and turn away from my flesh."
 
LORD satisfy this one.  Fill them.  Direct their time and energies and life into Spirit-filled life.  Grant them joy in discovering creative talents given by the Spirit, holy purpose that brings joy and peace.  Quiet their flesh to wait with you, and lose time in your presence.  May this one take You on walks and talk with you as best friend, lover of their soul, the One who is preparing a mansion with a room just for them.  Life that is truly life awaits, a new body, eternal life away from the strain of this sin-sick world!  Strengthen them to wait in the groaning, protect them as they earnestly wait for their mortality to be swallowed up by life!  Thank you Jesus!

Do you have any confusion? Are you wondering about anything? Do you need to know the truth? In this video based prayer exercise, you'll position and say "Lord, reveal truth to me. Spirit of Truth, speak to me."

You'll ask Him. "What lies do I believe Lord? Where does my mind need to be renewed? God, speak to me. Jesus, teach me the truth. Open my eyes to see truth within Your Word."

And I come into agreement that the Spirit of the Living God will speak to you, that the Spirit of Christ will teach you, bringing refreshing, new beginnings, connecting you deeper with the love of God!

Bible errors?  Or wrong assumptions?

​Challenge what you "know"...
Resolve these 2 scriptures from the crucifixion account:

Mark 16:1- When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body.

Luke 23:54-56  It was Preparation Day, and the Sabbath was about to begin.
The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and saw the tomb and how his body was laid in it. Then they went home and prepared spices and perfumes. But they rested on the Sabbath in obedience to the commandment.

Which is true?  Mary, Jesus' mother, and Salome bought the spices to anoint Jesus' body AFTER Sabbath or BEFORE?  

Is this an error?  Have you noticed this contradiction before?  Before today, I had not.  

It came up in the process of reading through the CHRONOLOGICAL account of the walk to the cross over the last 2 weeks.

In the last couple of emails, I've shared I've been going LIVE on our Youtube channel and Facebook pages (main page and Peace Be Still private group) to read a chronological account of Jesus' walk to the cross and resurrection. 

Today I finished up the 10th day.  Not many people have watched 😌.  But it hasn't discouraged me, because I've grown in ways I could not have imagined!  And the joy has been amazing!

The LORD has led me over the last month to discover things I have not seen and dig deeper for hidden treasure!

Did you know that Jesus satisfied the requirement of being both the morning and twilight sacrifice? 

Did you know there was a morning and twilight sacrifice?

Exodus 29:38-41 “This is what you are to offer on the altar regularly each day: two lambs a year old. Offer one in the morning and the other at twilight. With the first lamb offer a tenth of an ephah of the finest flour mixed with a quarter of a hin of oil from pressed olives, and a quarter of a hin of wine as a drink offering. Sacrifice the other lamb at twilight with the same grain offering and its drink offering as in the morning—a pleasing aroma, a food offering presented to the Lord.

Last month I found those scriptures when I wondered about the 9th hour of prayer mentioned in Acts 3:1- 

Acts 3:1- Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour.

I wondered.  What is the 9th hour of prayer? 

I discovered the morning sacrifice in Exodus 29 is 9am and the twilight sacrifice is at 3pm.

In this process I remembered Jesus died at 3pm.  

Mark 15:34- And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”).

So Jesus satisfied the final daily requirement of being the perfect twilight sacrifice!!!

And He was also satisfied the final daily requirement of being the perfect morning sacrifice!!!

He was crucified (nailed to the cross) at 9am!

Mark 15:25-26 It was nine in the morning when they crucified him. The written notice of the charge against him read: the king of the jews.

Now go back up and re-read Exodus 29:38-41.  

What do you see?  

How many different offerings do you see?  (TRY NOT TO SCROLL FURTHER UNTIL YOU CONSIDER YOUR ANSWER! 😊)

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There is a sacrificial lamb offering.  There is a grain offering of flour mixed with pressed oil.  There is a drink offering made with wine.

Do you see Jesus in all 3?  

The perfect lamb?  The unleavened bread of Heaven pressed out like pressed oil in the suffering? His blood as the precious wine of the new covenant?  

DO YOU SEE THAT HE ALSO PRAYED?!  HE HONORED THE HOUR OF PRAYER AT 3PM!!! 

He prayed at 3pm- Mark 15:34- And at three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”)

AND 9AM!  Luke 23:34- Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”[c] And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.

Now back to the seeming contradiction of when the women bought the spices to anoint Jesus' body.  It is not a contradiction of a Friday (before Sabbath of Saturday) vs after Sabbath (after Saturday).

It all becomes clear when you realize the detail of there being a "Special Sabbath" that week!  Hint:  It is a part of the Feast of Unleavened bread instituted by the LORD.  The special Sabbath is mentioned in John's account of the crucifixion (scripture below).

From the scriptures below, you'd be able to see that the women bought spices to anoint Jesus' body BETWEEN the Sabbaths that week!  So both scriptures above are true!  Mark references them getting spices after the first Passover Sabbath that week, whereas Luke references them getting spices before the regular Saturday Sabbath! 

This is a detail I had not noticed before.  Have you?

Looking more closely at the Special Sabbath John mentions, brought great revelation!  (All this from reading the chronological account of Jesus' walk to the cross!).

And I realized through the deeper dive that scripture doesn't show that Jesus was crucified on Friday, but earlier in the week!

Jesus was not crucified on a Friday!  I have never heard this prior!  Have you?

When I slowed down and looked more closely, I realized the 2 Sabbaths gave clarity to there being 2 days of preparation; and, an early timeline of Jesus' death on the cross!  And when you factor important detail in, you see that Jesus was not crucified on a Friday!

JOHN 19:31- BEREAN TRANSLATION- 31.  It was the day of Preparation, and the next day was a High Sabbath. In order that the bodies would not remain on the cross during the Sabbath, the Jews asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies removed.

JOHN 19:31- NIV TRANSLATION- Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jewish leaders did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down.

John 19:31- NLT- It was the day of preparation, and the Jewish leaders didn’t want the bodies hanging there the next day, which was the Sabbath (and a very special Sabbath, because it was Passover week). So they asked Pilate to hasten their deaths by ordering that their legs be broken. Then their bodies could be taken down.

For Him to be crucified on a Friday and risen on Sunday makes it hard to calculate His words that He would be 3 days and 3 nights in the belly of the earth.  But if He was crucified before the 1st Sabbath that happened earlier in the week, the math computes!

Matthew 12:40- For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.

He really was in the grave for 3 full days and 3 full nights!  And I'll send the detail of that in the next blog next week!  But before then, are you curious enough on your own to research it and find the answer on your own?  Take time to dig into scripture and discover which day He was crucified! 

May you and yours go deeper with the King of all this weekend! May He be lifted up in your hearts and homes and worship at church services you attend! 

He alone is worthy of all glory and honor and praise! 

IT IS FINISHED!

He is RISEN!  HALLELUJAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

John 19:30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Luke 24:6-8-  He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee:  ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ”  Then they remembered his words.

Believers in Christ are given a promise that God will keep us as the apple of His eye. What does this mean?

How can we use that as an image to visualize, and spend time with God?

The word apple here is a Hebrew word that comes from another Hebrew word which means "little man of the eye", the pupil of the eye, black, obscure. In Hebrew culture, it's also known as the "daughter of the eye", i.e. "the little man of the eye".

"Keep me as the apple of your eye" is an expression of ancient prayer, but it's probably better known as an idiom to express how we treasure and passionately protect a loved one.

If you ask people what it means, most people would describe it as a term of endearment, versus a description of God's love for them or as a prayer on their lips.  You've probably heard it used to describe a parent's love for a child. "Oh, she's the apple of her father's eye, he would do anything for her!"

True it is a term of endearment. But originally in its truest context, it is a divine expression. It is a child-like cry for God's help.  It is a returned response from a covenant keeping God, with fatherly love and radical protection of His own!

Moses use this language in song. King David also uses this language in song.   Two warriors of God not afraid to be childlike in God's presence, asking God to keep them as the apple of His eye!

In Deuteronomy 32, we can find the expression in a song that Moses wrote.  See verse 10.  It includes this lyric,  "in a desert land, he found him in a barren and howling waste.  He shielded him and cared for him, He guarded him as the apple of His eye."

This is referencing God's tender care for His people.   Moses could easily reflect on God finding him in his own desert wilderness.  God calling to Moses from a burning bush, Exodus 3:1-3.

We hear the apple of His eye language again in Proverbs 7:2 through Solomon.  He writes the following wisdom... "Keep my commandments and live, my law as the apple of your eye."

And of course, we have King David in Psalm 17:8 asking God... singing to God...to keep him as the apple of His eye.

Now, you probably know that the apple of your eye, the pupil of your eye, the black of your eye, is like a mirror.  And this is where if you were to get your face close enough to a mirror, and get so close (in just the right light) and center in on one of your pupils... And look intently, you'd be able to see a tiny obscure reflection of yourself within the blackness of your pupil.

And if you were to do this exercise with a loved one, when you drew near to their face, and you looked at the center of their eye, into their pupil, you wouldn't see their reflection, you would see an outline of your own reflection. Think about that. How does that speak to you?

When you get so close to someone and look at them in the center of their eye, in their pupil and see your own reflection?

In holy covenant relationship, when you gaze this close to someone's eyes, there's trust, there is deep love. There is a softening, someone you deeply treasure.  The one that you're willing to get that close to and linger there, is one you love without adequate words to express.  You are wanting to look closely and find your reflection in their eyes.

Now let's think of that exercise in God's presence. Getting our face so close to Jesus, that we can see the pupils of His eyes. What is the reflection?  First can you see yourself held within his gaze?  Can you look closer and see that the reflection within the center of His pupil is you?

Maybe that's a difficult visualization for you. Imagining being that close to the face of Jesus. Maybe it makes you feel a little uncomfortable being that close to Him, because you feel like you're not good enough or you've failed.

That's a wrong perspective.

Because if Jesus is that close to you to look into your eyes, who's reflecting back to him?

If you get that answer, right, that is the heart of the gospel, that's a saving grace of the gospel!

Jesus, seeing himself in the center of your eye, is the Gospel! Christ in you, the hope of glory!

He see himself in you, because you've been made in the image of God!  He sees himself in you because you have believed in Him! So now you are joined to the Lord, you are one Spirit with him, that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit. He is in you!

Ephesians 2:10 in the New Living Translation says that you are God's masterpiece that He created you anew in Christ Jesus, so that you can do good things that He planned for you long ago.

He created you for GOOD THINGS.

Your identity needs to be deeply rooted in the fact that He created you for good, and that when you draw near to Him, He draws near to you.

And when He's looking at you that closely, He's seeing himself. He's seeing you as a masterpiece, that was created anew (born again) for good, to do good things that He planned long ago.

Take some time to envision Jesus that close to you, where you are both able to see one another's reflections in the center of your eyes.  Consider that as you look at Him, you can see yourself held. You are the apple of His eye, He gave his life for you! How great is the sum of his thoughts towards you? To do good to you and not evil? 

He commands us to stay close to Him to abide in His love, to abide in His word.  When we do so, our prayers are God-aligned, a reflection of Him.  We can ask whatever we wish and it will be done for us, John 15:7!

But if we walk away, if we stay distant from God, can you really see yourself as a reflection in His eyes?  No, because He is too far away.  Can you see Him clearly or know Him intimately when you don't abide in His Word?  No.  

We need to remain close in fellowship with Jesus.  We have been called to die to this life because our real life is hidden with Christ and God, Colossians 3:3.

So take time to envision you seeing yourself in the pupil of His eye. And then switch it, and imagine Him seeing His reflection in your eye.

"Lord would you reveal mysteries of the Gospel to this one, as they envision themselves as the apple of Your eye?  To see that they're held, how they're kept, how they're protected?  Reveal to them that when You look at them, you are not looking at their flaws, but You in them.  They are complete.  You see the end from the beginning.  You see the good purpose for which you've created them.  Stir them to deeper fellowship, to discovery of the good things you've prepared for them.  Root them in the fact that you see Yourself in them. And You don't destroy yourself!  You don't harm yourself! God bring revelation that You long to do good things to them, things that You've prepared long ago, good and holy works for them to do. Their life is important; and, has divine design within it.  You're transforming them, you're making them a greater reflection of Yourself because You are in them!  May this one abide in you, and your Word for the supernatural revelation and transformation you promise. Amen!"

Today, we’ll go into ancient times and take a look at how children were viewed under Roman rule and why Jesus’ circumcision is an important detail not to skip over!

Yesterday, those who receive emails from the ministry got a blog devotional about the "science" behind Jesus being circumcised on Day 8. It was also yesterday's podcast. (Scroll down our podcast page and listen to Wed 12/21 or find Peace Be Still Daily Prayer Download on your favorite podcast app and listen there. 80% of our listeners use Apple podcasts!)

Today, we continue where we began yesterday, taking notice of Luke 2:21 which says that He was officially named on the 8th day, the same day that he was circumcised. Big deal? Yes or no?

Turns out that detail is pretty interesting and very important! Let's look more closely at ancient culture to understand.

In the time of Jesus, the Romans ruled. And so we are to take note that Luke writes his account to Theophilus, Luke 1:3. He calls him “most excellent Theophilus”. In Roman culture, this implies a Roman title of respect and official importance. So we can make a strong assumption that Theophilus was an important Roman official. Luke also writes the book of Acts to Theophilus. See Acts 1:1. Luke is clear that his account is an orderly account, Luke 1:3.

In his Gospel account to Theophilus, Luke carefully includes the decree issued by Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. It is the reason Joseph and Mary go back to Bethlehem. They are to be “registered”. There is an official count happening of the entire world, Luke 2:1-5.

To understand this better, I'm referencing an exhaustive work written by a man name O M Bakke. It’s called “When Children became people- The Birth of Childhood in Early Christianity”. In it, he explores theological and social history of Greco-Roman and early Christians towards abortion and child prostitution, pedagogy, moral upbringing, and their value within society. It is a shocking and insightful read, especially considering the direction our world is now heading, or should I say reverting to. I highly recommend it.

Related to birth, in the Roman way of life, Bakke notes the father was LEGALLY allowed to decide whether his newborn would live or die! Think of that in modern view. He was legally allowed to decide if the newborn would live or die after birth. He could do so within the first 8-9 days.

So if he accepted the child as a family member, they would hold a ritual known as a day of purification. It was on this day that a child was given its name and LEGALLY REGISTERED. The ceremony for boys was held on the 8th day, and the ceremony for girls was on the 9th day. Under Roman law, the ceremony marked the child's social birth, as compared to biological birth. Read these 2 pages from Bakke's book below.

​Pretty upsetting right?

With Roman rule in mind, re-read Luke 2:21 again-

And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called JESUS, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Luke is making it clear that Jesus was officially counted in a worldwide census! As a Roman official, Theophilus could check the record! Can you hear him ordering the Bethlehem census be brought to him?

And just think about this detail as it relates to the many arguments that Jesus never existed. "Jesus is a fictional figure. Jesus is a fairy tale." No. He was real and counted in Caesar Augustus' worldwide census! The promise of Good News for all was included in a worldwide census! The most important One to ever be counted and included in a census!

How awesome is it that we have this holy record! That Luke wrote his account to a Roman official, including significant details that validate Christ, not just under Jewish covenant of circumcision, but along with Roman mandate of legal registration! How awesome that he lets Theophilus know the words of the Angel to Mary…

Luke 1:31-33- 31 You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”

This might cause quite a stir within Theophilus don’t you think? If you were a highly influential government official today and received word of a king being born whose kingdom would have no end, would you take a closer look at the careful details shared about him?

May this stir you to notice the tiny details in scripture that maybe you gloss over, skip over, or dismiss off-handedly. Meditate on scripture. The revelation of Luke’s intent to highlight Jesus being officially registered came as a result of digging deeper and wrestling with scripture. Dig deeper to uncover the hidden treasure!!!

NEXT STEP: Consider how thousands of years before Roman rule of 8 days for males to be official and socially registered, God picked the 8th day for males to be circumcised. This brought them under the holy covenant given to Abraham and his descendants! Read about the covenant of circumcision in Genesis 17! As a believer, you are included under that covenant. How does it affect you? Do you know by memory what it includes before reading it again?

We are so blessed to live in a time of solid biblical resources. Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you to Spirit filled revelation! May you and yours have a blessed day of celebrating our eternal King and His coming Kingdom! The greatest gift of all!

(It's year-end. Does this ministry bless you? Will you consider a year end donation? Click the donate button above to give through PayPal. Thank you so much for saying a prayer for the ministry’s reach and impact by the power of the Holy Spirit!)

The picture above is part of my skinny pencil tree.  It's filled with olive wood ornaments from Jerusalem.  I wanted olive wood souvenirs when I went to Israel in 2015, but they were pricey, so I decided to get something when I got home. 

It took a couple of years to find something I wanted, but a few years ago, there was a huge lot of olive wood ornaments from a former shop owner for auction on Ebay; and I won the bid!  I got around 150 ornaments for $20 plus shipping.  :).  I love them!  They perfectly fill my 7' pencil tree!

There are various kinds of camels, shepherds, manger scenes, stars, candles, wise men, donkeys, angels, crosses, roosters, doves, Mary with Jesus.  Like a little girl can get lost staring into her miniature doll house world, I get lost in my tree.  They remind me of that trip, especially our time in Old Jerusalem & in the ancient olive grove just a Sabbath day's walk from the city.  The walk is about 3000 ft.   

Here is a picture from the photo journal I put together.  I'm looking at Jerusalem from within the grove, standing on the Mount of Olives.  ​