Trees of Righteousness

To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified. ISAIAH 61:3

God sees we are dust and as we groan and travail in this life reaching for Righteousness and experiencing frequent falls on our face, He gives us Hope. Hope in that as we become painfully aware of our weakness and failures, our inability to please Him, we repent and call out for mercy. He faithfully answers and provides not only mercy, but grace. Mercy provided by the Blood of Jesus, washing perfectly clean, never giving us what we deserve. Grace that is sufficient to right all wrongs in His justice and in His perfect timetable.

Beauty, the oil of joy, a garment of praise--not because we earn or deserve it but--that He might be glorified. Mighty God! Holy, holy, holy is He who was and is and is to come! Lord, may I always seek You and Your righteousness--there is none other that can be desired in comparison. Be glorified in me today, inspite of myself and my failures. If You can do that, (and I know You can), You will show Yourself to be omnipetent and Your love perfect. Make me Your planting, Your garden Lord. I will never cease to give praise to Your name. You alone are God.

God's Love towards Us

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us...

1 John 4:10

I realized today that I don't really know the love of God. I have not understood it, nor have I embraced it. I have been reluctant to receive the fullness He offers, and most horribly, I have not loved others with the love of God, as He would love have me love them. Thankfully the Father's love towards us (towards me) does not condemn my failure, nor my weakness. That's the whole point.

My version of love has been based on soulish, selfish gain. I loved to be loved--by my parents as a child and later by God. It didn't matter to me if my spouse, children or friends found me unlovable--I didn't care because I knew God loved me. I was willing to totally dedicate myself to pleasing God. Any sin or selfishness--weakness--in me was put under control of my spirit--submitted to the Holy Spirit. God's strength came through to overshadow my weakness with His strength--for His glory. I hate my weaknesses. I even encouraged others to trust God to overcome any weakness that might beset them. All good and scriptural, however: The wholeness and fullness of God's love fills our weakness without always necessarily removing it.

I recently heard Pastor Tom Smardz say, "God himself has a weakness, it is us." God loves us! This is in spite of our weaknesses, our ungodliness. While we were yet sinners, God loved us so much that He sent His son Jesus to die in our place so that we could be reconciled to a holy, righteous, and just God. I only need to accept Him for who He is--my Lord and my God. He loves us in an unconditional way beyond our comprehension. I am my Father's weakness--yet he accepts me and loves me, filling my weakness with His love for His glory.

My own weakness is my husband's current illness. His illness has made him very different than the man I married--at least temporarily. Our changed lives, my responsibilities and my caring for him exhausts me so much that I feel I have no energy to be who God has called me to be. In fact my personality and character flaws are now brought out by him, instead of my gifts, talents--my best--as it once was, when we would minister together. I often abhor myself when my attitude and sharp tongue fall far short of God's love and mercy. I miss the opportunity to honor my husband--when he needs it most.

Yet I am absolutely powerless to change--for the first time in my life I feel really powerless in this situation. I trust God, I have faith that He can do something to redeem the situation. However, I can only throw up my hands in further frustration, as I seem to sink lower instead of rising above my sin and weakness. I have often felt a bit like Job. But for the first time in my life, I really feel as if I am sitting on an ash heap--scraping my hideous boils with a sharp rock--alone--with no one to really confide in. Friends encourage me pointing out my godly responses and basically perpetuating my hatred of my weakness--yet this weakness is the cross that I am to take up, to embrace, so that God can transform me and the situation.

Jesus took up His cross submitting to an unjust death, rejection and torture. In His submission the entire scenario transformed from what appeared to be Satan's greatest victory--into Satan's ultimate defeat. The cross is a heavy, back breaking burden--too much to bear. Yet we are told to take up our cross and follow Jesus. Denying yourself the little things in life prepares you to carry the cross the Lord has destined for you in your path towards Christ-likeness. Jesus' motivation was His love, that must be ours--to love as He loves. Pure and unquestioning love for God, trust and obedience, are indeed pleasing to God. However scripture states:

My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

His grace is His love gift that cannot be earned and is never deserved. This perfect(mature/complete) love fills to overflowing as we allow Him to fill our weakness that we might reflect His glory in the midst of any trial. He is worthy of our trust. He is worthy of our praise. Always...

Copyright © 2008 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.

God's Book of Remembrance

How often do we as believers get together with friends and family for fellowship? It can be at a worship service, over a meal or coffee, or a chance meeting on the street--perhaps even on a cell phone! We find ourselves rehearsing the testimony that the Lord has given us of how He has spoken to us this week, or blessed us with health, wisdom or miracles! We can't wait to share how God continues to smile upon our lives even when we are so far from perfect.

Recently we were previledged to spend the better part of a day with a very good friend. We shared our plans, our burdens and difficulties and then spent some time in prayer asking for God's Wisdom and Guidance, healing and grace. We continued talking of how God has been faithful to us through the adversity each of us has walked through during the past year. Each of us has some very difficult things we are currently going through--burdens which could really shake our faith. Yet we shared and encouraged each other God's Faithfulness. He is amazing! He intervenes and takes big impossibilities and turns them into blessings for His Glory. It is so exciting to sit and watch, with our minimal participation (and sometimes in spite of us), God will accomplish His plan and purpose in our lifes as we allow Him to. The more we cooperate the easier the path may be, but that doesn't usually mean easy paths and abundant provision. The Lord has orchestrated a beautifully complex mosaic of people's lifes that interconnect and His purposes are often to purify and beautify us from the inside out, all the while desiring to have more intimate relationships with us. That we might get to know Him more and more.

Most of us understand that the Lord desires to commune with us, even as He communed with Adam in the Garden of Eden. He sent Jesus to die a cruel death so that we might receive forgiveness through His shed Blood and be reconciled to God through faith in Jesus as Messiah. Jesus taught us to pray after the pattern of what we refer to as the Lord's Prayer. The Gospels tell of Jesus' relationship with the Father, drawing away from the crowds to spend intimate time with God. All that Jesus accomplished, was because He said and did only what He saw the Father saying and doing. Jesus is our example. It is absolutely essential for us in today's world to separate ourselves and spend time in the presence of God, even as Jesus did--if we want to walk in the Spirit as the Apostle Paul admonishes us.

But did you realize that Father God is also pleased when we boast in Him? When we share how our faithful God is blessing us and impacting our lives, intervening as we appeal to Him in Jesus' Name, when we tell others about answered prayer--God is listening with a smile on His face. Sharing testimonies, telling how we see God as Awesome, sharing our wonder and delight in His Word are all things that delight the Lord's heart.

Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name. And they shall be mine, saith the LORD of hosts, in that day when I make up my jewels; and I will spare them, as a man spareth his own son that serveth him. Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not. Malachai 3:16-18

A Book of Remembrance--a record for all eternity. You are considered a jewel in the Lord's eyes as you speak His praises! How He delights in our delight in Him! I pray that each of us will spend more time expounding on the goodness of God, His wonderful provision and protection--and most of all His Glorious Magnificance. May His presence manifest more and more in our lives that we might multiply our magnification of Him!

Copyright © 2008 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.

Almond Blossoms--Manifesting the Kingdom of God

One of the first signs of spring in Jerusalem is the bursting forth of almond blossoms. The flowers are a joyful reminder to most of the Lord's faithful rebirth in the earth each spring. The beautiful flower laden branches cheer the soul as they catch the brilliant spring sunlight and dance as the warming breezes blow. They seem to appear almost overnight.

Isaiah 61:11 For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

In scripture there is a flower featured on the menorah--the lamp stand that stood in the holy place representing the presence of God. It was never to be allowed to be extinguished. The instructions for creating the menorah speak of branches, knops, bowls like almonds, and flowers. (Exodus 25:31-40) It seems obvious the flowers would have been almond blossoms. (knops are ornamental knobs--pomegranate like decorations) Some believe this flower was a reminder of the budding of Aaron's rod in Numbers 17. Aaron's rod budded, blossomed and even yielded almonds overnight. This sign showed God's choice of Aaron's tribe alone as priests. Because only God can give life, those in opposition were silenced. Later this rod was housed in the Ark of the Covenant--a constant reminder of God's promises to spring forth in their season--His timing. It also represents annihilation of the opposition--evil influences and ultimately evil itself.

Bet-El, or Bethel--house of God, was previously called Luz (Hebrew for almond tree)--a city of flourishing almond trees. This is where Jacob received the dream of the ladder to heaven with angels ascending and descending (Genesis 28:11-22). It seems significant that the Lord would choose to speak his promise to Jacob while sleeping with his head on a rock in this place. Jacob also vows to make the Lord his God after this encounter--the encounter terrified him. We know that Jacob possessed God’s favor after this and his enemies were subdued—with no great effort on Jacob’s part.

The almond blossom, a singular manifestation of the glorious presence of God, is His sign to us of the springing forth of His soon coming Kingdom. Indeed, the Kingdom of God has already been manifested on the earth in the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and then further expanded as the disciples received the manifestation and power to continue its expansion on this earth at Pentecost. Gross darkness may be appearing all around us today, however the Lord's Light and Life is expanding exponentially--we only see through a glass darkly (1 Corinthians 13:12). The enemy trembles as the Kingdom of God is manifesting in our lives and is dawning in the areas we take authority over.

Here in Israel where almond trees are frequently found, their budding is a recurring sign of hope for the Orthodox Jews who are very familiar with these Old Testament scriptures. Hope in God's ability to restore and renew, also of God's judgment on those opposed to His plan. The almond budding and blossoming brings hope and joy to all who pass by, unaware of the sign the Lord is giving them. We as believers should not just idly pass by without notice. God is speaking, He will soon thunder. We must take thought, cooperate in prayer, and praise for His soon return and the continual expansion of His Kingdom until then. If we want to see His Glory, we must open our spiritual eyes.

Such a simple, beautiful, yet powerful sign--the almond is beginning to blossom.

Jeremiah 1:11-12 Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, Jeremiah, what seest thou? And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree. Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.

Copyright © 2008 by Ruth Mayfield All rights reserved. These articles may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, by including this notice.