Stories of The King

The Prince Saves The Kingdom

2010-04-01T11:27:24-04:00

Of all of the times to send his son to the earth, the King chose this one. It was the will of the King to send His son, the Prince to the people on the earth. He wanted to show them His love firsthand. There was a plan in place to give the people a new way to follow the King.

The world was in turmoil. There was a government in place that was very hard and harsh. There wasn’t a lot of room for religion or for speaking one’s mind. The government had their hand in everything. The everyday people were losing their rights and their money very quickly. So it was in these conditions that they waited for their promised King to come and save them.

The soldier woke with a start. He was to report to duty very early that morning. The time off with his family was great but he also had a job to do and it was calling to him that day. There was word of a procession that would come through the town - some kind of religious thing. “Ugh,” he said out loud, “why do these religious types feel the need to force their beliefs on all of the rest of us? And why must I be the one running security for them?”

Everywhere The Prince went, the people tried to get to him. They pressed in. They clamored. They called for him. They reached out to him. For they had heard all about The Prince: There were stories of how he had healed the sick, he had raised the dead and he had fed 5,000 men with only a few fish and some pieces of bread. He spoke as one who knew what he was talking about so there was endless debate. Could he be the King – the Messiah – that their religious scholars had promised would come?

Just then, there he came, riding on a donkey through the streets of Jerusalem. There was much adulation and shouting. As he got closer, people began to lay their coats on the ground for him as a sign of respect. They waved whatever they could wave at The Prince in an attempt to honor him. Yes, there was something about this Prince.

They shouted, “Hosanna!” [Which was a Hebrew expression meaning ‘Save!’] Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in the highest!" (From Psalm 118:25-26)

Watching all of this unfold, The Evil One could hardly contain his distaste. The people should be following him, not some silly Prince.

For some time, The Evil One had been nervous. All of a sudden, here was The Prince - walking on the earth. “My territory,” he thought. “If he thinks he can take my kingdom from me, well, he can’t.”

Long ago, The Evil One had tricked the ones in charge of the earth in order to gain this territory. He had brought sin and destruction to the earth so he could reign in it, so he could control it and so he could destroy these people that the King loved so much. Oh, how he hated these people! “This place is mine,” he hissed.

He smiled at his next thought, “Go ahead and heal the sick and raise the dead. I have another plan and this one will do you in once and for all.”

The Prince’s men were devoted to him. They called themselves his disciples because of their desire to follow him anywhere. Most had given up just about everything to serve with him. Several had checkered pasts but that didn’t matter to The Prince. Even though he knew everything about them, he loved and trusted them anyway. He just had a way of pulling people out of their desperate circumstances – whatever it may be. And they were always better off than before. Anyone could get a fresh start as far as The Prince was concerned.

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, The Prince’s disciples came to him and asked, "Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

He replied, "Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, 'The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.' “So the disciples did as The Prince had directed them and prepared the Passover.

When evening came, The Prince was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"

The Prince replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"
The Prince answered, "You yourself have said it."

While they were eating, The Prince took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom." (From Matthew 26:17-29).

His men didn’t really understand but they knew something was about to happen. So many times The Prince had told them something but in their minds they just couldn’t grasp it. Maybe someday they would know exactly what The Prince had meant.

The Evil One listened intently. This was going better than even he could have imagined. One of his minions was tempting someone and the man was going for it – and this was not just anyone but one of the Prince’s own men. There was an offer on the table. It was for 30 pieces of silver. The Evil One could tell the man was contemplating it – going over in his mind what it would be like to have that money in his pocket. Now if only this man would take the bait.

Then Judas, one of The Prince’s disciples, went to the chief priests and the officers of the temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray The Prince. They were delighted and agreed to give him the money. He consented, and watched for an opportunity to hand The Prince over to them when no crowd was present. (Paraphrased from Luke 22:3-5)

The soldier had reported for duty. Once again, he was going to be tasked with protecting this religious man – this time from his own people. The soldier would never understand religion. He had no use for it because it made no sense. A thinking man would never go for it.

Tonight there was going to be an arrest and he wanted to be a part of it. His job was to wait for the signal and then arrest the religious man – pretty straightforward. Now this place can get back to normal, thought the soldier.

The Prince went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him. On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation." He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. For he knew what awaited him. He knew what he needed to do for the plan to be completed but what a hard task was before him! As much as he wanted to do it another way, his love for the people couldn’t be denied. No, he had made up his mind. He would complete the plan.

When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow. "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."

While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached The Prince to kiss him, but The Prince asked him, "Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" No condemnation came from his eyes. Only disappointment.

When The Prince’s followers saw what was going to happen, they said, "Lord, should we strike with our swords?" And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

But The Prince answered, "No more of this!" And he touched the man's ear and healed him. The Prince would not let anyone go away from his presence less than whole. It was always his way.

Then The Prince said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, "Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me.

But this is your hour—when darkness reigns." (Paraphrased from Luke 22:39-52).

From then on, the disciples scattered. They didn’t know what to do. They were fearful and confused. In their minds it wasn’t supposed to happen this way.

“Watch this,” said The Evil One. He and his minions had been standing around thoroughly enjoying what was happening. The Prince was under arrest. He had been taken before the judges and had been found guilty. He was going to die on a cross like a common criminal.

That wasn’t enough for The Evil One. He wanted more. He took a breath and blew in the direction of the soldiers. One of them made a “crown” out of a few sticks with long thorns coming out of them. He slammed it onto the head of The Prince. “Here,” the soldier said, “a crown fit for a king!” Everyone laughed.

“He thinks he’s the one in authority,” hissed The Evil One, “I will bruise the head of anyone who wants to usurp my authority! Take out ‘the head’ and the rest will follow. By the end of the day, I will reign completely.”

Next, the governor had The Prince flogged - struck on his back almost 100 times by the flagrum, the Roman instrument of torture. Each time the flagrum hit him, another infirmity or sickness was laid upon him. Then he was handed over to be crucified. But He was pierced through for the transgressions of the people he loved, He was crushed for their iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon him, and by The Prince’s scourging we are healed. (Paraphrased from Isaiah 53:5)

Bang…bang…bang. The hammer drove the nails deep into The Prince’s flesh. As The Prince was lifted and hung on the cross, in pain and agony, each new breath brought horrible pain. He looked down and saw the eyes of the people. There was only hate and anger and bitterness. Yet his love for the people never left him. He looked back at them with such a look of love. His heart went out to the people who were sinning. Then he spoke to The King, “Father, forgive them. They don’t realize what they are doing.”

Then the soldier’s eyes met the eyes of The Prince. What kind of a man was this? The soldier had witnessed hundreds of executions but none like this one. Who could endure this kind of death with that kind of love in their eyes?

The criminal had been watching this scene for some time. Having been sentenced to death, he was hanging on his own cross, next to The Prince. He had been thinking. What a mess he had made of his life! He guessed he shouldn’t have been too surprised that he had ended up in this place. He shrugged ruefully, “There is no denying your sins when you’re forced to confront them like this – dying, tortured on a wooden cross.”

More laughter and shouting: The soldiers had taken The Prince’s clothes and were dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. They rolled the dice to see who would get a souvenir. (Paraphrased from John 19:23)

Drip, drip, drip - there, on the ground, fell the blood of The Prince. When judgment comes, it looks for blood. It is the blood that atones in the eyes of The King. In the old way of doing things, there would have been an animal without blemish who would take on the sins of the people and then be sacrificed. The new way was for The Prince – the Son of the King, who had no sin himself – to be sacrificed.

The Prince’s blood was to be used in payment for the sins of all people – even the ones who are still sinners. Because it was the sinless blood of The Prince, it was a permanent atonement. Because of the blood, even though they don’t deserve it, The King sees the people as no longer tainted, impure or sinful. There was a debt to be paid. The Prince was willing to pay that debt because the people couldn’t pay for their own debt.

The criminal cried out in pain. Not only did his body hurt beyond comprehension, but his soul was in agony. Yet he couldn’t stop thinking. He had heard of this man, The Prince. Maybe if he had met him before this – he wouldn’t have ended up here. Yes. There was definitely something different about this man. The thief knew The Prince was innocent. He could feel the love of The Prince coming from the cross – even here, even now. But it was too late for the criminal. His fate was sealed; that was obvious enough.

Those who walked by hurled insults at The Prince, shaking their heads and saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!" In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself!” (From Mark 15:29-31)

Then came a derisive voice from the third cross that was standing there, “Hey, save yourself and us too, while you’re at it.” Even though everyone could see he was in agony, The Prince’s only response to all of this was the same look of love.

This kept on for several minutes. The criminal couldn’t take it anymore. He mustered as much strength as he could. “Enough!” he told the third man, “We belong here. You know it as much as I do, but this man has done nothing. Can’t you see how he loves all people? Even now he loves them – even as we are in the end stages of our suffering.” Then the criminal addressed The Prince, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." Then came the same look of unconditional love as The Prince answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." (Paraphrased from Luke 23:42-43).

And then the criminal knew. His sins were gone and he could rest in peace. His life had been wasted by sin. Yet while shattered and dying, he had found true life and peace. Even as a criminal and a prisoner, he would die a free man.

The world went dark. The sun stopped shining. The Evil One and all of his forces took over. This could only mean one thing: The Holy Spirit had left. Because The Prince had taken on the sins of all people, The King had turned his back on his son. Laughing, The Evil One and his minions went about feeling triumphant. They finally had things the way they wanted them.

The Prince knew that once the sin of all people was laid upon him, his task would be completed. The Scripture would be fulfilled. However he felt totally separated from his Father, The King. There is no comfort apart from The King. There can be no physical nourishment, no spiritual anointing.

So The Prince said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to the lips of The Prince. When he had received the drink, he said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and voluntarily gave up his spirit. (Paraphrased from John 19:28-30).

The sin had run its course. The spiritual world and the physical world had forever become entwined. The Prince had given his life willingly for the people he loved so dearly. He had chosen to become the sacrifice.

The soldier stood there. He couldn’t believe it. What was happening? ^“At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after the resurrection of The Prince they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

When he and the soldiers with him saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!" (Paraphrased from Matthew 27:50-54)

It was then that it hit the soldier: “I am the one who should be up there, not this man! He was the son of The King yet he chose to do this for me. He took my place. Dear God, forgive me! For I am a sinful man.”

Then an even greater revelation hit him – he remembered the look he got from The Prince. It was for love. “I’m forgiven because he loves ME. I’m set free because he chose ME.” The soldier fell to his knees. He was wrecked. His life would never be the same. How could this be?

In the midst of the darkness The Evil One smiled a very wide grin. It was finished all right. Now he could reign completely with no interruptions. The world really was his now. He could not stop giggling at the thought.

Mary’s heart was broken. She couldn’t keep from crying over the death of The Prince. He had done so much for her. Only he had seen the good in her. Only he had loved her unconditionally. She had believed she would serve him for a long time as an earthly king. Now he was dead and she was shattered.

The only thing she could do for him now was to give his body a proper burial. On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, Mary and the other women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 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 into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.'"

When they remembered his words, they couldn’t run fast enough to tell the others. In an instant their utter sorrow was turned to unbridled joy. (From Luke 22:1-8)

It all made perfect sense now. The Prince had been telling them all along but they just hadn’t seen it. He had to die so all could live eternally. He had to be the perfect sacrifice.

Far above the earth, The Evil One and his minions circled. Nervously, their eyes darted back and forth throughout the earth. If only they could figure out some way out of this new development. This is not what was supposed to happen.

There was no more rejoicing. Only fear. They dared not look at each other – or even think of what this meant. They knew though. They knew exactly what had happened. Their plan had backfired – spectacularly. Now they were even worse off than before. Plus The Prince had every power in heaven and on earth and even – they shuddered – under the earth. No, this was NOT how things were supposed to go.

It was time. There was no more for The Prince to do here. He had conquered sin, death, sickness and the devil. He had gained the victory over religion. By doing so he had gained unequivocal authority on earth and in heaven. He had made his followers heirs with him and had passed these rights to them as well. He had shown mankind how to reign in the Kingdom – on earth and in heaven. He proved that nothing could hold him - on earth, under the earth or in heaven. He showed that he is all powerful and that his Kingdom will live forever.

Now that he had completed his task, The Prince had to leave the earth to go to The King and reign beside him until he returned in glory. He had gathered his disciples around him and prepared them for the final time. He had assured them that he would always be with his people through the Holy Spirit.

Everything was in place. Yet, it was so hard to leave. Oh how he loved his people! The fire of love burned even brighter in his heart after he had paid their debt for them. As he looked upon them with great love, The Prince lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was still blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.

With their hearts burning with love for their Prince, the children of The King raised their hands and worshiped him. And they returned to Jerusalem with great joy. (Luke 25:50-52)

Three Men and the Fire

2009-12-05T13:21:45-05:00

Once there were three men who were followers of the King. It was winter and a cold wind was blowing. The first man said, “I will build a fire in order to keep warm”. He searched within his house to find the materials he needed in order to make the warmest possible fire. He looked high and low and found lots of things that were flammable. He piled them high in the fireplace, excited because there were so many. “Oh, how cold we’ve been but how warm we will be! We will have warmth for our bodies. We will finally have warm food to eat. ” he exclaimed. As soon as all of the materials were gathered and piled to the top of the fireplace, the man and his family lit the fire. They watched expectantly as the fire caught hold and started burning. It became a wonderful fire – warm and bright. It was huge and it was powerful and there was great rejoicing in the family because of the fire. After about 5 minutes, the fire started to die down. It got weaker and weaker until it started to flicker out. Now the man’s family was uncertain. What had happened? Everything was going so well! Now they were left with nothing and getting colder.

The second man shivered in the cold and said, “We need to make a fire! Yes, that will help us to keep warm and to cook the food that we need.” So he and his family went and found all of the things they felt would make a good fire. They found bits of cloth and tinder. They found large logs and small twigs. All were piled into the fireplace and lit on fire. As his family gathered around the growing fire, the man said, “This is good. We have built a fire that will last us a long time!” The fire became a nice healthy fire. The family cooked their food on it and enjoyed a warm meal. After dinner, the man and his family went to bed, cozy and warm and satisfied by the warmth of their surroundings and their meal. In the morning, the little family woke up to a freezing cold house! Their limbs were stiff and sore from the cold. They were tired because of the cold. “What happened?” they asked themselves.

The third man decided to build a fire when he first felt the cold. His family needed to be warm. He told his family, “Scour the area in order to find the best materials. We are going to make a good fire.” Everyone worked to find the right kinds of things to make a fire. At once they laid some of the materials in the fireplace, and then they laid some beside the fireplace to add later. When everything was in place, the man took some old dead leaves and string, put it on the very top and lit the fire. The man and his family stood back to watch. As the fire started, it was small at first. The man’s son exclaimed, “It is such a small fire! It is in danger of going out!” The man immediately said, “Take heart, son, this fire may be just a flicker in places, but as it spreads, it will become stronger and warmer.” And that is exactly what happened. The fire grew and became strong and warm. The man and his family sat down and enjoyed the fire. They ate warm food because of it and slept in warm beds because of it. When they woke up the next day, the family was warm and comforted and the fire continued.

The first man had built his fire with kindling - the kind of material one uses to start a fire - and start a fire he did! Yet there was no foundation in that fire and it burned off quickly. There was no depth. There was no staying power. The result was that the man and his family were left more disillusioned after experiencing the fire than if there had been no fire to begin with.

The second man had built a perfect fire and it had produced a very good result – for a while. The man and his family had built a good foundation and had followed all of the steps to making the best fire they could but once the fire was going, they did not tend to it. It grew and it was sustained but only for a short time. The family enjoyed the fruits of the fire but not the lasting results and comfort that they desired.

The third man knew that building a fire took some planning and some determination. He had instructed his family to not only gather the materials needed that day but to gather extra and to keep some off to the side to add later. The young family continued to work at building the fire even though they were already enjoying the fruits of it. They maintained the intensity by prior planning and the willingness to work. They did not stop when they got what they were after.

The Kingdom of God is like these three men. Some people are like the first man. They are always looking for the next best thing. They go from church to church looking for excitement and fun. They love God but have no depth. So when the flame of excitement burns out, they are left with nothing to lean on. They are left cold and in worse shape than when they started. They are left wondering what happened to their joy and excitement.

The people who are like the second man are the ones who know what to do. They have been taught and have a good foundation but they don’t want to do the things they need to do in order to have the lasting results that come with a well-built fire. They get to a certain place and stop. They come into the kingdom believing there is an ending point, a place to be attained and then they can stop and enjoy the fruits of their labor. The kingdom of God never stops. It is eternal and the line always keeps going.

The third man understood how to build on what he was given. He planned and he implemented. He worked with others to complete the task. He enjoyed the fruits of his labor yet didn’t accept them as final. This man pressed on. He wanted more and he knew how to receive it. He accepted the fruits and continued to build. He knew and understood this verse: Do not put out the Spirit's fire. 1 Thessalonians 5:19

When the fire comes, what is it going to find? It will come and burn no matter what. It will burn what it finds in you. Will it find just empty junk, the stuff that burns away quickly and then is gone or will it find strong, ready kindling – logs of readiness - the logs that burn strong and long and won’t go out when the first puff of wind comes along. Now is the time to get rid of junk. As the fire becomes hotter, it burns more things and it burns greater things in us until finally only He remains.

The Truth:
Philippians 3:12
Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.

1 Corinthians 3:10-14

By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should be careful how he builds. For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. If any man builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, his work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each man's work. If what he has built survives, he will receive his reward.

The Junk Man Makes a Find

2009-07-25T11:39:27-04:00

Once there was a store that dealt in jewels. Many fine pieces came into the store and the dealer was well-known in the city for having the best and most expensive pieces. He was a very rich man and he thought highly of his own skills.

Once there was a Rock. He was quite large and was used as the jewelry store’s doorstop. He spent many a day keeping the doors where they belonged – either open or closed. He took great pride in his own ability to do his job well.

Now the store had a large and important clientele and the dealer took great pains to make them comfortable when they visited his store. One day, as the Rock was doing his job and holding the door for the important people to come in, a great wind came. The wind was too strong for the Rock to hold back so the door blew shut. This wouldn’t have been a problem except just then one of the richest ladies in the town was entering. She was a rather large woman and the door swung so forcefully that it hit her square on the backside and she tumbled into the store. Even that might not have been so bad but she also fell into an expensive grandfather clock. They all came crashing down in a heap. The clock was destroyed and the woman irate. “How do you expect to run a business if your equipment is not in working order?” she screamed, flustered and embarrassed. “You will never hear from me or my money again!” With that, she and her ample checkbook stalked out of the door.

As soon as she left, the red-faced dealer surveyed the damage and realized it would be a very costly gust of wind. He tried to think of a way to repair the clock but it was damaged beyond help. “I can do nothing with this mess!” raged the dealer. “See what you can salvage from the clock and throw that useless Rock in the trash and be done with it. I will take a loss on all of it. It is clearly worthless junk.” So the assistant took the Rock and threw him in the dumpster out back. As the Rock was flying through the air, on its way to certain destruction, he realized his pride and dependence upon himself and cried out to God, “Please save me!”

THUD! There he landed in the middle of someone’s lunch and old cigarettes. There was not going to be a miracle. Even worse, here came the pain of sudden brokenness and dirtiness. Everything was bruised and broken. All of his self-worth and usefulness had been shattered by one gust of wind. There was no saving him now. He was in the middle of a worst-case scenario.

The Rock lay in the dumpster feeling lonely and worthless, waiting to be carted off to the dump. No one would notice him or help him. He couldn’t even save himself. He would have to depend on the grace of God.

Down the street came the screeching of brakes and the hiss of a large engine. “Here it comes,” The Rock said to himself, “This is the end of the road for me.” As the garbage truck stopped next to the dumpster, The Rock had one more thought: “From now on this is what I’ll always be – garbage.” The Rock could feel his dumpster going up, turning over and then he felt himself rolling, rolling, rolling. THUD. More pain came as the dazed Rock just lay there. He could hear the truck start moving but there was something strange. He wasn’t moving. The Rock dared to look around and there he was, lying on the ground next to the empty dumpster. He wasn’t going to a garbage dump. He was just another Rock on the ground.

As time passed he lay out in the open, exposed to the elements and lashed by wind and rain. Once again his soul cried out to God to save him,

“I say to God my Rock,
       "Why have you forgotten me?
       Why must I go about mourning,
       oppressed by the enemy?"
My bones suffer mortal agony
       as my foes taunt me,
       saying to me all day long,
       "Where is your God?"
Why are you downcast, O my soul?
       Why so disturbed within me?
       Put your hope in God,
       for I will yet praise him,
       my Savior and my God.*

The old truck came down the street huffing and puffing in the cold. It threatened to die at any moment, yet it continued on. On its side, in big, bold letters was the word, JUNK. The Rock lay there, cold and broken, downtrodden and tired, shattered in body and spirit. At the end of the street, some children were involved in a game of basketball. The truck stopped. An old man got out; leaving the truck running, probably for fear that if it were turned off it would never start again. He had spotted something from his window. With strong purpose he walked right up to the object of his desire. Before he knew it, the Rock was being picked up and examined. By this time he was filthy and broken, no longer useful or wanted by anyone. Yet here was this man, examining him carefully and thoughtfully. “Why?” he had asked himself, “I’m no longer good to anyone – not even worthy of being called “junk”. I am weak and I am broken.”

Just then the children who had been playing basketball came over, wondering what was so important. “What are you doing, old man?” one asked. The man held up the Rock so everyone could see it. It was caked with mud, broken and faded. It looked every bit the junk that the dealer had proclaimed it. “I have found a great treasure,” the man answered. This was met with howls of laughter. “That’s junk,” said a second boy. They all thought that was even funnier than the old man’s comment. “No, you see, look here,” said the man, ignoring the derisive laughter, “I have an eye for these things. This one is worth a great price. It matters not at all that no one else thinks so.” “Dude, it’s a Rock!” said the first boy. The old man looked him straight in the eye and mimicking the boy said, “Son, look right here.” The boys looked where he was pointing and finally saw it. There in a crack in the rock and peeking out was what looked like the most beautiful jewel ever. It was amethyst in color. “Wow,” gasped the boy.

See how it’s been broken? The great pressure of pain and suffering cracks the surface in order for us to see the glory within. No one would have known about the treasure inside without the brokenness on the outside.

CRACK! The Rock felt the worst pain he had ever felt. “I’m dying here!” he screamed to himself. He lay in the man’s hands, utterly and literally broken. In fact, he was now in two pieces! The man had taken an instrument and broken him in half. While the Rock felt immobilized by pain and the fatigue that comes with great suffering, the boys and the man gasped in wonder. “How can anything so beautiful come from such an ugly old ROCK?” asked the second boy.

“You could sell this for a huge price. You’re going to be rich!” exclaimed the boy. “No, my son, this Rock is going to The King. That is the one place where he will be valued the most. The world is a harsh and hard place for objects of treasure. It will judge anything it finds. Nothing comes out perfect under the unforgiving glare of this world. The children of The King care to be judged only by Him. Because He knows the pain of suffering Himself, He looks upon them as the great treasure that they are. They are His jewels and sparkle perfectly under His gaze.”

So it was settled. The Rock went to the King and lived his days loved, happy and respected. He was finally appreciated. The Junk Man went about his business, looking for treasure, not rich in money but fulfilled in all areas of his life. For working for the King, turning “trash into treasure” is truly the ultimate calling of a King’s servant.

Many people had judged the Rock. They had looked only on the outside and not on the inside where it had really mattered. They had deemed him worthless and had treated him as such. The treasure is there for the finding in all of us. Those who are willing to look, even if it’s from a distance, will be the ones to find the greatest treasures.

Sometimes the worst things happen to us but after a while, they end up being the best for us. It is while we are being broken and tested that those heartaches show the true beauty inside.

Oftentimes we think we are to be one thing in the service to The King when it becomes all too obvious that He wants to take us in a different direction. We may have to go through a time of hardship or pain but eventually, He reveals His perfect will. In the end we realize our true nature and what a treasure we are to Him.

*Psalm 42:9-11

Check out Polly Boyette

2009-06-27T13:54:03-04:00

From time to time I run across someone or something that I'd really like to get into the hands of others so they can be blessed by it as much as I have. Here's a link to the website of Polly Boyette, who is a Virginia Beach author and just happens to go to my church. She has two books out and they're both wonderful. You can order them from Amazon.com or there's a link and description on my Amazon widget to the right of this post. If you know me at all, you know I'm all about the humor. These books more than fit the bill. I highly recommend Polly's books.

http://www.lifeisabuffet.com/Life_is_a_Buffet_Site/Welcome.html

A Walk in the Wilderness

2009-04-20T13:50:56-04:00

It was such a beautiful day that Daniela decided to go for a walk. It was sunny and bright. It was just a happy place to be in the Kingdom. She loved to take in The King’s creation as she walked, chatting comfortably with the Spirit as she went.

As Daniela continued in her walk, she came to the forest. What should she do? Should she go around or should she go through? As she hesitated, the Spirit responded that she should go through. So Daniela went into the woods. At first she had a fine time looking around and enjoying the coolness and the shade of the forest. The birds were flying about in the trees, always singing, always busy. She spent time talking to the King. She thought about all of the good things that had happened to her and how different her life was now.

Then Daniela noticed something. It was much darker in the forest than she had imagined. The brush was very thick and the path was not well marked. Daniela was unsure. Should she keep going? She asked the Spirit, “What should I do?” There was no answer. Now Daniela was really unsure. She had always gotten an answer when she asked a question. Why was there no answer? Daniela stopped. She sat down. Pretty soon she started to feel lost and alone. She just couldn’t feel the intimacy with the Spirit that she had always had and depended upon. What was wrong with her? She must have done something wrong. The more she focused on the whys and the hows of the way she had gotten to that point in her life, the more she despaired. And the more she lost her focus. Daniela became afraid that she had lost her Love. For all of the time she had spent calling and praying to The King, she felt cold and alone because there was no answer back. Yet, instinctively Daniela knew she had to persist. She continued to pray and slowly but surely she knew that she was doing the right thing – even though it didn’t really seem like it. As she turned it over in her head, Daniela came to a realization. “All I know is that I love You more than life*,” she said out loud. She knew that she would never desert The King even though it looked like right now He was nowhere to be found. Daniela decided to just continue to do all of the things she knew to be true. She brought to mind all of the things that she knew to be true of The King. She gave herself a pep-talk, “Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God,” she declared, “for I will yet praise him, my Savior and my God.”** And even though she didn’t really feel like it, she began to say these things over and over, “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”***

Then it happened. One day, when Daniela opened her eyes from praying, there was The King! Oh, what a sight for sore eyes! Daniela ran to Him and clung to Him. “Oh King, I’ve gotten myself into such a mess! I called and called and you didn’t answer. I must have done something wrong because you didn’t hear me.” The King looked at Daniela and she soaked in that familiar look of Love. He spoke with such tenderness when He said, “Daniela! I heard every word and felt every feeling you had. You have done nothing wrong, my daughter. You were in the Wilderness. It was my will for you to be there.” Daniela was shocked. “You wanted me to go through all of that?” The King still had the look of Love. “Of course I did. I wanted to teach you things that you wouldn’t have learned otherwise.” Daniela did not understand. “I was far apart from you. What could I have possibly learned from being separated from You?” she asked.

Then the King took Daniela up into the air, far above the forest. “Look down, my child,” said the King. And there was Daniela’s answer. What she saw below was not a forest but a mosaic – different pieces of her experience put together to make the final picture. It was everything that she had experienced while she was in the wilderness. She saw the things that had scared her so much and the times where she felt useless and alone, they were part of the picture as well, but they were not scary or useless at all. They all fit perfectly into the bigger picture. This is the picture of wholeness. It is the picture of completeness. It is what we become while we are wandering in the wilderness. When we are so close to the situation, everything looks fragmented and distorted. However it is when the picture is completed and we have a chance to step back and look at the entire situation, that we gain the greatest perspective.

“You see, My Daniela, you were never far apart from Me. It just seemed like that to you. I was always with you but in your loneliness and confusion you learned to trust Me and you learned the depth of your love for Me. Now you know that you will never leave Me. It is for you to learn more about yourself and what you’ll do for Me that you go into the wilderness. You learned to live in strength and perseverance. Don’t despise the times when you go into the wilderness, for they are an important part of your learning to walk with Me.”

As children of the King, sometimes we are led into the wilderness but it is not to harm us. It is for our good, our growth and our strength. For it is in the wilderness that we learn our greatest lessons.

* From the song, More Than Life, Hillsong

**Psalm 43:5

***Psalm 62:1-2

Out of the Abundance

2009-02-17T13:16:38-05:00

(Talise means beautiful water)

One day The King called to Daniela. “My beautiful child, I have something to give to you. Up in the mountains is a stream. The water that flows from it is pure and perfect. It is living and it will give you great strength and blessing. I want you to have some. Get yourself ready to go up into the mountains. I want you to be able to bring some of the water back with you. It is a blessing I have just for you.”

Daniela went home and got ready. She made sure she had the right clothing and equipment for the journey but she was unsure of which kind of container to take. She finally settled on a beautiful jug – not too big to carry, but not too small to keep her from being able to take some of the water back home with her.

As Daniela climbed, she considered her task. She knew that by sending her to the stream, the King wanted to bless her. She also knew that the King had asked her to go on this task for a reason. She couldn’t help but wonder what it was that the King would teach her. The King’s lessons were usually very important and also very memorable. Daniela prayed that she would learn her lesson well. She hoped she would not disappoint the King.

After at least an hour of walking and climbing, Daniela heard the roaring sound of water. She knew she was close to her task. Almost at once, there appeared a clearing by the side of the trail and there was the stream beside it. Daniela sat on a fallen tree branch for a while to catch her breath then decided to make her way down to the stream’s edge. There were large boulders and smaller rocks all long the water. She would have to climb on them and over them to fill her jug with water. Gingerly she stepped from rock to rock until she got to the water’s edge.

Peering down into the living, lively water, Daniela knew this was clearly a gift from The King. Somehow she knew this water was healing. It held grace and peace and joy and everything that The King wanted for her. She bent down and drank the living water. She took it in and received it with gladness. The most wonderful feeling of peace and comfort washed over her. She could have as much as she wanted and she spent a long time there beside the waters of the living stream. She was blessed by her time there. Even though she couldn’t see Him, Daniela knew that The King was right there because she knew His presence.

After Daniela filled her jug completely full of water, she turned to go. She let out a deep, contented sigh. This had been such a beautiful time of infilling and restoration in The King and His ways. As she was stepping away from the water, she noticed that beside the stream sat a girl no older than 16 looking forlorn. “Can I help you?” Daniela asked kindly. The girl started to cry. “My name is Talise and I need help,” she said. “The King has sent me to come and get some of this water but I am disabled and can’t get down there to fill my container. The rocks are too steep for me.” Daniela was moved and assured the girl, “Don’t worry, I’ll help you. Here, I’ll come down from the rocks and fill your jug so you’ll have plenty to take home with you.” Talise was relieved. “Thank you!” she exclaimed.

As Daniela stepped down from her rock, something terrible happened. She tripped. All in a split-second’s time, she tried to regain her footing and maintain control of her jug. It wasn’t to be though, because both Daniela and her jug fell haphazardly among the rocks. All she could hear was the crashing of her jug, breaking into a million pieces. Now Daniela was crying too. What could she do? She had no water to take down the mountain. She couldn’t help the girl and what was even worse was she couldn’t complete the task The King Himself had given her. It was a woeful sight on the mountain - two girls crying because they had let down their King. Finally Daniela decided that since she was older, she needed to pull herself together and comfort the younger girl. She painfully picked herself up and went down to where the other girl was sitting. Before she got there, she started speaking, “Don’t worry. It’ll be ok.” Talise wasn’t convinced and cried all the more. “What am I going to tell The King?” she wailed. “Why would He ask me to come up here anyway? He knows I’m disabled and can’t get to the water.” Daniela was moved by the young girl’s plight. She decided she didn’t have it so bad. She knew they could go to The King and tell Him anything and that He’d understand. She just felt disappointed that she had let Him down. Daniela looked at the girl with a look of love and reached out to pat her on the shoulder. Suddenly something strange happened! Water came pouring out of her hand onto the girl. They both looked stunned. What was happening?

Talise immediately stopped crying and seemed to be thankfully accepting the water that came pouring down onto her. She was so calmed and peaceful because of the water, Daniela knew it had to be the water from the stream. She knew that look and feeling having experienced it just moments before. In fact, she was experiencing that same feeling of peace again as the water poured out of her. What was even more amazing is that the water never ran out. Now they were both crying again. This time their tears were tears of gratitude and love for The King. Talise opened her mouth and in the most beautiful voice Daniela had ever heard, began to sing a song to The King:

How priceless is your unfailing love!
Both high and low among men
find refuge in the shadow of your wings.

They feast on the abundance of your house;
you give them drink from your river of delights.

For with you is the fountain of life;
in your light we see light.*

In that moment, Daniela understood. She knew that because of her great blessing, she had blessed another. She had never needed a container. A container holds and contains things. The King’s children are never to hold onto or store things away. They are to give them to others. The living water of the King had poured into her and then had poured out of her in order to bless again. She knew it would never leave her and would never run out in her. The blessing of The King never runs out. It is a seed planted in us which always produces a greater and higher return.

Having learned The King’s lesson and after making a new friend, Daniela joyfully came down from the mountain. As she walked in the newness of peace and contentment, a prayer came to her mind. This is what she prayed:

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I’m filled to be emptied again
The seed I’ve received I will sow**

No matter the blessing, no matter the seed, out of the abundance we give. Out of the increase, it flows out of us. Every good gift comes from The King. It comes into us and out of us. It never stops. It is a continual flow of spiritual, emotional and physical gifts. As we receive, we give. The more we give, the more we receive.

*Psalm 36:7-9

**The Desert Song – Hillsong – from the album, This is Our God

I Will Come to You

2008-12-09T13:29:13-05:00

I rise before dawn and cry for help;
I have put my hope in your word.*

Daniela awoke with a start. That she was able to get any sleep at all was astounding to her. All night long the King’s Enemies had kept up a constant barrage of pounding. So much so that she thought she’d lose her mind. Of course that hadn’t happened and she had actually gotten some rest. Now Daniela was filled with nervous excitement.

Alvaro was making breakfast when Daniela came downstairs. “Good morning, Daniela. How did you sleep?” He asked. “I actually slept pretty well,” Daniela said, allowing herself a smile. “That pounding never seemed to stop.” “Oh that? Don’t pay them any mind,” Alvaro smiled back. “They know they aren’t allowed to hurt you now. You have a prayer covering over you.” Daniela didn’t really know what that meant but she knew it was good so she didn’t pursue it. She figured there was plenty she didn’t know and that she would learn it eventually. “My dear, it is time to eat,” Alvaro broke into her thoughts, “you have an appointment with the King today!” Daniela allowed herself to feel good about that. She had a little hope now that everything would work out for her.

After breakfast, there was a knock on the door. Alvaro smiled, “Daniela, my dear could you answer the door please?” Daniela wasn’t sure. What about the Enemies? Surely they were prowling around waiting for their opportunity to destroy her. She looked at Alvaro. “It’s ok, dear,” he said. Daniela summoned all of her courage and opened the door. There before her stood the King! He was magnificent, resplendent in majesty and goodness. Daniela was so shocked, she gasped. “What are you doing here? I thought I would have to search for you – or make an appointment – or meet with you in a castle – or, or something!” her words spilled out in a rush. Alvaro took over, “Oh, my King, please come in! You see, Daniela, the King comes to meet you where you are. There is no big journey or palatial castle. It’s just you and the King.” Daniela looked over at the King, “Oh, I’m sorry! Please sit down, Sir!” Now it was the King’s turn to speak, “Daniela,” He said. He turned His eyes upon her with such a look of pure Love. In that instant, from one moment to the next, Daniela knew. She just knew that the King loved her.

No one in her life had ever loved Daniela. Not in the real sense. She had never been touched by a loving hand in her life. In fact from the time Daniela had been very young until right now, most of the people in her life had been mean, hate-filled people. No one cared for her and if the truth were to be told here and now, she didn’t care for anyone else either. She always looked out for herself even though she couldn’t even say that she really liked who she was. She would always tell people she didn’t believe in love. It was something fake that was made up to sell Valentine’s Day cards. But now – now she knew love was real and not only that, Someone really loved her. She felt comfortable in His presence. How could this be? With that thought, Daniela crumbled. She tried to be tough but it was impossible. She fell at the feet of the King. “Oh, King, how?” she cried. “How can you love someone like me? I have done such awful things. I have lived so far away from You. I don’t deserve to be loved.” Daniela was inconsolable. She was sure the King would put her outside with all of the Enemies. If she was honest, that is where she belonged. All she wanted though was to be with the King and that pure, deep, accepting Love. She was sure He would send her away from that Love and give it to someone else who deserved it more.

Alvaro reached down and touched Daniela, “Sweet Daniela, I’d like you to meet someone.” Daniela looked up, startled that there was anyone else in the room. She had been so caught up in the contrast between the Love and her sin that she hadn’t even noticed the young man in the kitchen. “Daniela, this is the Prince. His name is Jesus.” Daniela tried to dry her eyes and sit up and be respectable but it was impossible. The tears wouldn’t stop. “That’s ok,” the Prince said, “I will come to you.” As the Prince came over and stooped to her level, Daniela noticed he was wounded. He had a huge scar on his side and also scars on his hands. Alvaro spoke again, “Daniela, no one is good enough to be one of the King’s servants. That is why He offered His perfect Son. Jesus was offered as a sacrifice for all of our mistakes and sins. Everything that has been done in the name of Sin was paid for by Jesus. We deserve to die but he died in our place and rose from the dead.” Daniela didn’t really understand but Alvaro continued anyway, “Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth.** Daniela was stunned. She didn’t know what to say. Could it really be as Alvaro said? Seriously, who would do that?

Jesus reached out his hands, “Daniela, look.” As Daniela’s eyes looked into the deep holes in the scarred hands, she knew every word was true. She realized just what He had done. He had willingly given His life for her. She didn’t even know Him! Yet He had done it and He still had the wounds. And now, as He looked at her, here was the same Love again. This time it came from Jesus. Daniela understood how much the Prince loved her. He had allowed men to beat him unrecognizable and take his clothes and nail him on boards and raise him high so all could laugh and watch him die in that shameful position. It was because of people like her – people who didn’t deserve any kind of breaks or compassion. She was the one who had caused his death. Suddenly Daniela felt deep regret. It pained her greatly, this knowledge of what she had allowed to happen. “Oh, Prince,” she choked on her tears. “What have I done?” she sobbed. “I am in great need of forgiveness! Can it ever be done?” The Sovereign Prince, Jesus looked at Daniela with compassion and said, “My love for you is never-ending. Your sins are forgiven. I have forgotten the past. Go and sin no more.” Daniela could never describe fully what happened next. So many emotions left her while new ones came and filled her. She wasn’t sure why but she knew that she would never be the same. She knew things that she hadn’t known a moment before. She knew the Love of the Father and His Son. She knew that she was forgiven even though there was no logical reason that she should be. And she felt joy. Oh such joy that she had never known! She was actually one of the King’s servants now. It was unbelievable to her.

We don’t have to search for the King and His Son. They are always ready to come to us. They will meet us where we are and accept us for who we are. It is only when we come near to them though that we gain the desire to be forgiven and to be pure as they are pure.

* Psalm 119:147 (NIV)

** Ephesians 1: 7-10 (The Message)

Daniela Finds a Home

2008-12-06T11:47:56-05:00

(Daniela means “God is my judge”)

(Alvaro means “Nobel guardian”)

The sound of her heart pounding wasn’t the only thing Daniela couldn’t ignore. Large tree branches and vines seemed to reach out and try to pull her down as she ran by. She couldn’t stop though. There was no time to worry about her cuts or bruises – not now at least. Daniela had to find the city before nightfall. There was no other way around it. If she could just make it to the city, she told herself, she might be saved. She knew she couldn’t live another day out there. She wouldn’t survive. She would succumb to the evil that was everywhere. Sin was hot on her trail – so were Rebellion, Addiction and Pain. And Fear. Oh, the Fear that never left her alone for a minute! If she didn’t find rest for her soul, they would end up destroying her.

Alvaro was the night watchman. He was in charge of keeping the city safe and would sound an alarm if there was danger. Alvaro was old and wise. He had been doing this line of work for a long time. He knew what to do in almost every situation. So when there was a pounding on the door just as he had turned in, he wasn’t too surprised or concerned. After all, he was available 24/7. That was part of his job description.

As the door opened, Daniela fell into the room, exhausted and scared. “Please, you have to help me,” she sobbed, “I have nowhere else to go and there is evil all around. They will not rest until I belong to them.” Alvaro nodded kindly, “Of course, my dear. I understand. I myself came here on the run over 30 years ago. You are safe and you are welcome in this city.”

Daniela was unsure, “What do I have to do to live here? I have heard stories.”

Alvaro motioned Daniela to a chair. He put on a pot of tea and said, “My dear, the King is merciful and kind. He would never ask you to do anything that would be too hard for you.” “What is the first step?” Daniela asked. “Of course you would want to speak to the King, Alvaro answered. “You would need to get to know Him and then you could decide whether you want to live here.”

Now Daniela’s heart was heavy. “You don’t know my life,” she said bitterly. “I have done many things to hurt the King and His servants.” The look Alvaro gave Daniela was a look of pure love. “My dear,” he said, “we have all done things to hurt the King.” “No!” Daniela spit out. “You DON’T understand! I am the worst of the worst. I have done everything I could to purposely harm this kingdom. I seriously doubt the King will even want to look at me.” She put her head down and sobbed. Alvaro smiled a wise and knowing smile, “Daniela, the King will take anyone. He will see anyone. It doesn’t matter who or what they are. I know it doesn’t make sense but it is true. The King loves everyone – even you. You will see tomorrow. There is hope for you because of the King.”

All night long, Fear and Doubt and Unbelief pounded on the door of that little house, trying to get to Daniela. All night long Alvaro stood watch with his prayers. He knew that the King’s enemies weren’t allowed to come into his property so he wasn’t afraid. In prayer he wove a covering over Daniela so she would be protected. She could hear the Enemies pounding but she knew she was safe here in this city. It held hope and it held a future for her that no other place in the world could. She knew that. She wasn’t sure what the next day would bring but she was sure willing to find out. Her life up to that point was too much of a mess to want anything else but than to find a Savior. Maybe there really was hope here. She needed a way out of that other world. Maybe, just maybe the King would offer her that.

Matthew 11:28-29

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Finding The Light

2008-11-15T10:30:49-05:00

In the darkness, Joel lay on the floor in a heap. He couldn’t pick up his head or look around without it starting again – this heaviness, this coldness. And the thoughts running through his head never stopped! There was no one out there who would really understand this pain. He supposed he needed to get up off of the floor and go to bed but what was the point? He wouldn’t sleep.

As he lay there, he began to realize he needed something – anything that would bring him out of this heaviness, this loneliness, this weight of condemnation. He needed some light in his life. He had heard of this King people spoke about. Maybe He was the answer. He had been thinking about it. Joel wasn’t sure though. He wasn’t about to give up anything or turn into anyone different. He was willing to find out more though. Anything would be better than what he felt now. But, how to go about it? Joel didn’t know much of anything about The King. “Oh God! What now?” cried Joel. As he opened his eyes, he realized he wasn’t alone. “Who are you?” Joel demanded. Joel’s anger was met with a look of kindness and love. “I am The King and you called me,” was the answer. “So I’m kind of a misfit. Why would you want someone like me?” asked Joel, starting right in. “Why wouldn’t I?” was the answer, “You were made a valuable person with lots of things to offer. You got sidetracked by sin and the guilt that comes with it. That is why you feel so bad.” Joel mulled this over. “I feel like I am living in darkness and can’t get to the light.” The King looked at Joel with such a look of love that something started to break down inside of him. Then The King spoke, “Joel, you can walk out of the darkness any time you want. I am always here for you.” Joel remembered how quickly He had come when he cried. “I think I believe you but it’s hard to make that step,” said Joel. “Joel, take My hand,” said The King, reaching out and taking Joel’s hand. “All that you need to do is put your hand in Mine and take each step with Me. I will take care of the rest.” Joel felt such an acceptance and love when his hand was in The King’s hand. He wasn’t quite convinced yet though, “I’m not giving up anything. I like the life I’ve made for myself” The King chuckled softly and smiled a smile of gentleness. “No, Joel you don’t have to give anything up! When you live in the Light of The King, if you give up anything, it will be because you want to do it to get closer to Me. For the way to live close to The King is the way of holiness and peace.” Joel had heard enough. The presence of The King was so great that he never wanted to leave it. He opened his heart and said, “Father, I can’t live this life on my own anymore. I need You and want You in my life. I want to live in the Light of The King. I want to know Your love and forgiveness so I renounce my sins and ask You to wipe them away and remember them no more. I believe that Jesus died for me. I believe that He allowed my sin to be put on Himself when He died on the cross. I believe that Jesus rose from the dead. I surrender my life to Jesus today. Thank You that now I know for sure that when I die I’ll go to heaven and be with You forever. Please come and live with me and help me with everything. Please send your Holy Spirit to help me obey You, and to do Your will for the rest of my life. In Jesus' name I pray, Amen.

The King smiled and put His arm around Joel. “Joel!” He said heartily, “Welcome to the family! You are one of Mine now. I will never leave you nor forsake you.* Joel could tell The Light and The Love was inside of him now. He didn’t feel too different though but that was okay. He didn’t need a radical change on the outside, he needed one on the inside and he had definitely gotten that. He was happy to be a part of the family of The King. He had always felt like an outcast but now he had a huge family to be a part of and that was very comforting. Joel was so grateful to The King that he sang a song to Him,

I’ve finally found where I belong
I’ve finally found where I belong, in Your presence
I’ve finally found where I belong, it’s to be with You, to be with You**

So living in the presence of The King and being a part of the family of The King were what filled the rest of Joel’s life. When he died, he was happy and at peace and he went to heaven to live forever with The King.

Want to know more about becoming a part of the family of The King? Click here or Email me.

*Joshua 1:5 ** Where I Belong by Cory Asbury from the album, Holy.

A Heavy Stone is Lifted

2008-11-13T11:18:54-05:00

(Ritzpah means “Hot stone, a coal”)

Once there was a woman who went on a journey to find the King. It was a slow and tedious journey and she could hardly make any progress at all. Ritzpah was a woman who had lived her whole life with a burden on her back. She had carried this around and it had made her very tired. She had even become bent over as she walked because of this burden. It made her life very heavy. It was like a hot, burning coal in her life.

As she went, a woman passed her by very quickly. “What is your problem?” said the woman. “Speed up and we will all be better for it.” Ritzpah looked up at the woman from her bent over position and said, “I’m sorry. I can’t go any faster than I am right now. I am going to the King to unload my heavy burden. I’ll be much faster after that.” The woman rolled her eyes and kept going. She didn’t mind taking one more shot, “The King! What’s He going to do? You are the one who should work on your own problems. Why would you bother The King? Fix it yourself. You are completely useless right now.” Ritzpah went on very sorrowfully because she knew the woman was right about this last sentence. She kept moving though and kept trying to get past her problem. If only she could get to The King.

Next came a young man. “Move!” he said. “You and your hideous growth are blocking my path.” Ritzpah looked up. “Oh, excuse me,” she said, moving out of the way. The boy looked at her with a look of disdain. “Why don’t you do something about that ugly thing on your back?” he asked. “Well, that’s what I’m trying to do,” said Ritzpah, trying to stay positive. “I’m going to The King to have Him remove it.” The young man laughed derisively, “Oh yeah, I’m sure The King will get right on that. Don’t you know that The King doesn’t meet with people who have issues? Why would He mess with someone like you? You need to get right and whole before you meet with The King.”

This took all of the air out of Ritzpah’s sails. This guy was right, wasn’t he? We have to get right before we see The King. Now here came the tears. Ritzpah sat down on a rock and felt sorry for herself. No one was going to listen to a mess like her. How would she get anywhere or do anything or be effective at all if she wasn’t made right first? She closed her eyes and said, “If only I could see The King!” and then cried some more. When she opened her eyes, she found she wasn’t alone. There was a man standing there. Now Ritzpah felt embarrassed to be crying in front of a stranger. “I’m sorry, sir,” she said. When the man looked her square in the eyes, Ritzpah knew. It was The King! She felt the love coming from Him and saw the acceptance in His eyes. “Ritzpah,” He said, “why are you crying?” Ritzpah straightened up and tried her best to make herself look and sound acceptable to The King. “Oh King, I just realized that I need to be right with You before I meet with You,” Ritzpah sniffled. A look of kindness met her gaze. “Where in the world would you get that idea?” asked The King. “Uh, well, the boy said…” Ritzpah realized she sounded kind of ridiculous. “My child, haven’t you heard it said that, everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved*? All that you needed to do was call to Me.” Just then, Ritzpah knew that The King would have accepted her no matter what she looked like or how she acted. All He cared about was her. All of a sudden, Ritzpah fell to the ground! What had happened? She sat up with a very strange sensation indeed. There was no burden. She could move again. She could walk. She could run. She felt 100 pounds lighter. Just then, The King spoke, ‘“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.’ ** That is why your burden was lifted, Ritzpah. You will always have My acceptance and love.”

Now who had the right answer? Was it the one who thought we need to fix our own problems? Was it the one who believes that we need to make ourselves perfect in His eyes before we go to Him? It was the woman who had the biggest problem. She knew what she needed to do, she was just going about it an ineffective way. There are no barriers between The King and His children. Once Ritzpah realized that The King will accept us no matter what and come and meet our needs when we call to Him, she was released from her burdens and the ugliness that she had been carrying for so long.

It is not the people who look the most secure on the outside who know the most or are in the best place. It is the people who know and understand The King and His ways that have the most security and peace.

Whatever burdens you carry around today, The King is more than ready, willing and able to take them from you. Release them to Him and you will find rest for your soul.

*Joel 2:32 ** Matthew 11:28