Unstopping the Wells of Water (or A Fountain Unsealed)

A garden enclosed is my sister, my spouse; a spring shut up, a fountain sealed.   (Song of Songs 4:12)

Over the past two weeks, I have been reading Hinds Feet on High Places  and Mountains of Spices, by Hannah Hurnard.  Both of these books are allegories taken from the Song of Songs in the Bible. It has really boosted my faith.  Although I have read these books several times in the past, they brought fresh zeal to my soul.

This weekend, I went with a friend to West Baden Springs, a wonderful resort in southern Indiana.  It was an annual trip, as last year, we were down at French Lick Resort and visited West Baden Springs.  The resorts are built around seven (7) mineral springs which have been filled in and sealed by the Jesuits some 25-40 years ago. I was not aware of this until this year, as we were touring the grounds in unseasonable weather for February (60 degrees).

There was a hill behind one of the springs that led up to a cemetery located half way up.  I had a strong compelling to climb the hill and on Saturday, I hiked up to the cemetery where a number of the Jesuits had been buried in the early and mid twentieth century.  But something drew me further up the hill.

As I climbed, I thought about the faith heroes who "walked with God." Adam walked with God in the cool of the day. Enoch walked with God and was not, for God took him.  Noah walked with God, by faith, and preserved life.  Abraham walked with God and was a friend of God.  Moses walked with God and spoke with God as a friend talks with his friend.

When I reached the top of the hill overlooking the resort and town, I began talking with God about the "springs shut up" knowing that God had brought me to this place to see that all but one spring had been stopped up by the well-meaning priest. I'm sure they thought they were doing a good service, but nonetheless, the springs were permanently sealed in concrete.

But the Holy Spirit directed my thoughts to others "Springs" that had been sealed up.  Jonathan singing at one of the springs These were the wells that Abraham had dug. Very interestingly, one of the wells names was Beersheva "seven wells". Yet, another confirmation that God had led me on this trip.  We read in Genesis 26:18, And Isaac digged again the wells of water, which they had digged in the days of Abraham his father; for the Philitines had stopped them after the death of Abraham: and he called them after the names by which his father had called them. 

One of the names of the wells was Esek - meaning contention.  The next well was the name Sitnah: in Hebrew the root is the same as Satan, meaning opposition.  The third well Isaac dug was the name Rehoboth - plenty of space.  Therefore with joy shall you draw water out of the wells of Yeshua (salvation). Isaiah 12:3  We find Jesus declaring on the last day of the feast of Tabernacles: If any man thirst, let him come unto Me, and drink.  He that believeth on Me, as the Scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water. John 7:37-38.

Now, I have not come to the full revelation of all that this trip meant for me, but as I came down the hillside, I was a bit leery on where to place my feet, because of the steepness of the hill.  But, I began to think about the meaning of Faith.  It is a sure foothold. The word faith in its most literal sense means steadfast.  God maketh my feet like hinds' feet, and setteth me upon my high places. Psalms 18:33.

A deer during the summer at a State Park.

That evening, returning from dinner, the train ride from French Lick to West Baden past by an open field where 12-13 deer (hinds) grazed about the evening. Suddenly, another verse from Song of Songs began pounding in my heart: I charge you, O ye daughters of Jerusalem, by the roes, and by the hinds of the field, that he stir not up, nor awake my love, till he please. (SoS 2:7)

 Another lovely Psalm comes to mind, as I sit reflecting on these things: As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after Thee, Oh God.  I believe it was these words that inspired an author to write about God Chasers.  And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.  And I will be found of you, saith the LORD. (Jeremiah 29:13)

Feast of Trumpets

Today marks the beginning of the Biblical Feast of Trumpets, which God commanded Moses and the children of Israel to keep:

Speak unto the children of Israel,

saying, In the seventh month,

in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath,

a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation.

Ye shall do no servile work therein:

but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord.

Leviticus 23:24-25

David mentioned this feast:

Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery.

Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day.

For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob.

This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not.

I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah.

Psalm 81:1-7

The prophet Joel uses the illustration of blowing the trumpet:

Blow ye the trumpet in Zion, and sound an alarm in my holy mountain: let all the inhabitants of the land tremble: for the day of the Lord cometh, for it is nigh at hand;

A day of darkness and of gloominess, a day of clouds and of thick darkness, as the morning spread upon the mountains: a great people and a strong; there hath not been ever the like, neither shall be any more after it, even to the years of many generations.

Joel 2:1-2

The prophet Amos also uses the illustration of blowing a trumpet:

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Will a lion roar in the forest, when he hath no prey? will a young lion cry out of his den, if he have taken nothing?

Can a bird fall in a snare upon the earth, where no gin is for him? shall one take up a snare from the earth, and have taken nothing at all?

Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil in a city, and the Lord hath not done it?

Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

The lion hath roared, who will not fear? the Lord God hath spoken, who can but prophesy?

Amos 3:3-9

The Apostle Paul was instructing the church at Corinth on the proper use and place of the gifts of the Spirit.  In relation to speaking with unknown tongues, he said:

For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?

I Corinthians 14:8

The Apostle John was in the Spirit on the isle of Patmos, he had a vision and related it:

I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and,

What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.

Revelation 1:10-11

We often get the thought of a silver or brass trumpet in our mind, when we read in the Bible about trumpets. More often than not, however, the concept is a ram's horn. The word in Hebrew is Shofar.  A ram's horn is hollow and doesn't make any sound, unless someone picks it up and puts the mouth piece to their mouth and blows.

It is a prophetic symbol of the voice of God. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first. I Thessalonians 4:16

And all the people saw the thunderings, and the lightnings, and the noise of the trumpet, and the mountain smoking: and when the people saw it, they removed, and stood afar off.

And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear: but let not God speak with us, lest we die. Exodus 20:18-19


First, God sends warning, then judgment. Read Revelation chapter 8. The trumpets are a warning of judgment. 10 days following the Feast of Trumpets is the Day of Atonement - a type of the day of judgment.

In Everything Give Thanks

One of my favorite verses from the Apostle Paul is found in I Thessalonians 5:18, "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."  I am often reminded of a testimony given by Corrie ten Boom and her sister Betsie, as they struggled to survive in the Nazi concentration camps.  One day, as they were holding a Bible study in the barracks, Corrie tells that Betsie began to thank God for the flea infestation.  Corrie thought her sister had finally lost it.  But later they discovered that the fleas kept the guards out of the barracks and they were able to hold their Bible studies because of this.


I have mentioned that my career entails managing a memory care unit for seniors living with Alzheimer's disease.  It is often stressful, especially when families don't understand why their loved ones act in the manner they act or misplace things (sometimes permanently). 


One day, I had to have a difficult meeting with a family and I dreaded to talk to them about how their loved one had declined and would be needing to move to another area of the facility.  I was so nervous about that meeting, until I got to work that morning.  As I sat my things down, the staff informed me that one of the resident's hearing aide was missing.  This was a replacement to a previous hearing aide that had been lost.  Needless to say, I frantically searched the entire unit - no success.


Just before the meeting, I called the resident's loved one to inform them of the hearing aide. I could hear the disappointment in their voice, but also a twinge of understanding.  I went to the meeting - that I had forgotten to dread. It went smoothly and without a hitch.  After the meeting, a staff brought me the missing hearing aide. God had worked it in such a way that my mind was taken off one thing that I dreaded so entirely much. He then came through and worked it out on the other end, as well.


Sometimes, we don't see what His purposes are, but we know He is behind the scenes.  We walk by faith, not by sight.

Ask and you shall receive...

My job entails working with patients who have Alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. I am the director of the secure memory care unit in a nursing facility.  Therefore everyday is different and has many opportunities that can lead to stress.  I am often the liaison between families, the patient and the staff.  At the end of the day, I am the advocate for the patient.  However, many families are have a difficult time accepting the changes they see in mom or dad and this often reflects negative toward the professional caregivers.


Lately, I've had a patient who has began to exhibit different behaviors from their normal and has been somewhat challenging.  Last evening, this patient landed in a different room than theirs and misplaced their glasses.  Just before I left for the day, the staff informed me - "So-and-so's glasses are missing and we've searched the room."  I thought about the fact that this person was found in another patient's room and asked, "did you check that room?"  "Yes, they replied."  


But being the over-thinker, I thought, "Well, I'm sure they didn't look under the bed or night stand." So off I went, just to rest my case before I officially declared them missing.  Just as the nursing assistant said, they were obviously not in the room.  As I turned to leave the room, I looked up to the ceiling and prayed, "Lord, You said if we ask we can receive, if we seek....." At that moment, I made one final sweep of the room with my eyes, and there in plain sight, laying just under the window unit was the missing glasses.  God heard and answered even before I finished my prayer.

Hitbodedut

So today, I needed to make a greater connection with God and I went to a beautiful park, north of Indianapolis to do Hitbodedut.  What is hitbodedut?  It's the act of being alone with God, talking with Him about EVERYTHING that's on your mind, and listening for the answer. Hitbodedut is a Hebrew word and seemingly a Jewish concept.  But it is for everyone, at all times. It was emphasized by a great rabbi of the late 17- early 1800's - Rebbe Nachman of Breslov. 


However, it was the basis for Jewish prayer for all the patriarchs. As a believer in the Jewish Messiah, Yeshua (Jesus), it is clear that not only did He practice Hitbodedut, but also encourage it.

After sending the crowds away, He went up on the hillside by Himself to pray.

When evening came, He was there alone. Matthew14:23

In the morning, while it was still very dark,

Jesus got up and went to a deserted place and prayed there.

Mark 1:35 

After saying goodbye to them,

He went up on the hillside to pray.

Mark 4:46

At daybreak He left and wen to a deserted place,

and the crowds kept looking for Him.

Luke 4:42

However, He continued His habit of going away

to deserted places and praying.

Luke 5:16

One day while Jesus was praying privately

and the disciples were with Him,

He asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"

Luke 9:18

Now it was in those days that Jesus went to a mountain to pray.

He spent the whole night in prayer to God.

Luke 6:12

So then, where are we encouraged to keep this practice?  First of all, Jesus was our Rabbi (teacher) and He led us by example. For even hereunto were you called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps. I Peter 2:21 

However, in the Sermon on the Mount, He admonished us: Whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father Who is in secret. And your Father Who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6 

About two years ago, I was blessed to stumble across a group of Breslov Hasidic Jews who are spending hours each day talking to the Father. The Rabbi teaches from the Torah and also words of Rebbe Nachman the importance of daily fellowship with the Creator. 

I encourage you to learn this practice.  We often make prayer such a holy thing, that we put off doing it.  Prayer is a holy thing, but we should make it part of our daily life.  Whether it's in a field, a forest, your closet, your backyard, a religious structure, or just driving down the road in your car.  God is everywhere and He is always ready to hear from you.

I find that when I'm out in nature, whether hiking up hills or beside a babbling stream or just walking in a deserted meadow, God is right there and whatever I ask, He is already answering.

My father loved to spend hours at the back of a pasture, beside a rushing creek.  Whenever he would be unable to go a church on Sunday morning, he would go to the pasture to pray.  I remember one Sunday he came home and told me he was late for church. I was a little bewildered because I knew he didn't go to church that day. But I asked him anyway why he was late.  He told me, "The birds were already singing when I got there."  I knew exactly how he felt as I walked through the forest, this morning.  God was already there and the birds were already singing.  It reminded me of the old Hymn, "When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees..."

God is not some far-off mythological being that is so remote and distant from our current state of being. He is right here with you, desiring communion and fellowship, just as Adam who first walked with Him in the Garden.

The Battle's Not Mine

Work has been taxing, the past several weeks - lots of staff turnover and I've felt I had to give more of my time and energy to work.  At the same time, my prayer life feels like it's suffered greatly.  I decided to request today off and my boss heartily agreed.  However, this morning, I got a text stating that my unit was short-staffed.  I began to cry out to God, "If this is Your will, I don't like. I'll do it, but I'm not happy about it." It wasn't long before word was sent that the shortage was covered. I then decided to go hiking at Battle Ground, IN where the Battle of Tippecanoe was fought in 1812.


Before I left the house, I asked God for a sign in the Scriptures if I should go.  When I opened my Bible, I looked down at 2 Cor. 10:4-5: "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of stongholds; casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ."  Now, I just thought that was maybe a coincidence. So, I opened up my devotional - My Utmost for His Highest - September 09 "...bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ...."  Wasn't sure exactly what the sign meant, but on I went to Battle Ground.

http://www.ingenweb.org/intippecanoe/prophetsrock.htm

Battle Ground was formerly known by the Native Americans as Prophetstown because of a Shawnee named Tenskwatawa (name means: the Open Door). His early name meant noisemaker due to him trying to make a name for himself like his brother, Tecmuseh.  He ended up becoming a drunk and wasting his life away, until one day when he passed out drunk.  Some stories say he fell into the fire.  His family believed him to be dead and when he arose, he was a changed man.  He began to curse alcohol and discourage all the ways of the White man. He encouraged his people to return to the old ways.   I have no doubt that he had a religious experience and possibly visions from God.   However, eventually he moved his people to Indiana at the Wabash river until General William Harrison brought a troop there to resettle them.


Tenskwatawa told the natives that the bullets fired by the white man would be harmless and If they attacked in the dark, the whites would be confused and would fall down in a stupor. The darkness would blind the white men,  but the Master of Life would provide daylight vision to the tribes. He said that victory was certain for the red man and gave the signal for battle from what has become known as Prophet's Rock. He sat on the rock and sang chants of encouragement to the warriors.  They lost the battle and Prophetstown was burned to the ground.

 When I climbed up on the rock and was looking out through the trees, thinking about Elijah in his secret place in the cave, I started praying the Scriptures about spiritual warfare.  As I was getting ready to leave, the Spirit came over me and reminded me of I Samuel 17:45 - "You come to me with a sword, and with a spear, and with a shield: but I come to you in the Name of the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, Whom you defy."  Then He reminded me, "Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the Lord of Hosts." Zech. 4:6b


My mind went to another prophet who sat on the hillside, while the armies of Israel fought.  He held his hands up until the going down of the sun and the battle was won. You can read about this in Exodus 17:11. 


One prophet led his people to warfare with carnal weapons and did not have "Thus saith the Lord."  The other prophet led his people to warfare with spirituals weapons and "Thus saith the Lord." The latter had the victory before the battle even started.  My heart was full.


While driving home, I stopped at the gas station. The gas station was named Luke and the sign declaring the price per gallon read $2.19.   When I pulled up, I read Luke 2:19 - "But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart."  The gas total was $24.45, so I read Luke 24:45 - "Then opened He their understanding that they might understand the Scripture."


Even when we're low, He reminds us to always walk by faith. What a journey it is.

Tests

So it's been a rough few weeks for me. I have felt like everything in life has been sabotaged. My work life felt like it was caving in on me and there was nothing I could do, but crumple with it.  Finally, last night during my prayer time, I just started to sob out my complaints to God. It felt a little better, but I still felt pretty lousy when I awoke this morning.


After my shower, I sat down at the table to read the Bible. I prayed and told God, "I don't even know where to read." So, I just started flipping through pages and stopped and looked down at II Corinthians 13. I prayed, thanked God for the Word and I asked God to speak to me through the reading. Keep examining yourselves to see whether you are continuing in the faith. Test yourselves! You know, don't you, that Jesus Christ lives in you? Could it be that you are failing the test? I hope you will realize that we haven't failed our test. We pray to God that you won't do anything wrong - not to show that we haven't failed the test, but so that you may do what is right, even if we seem to have failed. For we can't do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We're glad when we are weak and you are strong. That's what we're praying for - your maturity. (2 Cor. 13:5-9)

Then, I decided to pray through Psalm 139. I got to verse 3: You comprehend my path and my lying down, and are acquainted with all my ways.  I was sobbing again, by this point just pouring out my heart to God.  I kept hearing a line from Job going over and over in my spirit (You know the way I take). So, I looked it up - Job 23:10: But He knows the way that I take; But it didn't stop there. That was just part 1 of the verse I read on all the way down to verse 12:  When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold. My foot has held fast to His steps; I have kept His way and not turned aside. I have not departed from commandment of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food. This reminded me of one of my favorite chapters in Psalms - 119.


I knew that God was speaking to me about the trial of my faith: Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it be tried in with fire, might be found unto praise (I Peter 1:7)  And again, Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. (I Cor. 3:13) 

The Work of Faith

Abraham believed in the Lord and it was credited him for righteousness. Gen 15:6*


The word used in the Hebrew is "Amen" - "Abraham Amen'ed the Lord..."  Amen is the root word for faith in Hebrew: Emunah.


Now faith is the foundation of things we hope for, the proof of things we cannot see.  By faith the elders received approval. By faith we understand the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made from the things that are visible. Heb.11:1-3~  The Apostolic author is referring to Psalm 33:6** - By the word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth.


Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who diligently search for Him. Heb. 11:6 For what can be known about God is clear to them, because God Himself has made it clear to them. Indeed, ever since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes - His eternal power and divine nature - have been understood and observed by what He made, sot that people are without excuse. Roms 1:19-20~  For we live by faith, not by sight. II Cor. 5:7~ Because we don't look for things that can be seen, but for things that can't be seen. For things that can be seen are temporary, but things that can't be seen are Eternal. II Cor.4:17-18~


Faith by itself, if it does not prove itself with actions, is dead. But someone may say, “You have faith, and I have actions.” Show me your faith without any actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions. James 2:17-18~  Abraham acted in faith when he stood in God's presence, Who gives life to the dead and calls into existence things that don't even exist. Hoping in spite of hopeless circumstances, he believed that he would become "the father of many nations," as he had been told. Roms 4:17-18~  Now hope that is seen is not really hope, for who hopes for what can be seen? But if we hope for what we don't see, then do we eagerly wait for it with patience. Roms 8:24-25~


*  Author's Translation
**  King James Version
~ Scripture translations by International Standard Version of the New Testament

The Unsearchable Greatness of God

Great is Adonai and greatly to be praised,

and His greatness is unsearchable.  

Psalm 145:3

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom

and knowledge of God!

How unsearchable are His judgments,

and His ways past finding out!

Romans 11:33

As I was eating dinner, last evening, I said my thanks to God.  Then after I finished my meal, I ate an orange for dessert.  I started thanking God for the orange and a thought struck me.  I was in awe (fear in the western English vernacular) of how amazing and omniscient God really is.  He knew the moment that orange seed went into the earth and a tree begin to form, that on this very night, this very second I would be eating fruit from that tree. Someone in California had planted the seed possibly years ago, but God knew that I would eat the fruit of it. He knew when the tree that would bear the seed of the tree of the fruit and even many generations and eons ago, that I would be sitting this night to eat that orange. When you put that into perspective, there is not one tiny detail God does not orchestrate in your life. 

And yet, He is so great and so magnificent that He knows the very second when the stars in the heaven will be born or die. He sees every particle on every planet in our universe.  When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained;  What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? Psalm 8:3-4  When you start to think that your somebody, just remember who God is and you'll remember just how small and humble you really are.

Be Content in God's Will

Then Jacob made this solemn vow

 “If God remains with me, watches over me throughout

this journey that I’m taking, gives me food to eat and clothes to wear, 

²¹ and returns me safely to my father’s house,

then the Lord will be my God,

  ²² this stone that I’ve erected in the form of a pillar will be God’s house,

 and I’ll give you a tenth of everything that you give to me.” (Genesis 28:20-22 ISV)

Godliness with contentment is great gain.  But you must be content with what you have.  We didn’t bring anything into the world and it is certain that we can’t take anything out of it.  If we have food and clothing, we should be content with that. (I Timothy 6:6-8 Auth. Trans.)  Look at the birds in the sky: for they don't plant or reap, nor do they store up food in barns or silos; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Why do you worry about clothes? Meditate on the lilies of the field, how they grow; they don't work at it, nor do they sew: So if God clothes the grass, which is alive today, and tomorrow is baked in the oven, won't He even more clothe you?  Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not even one of them falls to the ground, without your Father. (Matt 6 Auth. Trans)

Don't store up treasures for yourself on earth, where moths decay and rust corrodes, and where thieves break in and steal; but store up for yourself treasures in heaven, where neither moths decay nor rust corrodes, and where thieves cannot break in and steal  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. Set your affections on things above, not on things on the earth. Don't worry in life about what you are going to eat, or what you are going to drink, nor even what clothes that you are going to put on your body. Isn't the life more than food, and the body more than clothing? (Matt 6 Auth. Trans)

Don't worry about tomorrow. Tomorrow will worry about itself.  There are enough things to worry about today to concern yourself with. (Matt 6:34 Auth. Trans )  Come on!Those of you who say, "Tomorrow, we're going to such and such a city and spend a year working there." You don't know what tomorrow will bring. Your life is like smoke that appears for a little while then dissipates. What you should say is, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that." (James 4:15 Auth. Trans) Don't worry about anything. Instead, pray about everything. Tell God your needs and don't forget to thank Him for His answers. (Phil. 4:6 NLT) 

O God, I beg two favors from you;
    let me have them before I die.
⁸ First, help me never to tell a lie.
    Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
    Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
⁹ For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
    And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

(Proverbs 30: 7-9 NLT)