Today is July 12th. It has been 7 months to the day since the one I love moved to heaven. I have been OK and things are moving forward in a practical sense.

I went to Daytona Beach to take the same walk Janis and I enjoyed for so many years. The sun was out, it was a beautiful day. It was a time of thanksgiving and contemplation.

On the way home I heard an old Mama’s and Papa’s tune, “Dedicated to the one I love.” I was a basket case by the time it was over. This song never meant so much to me until now.

“While I’m far away from you my baby
I know it’s hard for you my baby
Because it’s hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn

Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love
(love can never be exactly like we want it to be)

I could be satisfied knowing you love me
(and there’s one thing I want you to do
Especially for me)
And it’s something that everybody needs

While I’m far away from you my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
Because it’s hard for me my baby
And the darkest hour is just before dawn

If there’s one thing I want you to do especially for me
Then it’s something that everybody needs

Each night before you go to bed my baby
Whisper a little prayer for me my baby
And tell all the stars above
This is dedicated to the one I love…this is dedicated..

This is dedicated to the one I…… Love……….

I love you Janis and I miss you so….

My thanks to all who loved Janis and have loved me generously with compassion and your prayers and fellowship.

It was Christ in her, the Hope of Glory.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.

Pastors and churches all over the world are believing for a great revival.

I believe the revival to come will rise up from a totally unexpected message. Not that the message was not foretold.

What could keep it from happening? Nothing really since it is God’s will for it to happen. What part might we play or do we have a part?

Watchman Nee would say no doubt we play a part, as he did in his book, The Ministry of the Word. In his opinion “Without man there would be no Word.” Yes we do play a part. What if we chose not to?

Can revival come without preaching? Can revival come without an anointed message? Can THEE Revival come without a unique focus, something we never understood before? Will the Holy Spirit have the freedom to turn our hearts toward the message as well as the messenger, not that he seeks attention? His zeal and concern will be the En Theos, behind the message. The message will be difficult.

Will our confidence in our relationship with the Lord be shaken if a standard is lifted up that Jesus professed as a commandment and we find ourselves shaken by it? What can be shaken will be shaken.

Where does our sureness come from anyway? Is it denominational doctrines?  Is it from standards long established, historically accepted? Is the Word of God living? I am asking this, “Is Jesus living?” Is He still able to call the shots anew while not compromising a Word He has spoken?

Are we still hungry for inspiration? How about answers? I am not talking about feel-good inspiration, although any inspiration can be very encouraging in a personal time with the Holy Spirit. No I am talking about revealing guidance, a clarity that makes you sit back from your bible and pause. Your eyebrows may even raise and your pulse rise a bit as you contemplate the ramifications!

Loved ones, I am talking about guidance that comes across as a warning. The instruction was always there but our need to surely know has come. It is soul saving preparation. It is about survival, salvation, eternal life and how to maintain what was freely given.

“Why maintain what I was freely given?” Ever own a classic car? Ever own a house? Ever raise a child. Ever come back from a near death experience and find you want to do better this time because you’ve been given a free gift?

Why would we ever think the gift we were given by Father God and Jesus was not to be cherished and maintained. What’s more, He told us and then showed us how to do just that. What? No testing? No assurance of Christ in us, the Hope of glory? Really? Did I miss something or is the Father populating His Son’s kingdom? Yes, that Son, the One who at the Father’s bidding willingly died for us AFTER teaching us what we needed to know so that in obedience we would live FOREVER, or not!

And how do we treat One who gives us such a gift? We do as He says and take care of our new treasure!

Do you consider your life in Christ to be a treasure or might more of us than should find our gift has need of TLC? If it is like my cell phone, I confess, I need to better understand what it is capable of, how it can help me.

Do you think with all that is happening today, that God in His kindness is leading us somewhere. Does, to safety sound possible? Does repentance come to mind? “Repent for what?” If you do not know, just think of His main focus. It was the Father’s main focus.Without a doubt, it must be our main focus. According to Jesus, it saves us!

What if we find out too late that caring for, learning about and operating in our new gift had a value to our future that was beyond us at the moment. To late we find how it would have far exceeded all we could have asked or thought? Such dimensions and benefits were only to be understood by practiced mastery of this precious gift.

We want a revival but do not know or recognize the message. I do know what it is. When you do, it will change everything. It will change all of us as we learn of our Exit Strategy, as we Master the gift we were freely given. Greater things shall we do leading up to His return. In the darkness, we will be like the stars of the sky, leading those to righteousness who with anticipation have awakened.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved.

In the guardianship of Christ,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.

All the fullness of God in (us?) three miracles!

In a recent post I spoke about Ephesians 3: 14-19 especially 19.

“…and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to all the fullness of God.” NASB

I said when we question how this is possible we look at verse 20. “Now to Him who is able to do far more than we ask or think, according to the power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus…” Paul knew what we needed to hear.

It seems clear to me that in grasping and implementing the love of Jesus, we gain more than we realize from “all the fullness of God.” As we apply love to every challenge, we begin to grasp the unlimited dimensions of God’s love. (See verse 18)

If you have understood anything in my postings or in the reading of “Exit Strategy, We initiate the return of Christ,” the enduring love of Christ in us, expressed in the absolute and limitless forgiveness of others is being trumpeted as a warning and a deliverance to those who only believe and followers, respectively.

Several months ago I had a severe kidney stone attack. It required surgery. The recovery was as painful as the attack. It took 10 days to feel better. Then I was told there is a second stone.

I was feeling pretty good until the morning of a prayer group meeting from 7-9 AM at my house. The pain had returned. I could not sit down during the entire 2 hours as I paced quietly trying to stay involved in the group.

Upon closing, a friend named Elva said, “We need to pray for Michael.” And they did. Elva had read one of the chapters, “He emptied Himself to leave,” from the book.  It speaks to the things I referred to above. She had embraced the love message from a new perspective. She also had been healed from a kidney stone attack just before going on a mission trip. They hugged me and all left.

Five minutes later, no pain. Thirty minutes, no pain. Five hours later, no pain. Five days later, no pain. The pain totally left. I had received a physical miracle and I had ZERO doubt about it. Miracle 1

A few days later I was back to my 2 mile walk routine. I had been focused on the Ephesians verses I referred to above, especially verse 19. It was a beautiful day in NC. Suddenly I was inspired. “(second) Kidney Stone dissolve!” and I simply kept on walking. That was Friday.

As with most of us Saturday in the night I rose to use the bathroom. Because Janis slept nearby (before her passing) I was in the habit of not flushing until morning. I awoke for church, went to the bathroom and as I reached to flush I saw lots of black granules in the commode. Miracle 2
Now weeks later and back from Israel, about three Sunday’s ago, Our pastor spoke on returning for Christ, using the scriptures where Mary and Joseph leave Jesus behind and must “return for Christ.” It was a great application. He spoke of Albert Finny refusing to go into a church service crying out to God, “I will not go without You!” As the congregation was told this by their pastor who had sought Mr. Finny over the delay, they continued praise until Finny came out. He placed his hands on the pulpit and people flocked to the alter in prayer, crying with repentance in their hearts. He never preached a word. God was with him. He refused to leave God behind. Have we left Jesus behind in some sense? What about His enduring love?

The message was powerful. The Spirit was moving. A message in tongues and interpretation came forth. I had gone forward before anyone, sobbing quietly to myself, “Oh God, I want that. This Word you have given me must have You. Use me Lord. I don’t want to go (anywhere) without You.” A hundred people or more came forward.

I returned to my seat still sobbing. I stood by my isle seat as others wanted to go forward when suddenly arms surrounded me from behind. A man’s hands were holding me about the chest as he cried with his head on my back left shoulder. I thought it was a friend who had just lost his brother. We both cried and prayed.

As things calmed, I turned. It was not my friend. I looked, I knew. As he hugged me he whispered in my ear, “I am so sorry for what I did to you.”

Seven or eight years earlier (I think) I was fired from a job. The customer decided to work directly with this man and cut me out. He let this happen. This was a man I considered to be a friend, a Christian friend.

Yes, it hurt. In 33 years I had never been fired from a job. Back then I was beginning to write Exit Strategy. I had embraced Grace, early in my walk with Jesus. I even have a t-shirt made for me that says, “Grant’em grace” Now God was inspiring me to see even more and write about it. Now however, I was being tested.

I forgave him back then. I forgave and forgave and forgave until there was nothing left of the offense. In recent months he would come up in church and shake hands and I greeted him like there was nothing separating us as friends. THERE WAS NOTHING LEFT. I had released him totally and prayed FOR him.

I believe not retaining his sins, by my forgiving him, God was able to speak to his heart. We must forgive the sins against us. God forgives the sins against Him.

On this Sunday morning, he finally obeyed. On this Sunday morning I received a great blessing. Every Word I have written about, every scripture I have quoted has been proven true in real life evidence. I looked him in the eye and told him how happy God was with his obedience. How thankful I was for his confession. “We are 100% good.” We went forward together to praise God for his mercy and faithfulness to His Word, by His Spirit. Miracle 3

I have prayed recently for power to be evident when I share. “..that you may be filled to all the fullness of God, (and God is love) must include “the power of love.” It is not just a song title.

We may be on the verge of signs and wonders as we grasp and implement LOVE. It will have to be real love. The love your enemies and pray for them love. The kind of love that CROSSes off their offenses from any list of offenses we might have, about anybody. This love saves us and releases them into God’s loving hands.

I believe I am experiencing, that as we know we have fully embraced and implemented Christ’s love message, as we accept the idea that all the fullness of God is in us, then “according to the power that works in us” God will exert His power. It must be real love.

Again, this enduring love saves us. (Matthew 24:13-14) It will empower us to rule and reign with Him. Until then, signs and wonders follow those who believe, they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover. Whatever sickness our heart suffers, may it be healed first.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.

I know I planned to share about the three miracles and I will.

I am impressed to make an appeal to Jewish brothers and sisters around the world. The time has come for the veil to be lifted from their eyes. Not that they become anything else but who G-d (as they would write it) has ordained them to be. They will each know by the Spirit of God. There is no other way.

This morning in Word time  I read from Isaiah 40 and verse 3 caught my attention.

Isaiah 40:3 (NASB)
³  A voice is calling, “Clear the way for the LORD in the wilderness; Make smooth in the desert a highway for our God.

We know this voice was John the Baptist by his own declaration in answering the religious leaders who came out of Jerusalem to question this man who people were flocking to. John 1:23 NASB

Matthew 3:3 (KJV)
“For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.”

I have seen this place on the Jordan. It is stark, uninhabitable (in my opinion) desert. It is many miles from Jerusalem and only the very determined or inspired would go there.

John was the son of a high priest, Zacharias of the division of Abijah and his wife Elizabeth. Zacharias was a Kohen (sp?) a special group of Rabi’s ordained to be high priest. (see Luke 1: 1-25 )

John was recognized by the people as being from God. They were not sure who he was until he proclaimed himself as the person from Isaiah’s prophecy. His father Zacharias had also prophesied as recorded below

Luke 1:76-80 (NASB)
⁷⁶  “And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; For you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS;
⁷⁷  To give to His people the knowledge of salvation By the forgiveness of their sins,
⁷⁸  Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high will visit us,
⁷⁹  TO SHINE UPON THOSE WHO SIT IN DARKNESS AND THE SHADOW OF DEATH, To guide our feet into the way of peace.”
⁸⁰  And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel.

John’s father was visited by an angel, while performing his priestly duty and was told about his son, and was made mute until John was born and named “John” as the angel had instructed. Luke 1:8 This testifies to the credibility of Zacharas’ prophecy over John.

At the Jordan scene, Jesus arrives and John (the cousin of Jesus) recognizes Him, declaring,

John 1:29-34 (NASB)
²⁹  The next day he *saw Jesus coming to him and *said, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
³⁰  “This is He on behalf of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’
³¹  “I did not recognize Him, but so that He might be manifested to Israel, I came baptizing in water.”
³²  John testified saying, “I have seen the Spirit descending as a dove out of heaven, and He remained upon Him.
³³  “I did not recognize Him, but He who sent me to baptize in water said to me, ‘He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.’
³⁴  “I myself have seen, and have testified that this is the Son of God.”

As Jesus’ cousin, at times John saw Jesus growing up. Both were miracle babies. Elizabeth was beyond child bearing years. At some point the two mothers shared what they knew to be true with their sons. It was “My son the prophet instead of my son the doctor or lawyer.” No wonder John headed for the desert spending some time with the Esseenes (sp?) a gathering of Jews at Qumran (sp?) who by separating themselves from Jerusalem were very determined to live pure lives before G-d. This is also where we find the Dead Sea Scrolls, which I saw in Israel on a recent trip.

Here is my point. The Jewish people recognize John. Why not then recognize the One John recognized, the One about whom G-d gave a qualifying sign to John. “He upon whom you see the Spirit descending and remaining upon Him, this is the One who baptizes in the Holy Spirit.” Even John needed proof and God knew that.

So John is lying? Jesus even says to John,  Matthew 3:14-17 (NASB)
^{14 “} But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?”
¹⁵  But Jesus answering said to him, “Permit it at this time; for in this way it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he *permitted Him.
¹⁶  After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him,
¹⁷  and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.”

The fulfilling of righteousness was the fulfillment of all prophecy. Isaiah’s 40:3, and Malachi 3:1-3 This was John’s life plan moment. His whole life led to this prophecy fulfilling moment. Soon after John was imprisoned and later killed.

Malachi 3:1-3 (NASB)
¹  “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts.
²  “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap.
³  “He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness.

The first messenger is John. The messenger of the covenant is Jesus. The covenant is the Abrahamic covenant. The refining is the true refining that the Holy Spirit brings to a man’s heart by the Word of G-d. We see through His eyes crucifying our former carnality so we can be kings and priests unto G-d.

The righteousness we embrace, the grace that brings righteousness (Romans 5:21) as kings and priests, will qualify us for eternity and to rule and reign with Him. Ruling in a kingdom of enduring love, our royalty in Him will be obvious. This is why he whose “love” endures to the end shall be saved. Our love must endure all things just as Christ’s love did on the cross. Eternity hangs in the balance for each of us, the Jew first and then the Greek. Un-forgiveness, anger, hatred, such things WILL NOT be smuggled into heaven.

Love the Lord your God and your neighbor as your self. Do this so you will be able to love yourself the way G-d loves you. It is about you. The entire creation and salvation effort is about you and I reaching eternity intact, our hearts empowered by Him.

If you recognize John,…why not Jesus our (yours and my) Messiah.

In Christ, in the Messiah, we become children of the Most High, Jews if you will, grafted into the tree of Israel. You are not the tree unless you have maintained sacrifices to cover yourselves under the law. What if there was One sacrifice that re-enstates your relationship with God and One life that teaches you how to maintain that relationship from that day forward, forever.

You are not forsaking your heritage or your faith if you practice it. Through the Messiah you are finally reaching that perfection that no longer requires a blood sacrifice. It does require a spiritual sacrifice as we daily crucify our will and emotions against others.

Embracing goodness, Goodness embraces you back.

Its the power of love!”

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.

What do we omit? Would anyone say we should omit portions of God’s Word? Are we doing so without realizing it?

Below are a few of many scriptures addressed in my book below, Exit Strategy.

I examine these scriptures because they relate to the power that is supposed to be working within us.It is increasing power based on our obeying the conditions God / Jesus has stipulated and the writers have faithfully recorded.

It is His power to be increasingly displayed in us in these and future days of increasing difficulty.

Until now, for various reasons, some traditional thinking, this critical understanding has had limited exposure. Once understood we can ask, “How could we have omitted this?”

All verses quoted are either from NASB or NKJV. If you use old KJV then do yourself a favor and compare it to these versions whose content have been corrected according to the dead Sea Scrolls.

John 3:36 (NASB)
³⁶  “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

John 3:36 (KJV)
³⁶  He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.

Above is a comparison that proves my point.  John 3:36 expresses a qualification (a requirement) in order to end up being saved. We must obey the Son.

In the KJV the second word “believeth” (Apeitheo #G-544 : to disobey or be disobedient) is different from the first word believeth, (Pisteuo #G4100 Intrust, Trust, Belief, Believers. The NASB says it correctly and far more importantly. There are conditions we must satisfy after coming to Christ..

This explains a two stage “salvation” experience. After reconciliation, (a free gift) our future salvation as Paul calls it, can be lost without our obedience by acting on the understanding, the keys, within the gospel. We have a responsibility to maintain our free gift.

Romans 5:10 Paul declares a two stage “salvation” which is comprised of Reconciliation first and final salvation by obedience to the life (commandments and example) of Christ.

Romans 5:10 (KJV) ” For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.”

Romans 5:10 (NASB) “¹⁰  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.”

Both versions indicate a second phase to our ultimate salvation.

Another example often misrepresented.

Romans 10:9-10  (The Roman road) is often used for evangelism. It appears very assuring to all of us.

In fact, this is written by Paul in Corinth about how to STAY saved not how to GET saved. He is writing to the CHURCH at Rome. They are already “saved”, or reconciled and must not forfeit their salvation by renouncing their faith in Jesus. Paul knows, they are under duress by Nero who dealt lethal challenges if they did not renounce their faith.

Paul’s real letter of intent to the church at Rome, both for them and for us now, is to maintain our future salvation. It is about how to stay saved once context is considered.

These are only a few of the verses that need to be re-examined so we find the directional change in the true path Christ has established. It is the same destination but now requires course adjustments.

The book Exit Strategy (below) covers these and more. It does NOT discredit different translations or any of God’s servants.

We all go with what we know however WHAT we know becomes paramount. In these times I believe God is at work to improve our chances of survival. What you are considering is “expanded truth” which does not lessen what, in the past, was effective but enhances our understanding now administering power for success at what we all might face in the future before Christ’s return.

In serious times of (eternally) deadly challenge, more important than any man or the traditions of men is God’s will being done by us!

His expanded understanding, if received, will launch a rescue of (believing) souls that previously were destined for the Apostasy and doom through disobedient doubt and unbelief.

Have we not felt that something has to change? It is! Do we deny that darkness must come first even as darkness precedes dawn in God’s day?

The Words of prophecy can not change and will be accomplished. Jesus referred to this as accomplishing all righteousness, with John the Baptist in Matthew 3:15.

How we are to successfully cope with those prophetic Words is our challenge. The Way, which subjects our carnal man to crucifixion, must be seen as God’s love. The depth, height, width, and breadth of God’s love is about to fill us to all the fullness of God. (Eph 3:19) That personal crucifixion will result in our resurrection just like it did for Jesus. By forgiving us and interceding for us, He emptied Himself to leave! We must do the same.

Many of us see today’s expansion of darkness. Of course God has an eventual  corresponding action to neutralize the efforts of the enemy. Our personal defense mechanism has been made available. This is what Exit Strategy is about.

We either embrace the protection God has offered by Christ and His Word or we forsake it and therefore our souls in the name of “this is what we have always believed.”

One last verse.  Matthew 24:13-14 (NASB)
¹³  “But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved.
¹⁴  “This gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.”

The word “This” points to “enduring.” What must endure is love. Why love? Because those who lost the battle allowed their love to grow cold. They had love at one time, according to Christ. The good news of the kingdom, pointed to in this verse, is its characteristic “enduring love.” This “witness” to the world will be the world-wide embracing of Christ’s kind of love. It is the same love seen in the hearts of the families of the nine Christians executed in recent news. “We forgive you or I forgive you,” they whispered over and over.

Is your soul prepared to grant such grace. Hatred will not dwell where love presides. Love presides in our hearts and in heaven. Nothing less than enduring love can exist if God is there.

The love Christ showed us in His last lesson on the cross, is the lesson that also set Him free from the burden of our sins. He became sin and still became our Lord resurrected. Can we see the power available to us. He is showing us as clearly as possible.

Next post 3 miracles I personally experienced in the last two months. Two physical one Spiritual. Yes. The real thing.

“Its the power of love!”

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world. 14.99

Do not look at your walk as a series of single events. Especially those mistakes we have made. Think like God, in eternal terms, where time serves your purpose and His in our becoming more like Christ.

Just remember, the days are evil and are involved in our testing. Thank God for every next moment because its what we do next…that matters.

We must strive to endure in our love of all. We must pray for those who need it most beginning with ourselves.

Our “God power” will increase according to the power that works within us. Check out Ephesians 3:14-21. As the song says, “Its the power of love.”  So be “filled to all the fullness of God.” For God is love and we must be too.

Coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount. Amen

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.

There is more. I reference my last post briefly.

As I stood at the Western Wall surrounded by thousands of Jews celebrating Shabbat, there was no joy. My cheek and my hands felt the stone. It was strangely touchable. Millions of others had rubbed the surface smooth over the centuries. Had God also been softened, by the uncountable prayers that had preceded mine?

The Wall is speckled with little pieces of white paper. Prayers, maybe just a name, are left at the Wall, pressed into the small cracks and fissures in the stone. I found out later from a Lt. Colonel in the Israeli Army Reserves that the prayer scraps are gathered from the Wall on a regular basis and are carried to the Mount of Olives where they are buried. The Jews believe the Messiah will return to the Mount and those buried there will be the first to rise from the dead, thus the special treatment of maybe millions of prayers.

My reason for being there was first and foremost a journey toward inspired purpose and the comfort it brings. I had lost my wife a few months earlier and my spiritual GPS was telling me “Take this exit your destination is on the right.” Of course missing the love of your life never leaves you nor do you want it too really. Going anywhere does not assuage such an absence. At least in your tears you still “feel” that love.

As I pressed my face to the Wall, as I reached up the Wall toward His everlasting arms, I lifted my broken heart to the Comforter. I sobbed words of thanksgiving. This will never change but this night I must somehow mark the moment, I must leave something in this Holy Place.

I reached into my pocket and found a Kleenex tissue. Inspired, I tore away a small corner and wiped the tears from my cheeks and eyes. This is my message to God, a perfect message not defiled by words or ink. With peace I pressed the message into a crevice right in front of me. So be it Father God. An offering of thanksgiving for all You have given me; especially for Janis.

It has been three weeks now since that first night in Jerusalem. Two of those weeks were spent in Israel. Now I am home. I am searching my heart and experiences for the directions I sought from God. Where is the inspiration? Where is the direction that brings comfort?

Perry Stone is on cable this morning. He is at Megiddo, in Israel. I say to myself, I was there!

I catch the last 5 minutes of his broadcast. He boldly says, all these wars and the strife we see today are about religion not oil or gold or power. Which God will you serve? For a minute I think he has read my book, “Exit Strategy, we initiate the return of Christ.”

He closes with a focus on eternity and a faith that must bring us through the coming times. Then it hit me.

At the Wall, there were no words for what was in my heart, flooding my eyes with tears. I was looking to His enduring love for comfort. My tears were a holy response untainted with disappointed or angry emotions. “I love You Lord and I lift my…tears” No wonder the Word says He will gather them for safe keeping.

In the coming days, horrendous things are going to happen and are happening now. We will likely find ourselves speechless before God. This is good. A full spectrum of emotions will flood our souls. Will we redirect them safely away or will they dominate our hearts. The danger of tainting ourselves, pushing the Holy Spirit away after our being once purged of anger and hatred is eternally perilous! “The love of many will grow cold but He who (whose love) endures to the end shall be saved; this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached…”

We must come to the conclusion that tears can be our message to God. Our love toward mankind must endure as Christ’s love endured toward us. With supernatural determination our mouth must be closed to bitterness, anger, hatred, resentment and judging.

Out of the abundance of the heart our mouth speaks. Not only can these things not be in our heart but we must be so rooted and grounded in Christ and His love that, being prepared by practice for all things, we compassionately intercede for all who offend us. Many times, as we obediently restrain ourselves, tears will carry our message to God. May His “message received” conformation bring the relief we need and then prompt us to intercession from our hearts. This is, Christ in you, the hope of glory.

As many preachers and teachers like Perry Stone move closer and closer to the truth, you will hear of a sure and deadly peril that Christ came to prevent through His life and our education. Paul confirms this in Romans 5:10. Look it up. John speaks to this also in John 3:36. Christ’s death is our beginning, reconciling us to God. Then we must live “in Him” with Jesus as Lord.

Enduring love is “this gospel” that shall be preached. (Matthew 24) It is about our enduring the end with eternal Christ-like character. It is not about us or others “getting saved.”

Much of what enduring love entails will be torturous and grieving, just as it was for Christ. This may be why this message is not yet being preached. The time has come.

Souls once reconciled may be lost. Souls not walking in the fullness of Christ and His teachings, His love, will be lost as their love grows cold. God is offering us prevention where there will be no cure.

Our way to victory is revealed in Ephesians 3:14-21, in the fullness of God He offers us.

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

How will I make way to the Wall. There are thousands of Jewish believers crowding the plaza. It is Shabbat in Jerusalem, after sunset Friday night and their Sabbath has begun.

I was told this would be special. It was! From blocks away it can be heard. As I enter the plaza, to my right are Jewish women, separated from the men having a celebration of their own. Singing and dancing unto the Lord, there are hundreds maybe thousands of them.

Scanning across the football sized field of men I see a covering of black hats and coats. It is a blanket waving, undulating with life. The men are singing and dancing as well, some in large clusters here and there, holding hands in circles. Many around the edges of the crowd are reading their scriptures as they rock back and forth.

They are greeting each other dressed in their finest clothes and great hats known as Shtreimel’s. As I understand it, men wearing these hats are married, and can be Hasidic or of another Jewish tradition. They look like a fur covered hat box in shape, except there is no box. They are a series of tails, gray fox or sable tails hand crafted into a circular form with a slightly flamboyant appearance. They are like a crown, which explains the look. Underneath this you will always find a “kippah” which appears to be like a Yamaka. Two head coverings suggest an additional spiritual merit.

So, why am I in Jerusalem? Why does any follower of Jesus Christ make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem? I am searching for something from God. Better, I am offering something to God.

I am offering the soul and the life of a man to God, again. I am coming to the city of the great King, to bow at a place like no other. Maybe I am no different than the person’s that travel across state to see Benny Hinn, but I come not to see a man.

In two days it will be 5 months since losing my Janis. She and I dreamed and had planned on coming here but did not get to. I come because she would have wanted me to. I come to offer myself and the rest of my life to Him who gave me a life.

One might ask, “Haven’t you done that already?” Of course I have. In the last 5 months the trauma’s in my life both emotional and physical have been many and painful. I have praised God “through it all” as the song goes. I brag not but boast in His grace, that I would be so able.

So now, as the course of my life is changing, my destination has not. What better place to speak again of willingness, wanting to be used even more; besides, now there are two in heaven that I want to please. Two that I want to make proud.

In the cool of this May night, now only 75 yards away is the Wall, a place of holy reverence in this great city. Tradition has it that the ear of God is behind it. Do any of us want the ear of God? How about every day! Whatever one might think, I am here and I am spiritually and emotionally invested in making my way there. This throng of believers left little room for a Goyam (a non-jew.) Would they be insulted at this invasion of their event? “You must cover your head” my companion said. These people prepared well. Yamaka’s (white one’s not black) were free to take including a bobby pin to secure it.

There is a ramp wide enough for a truck leading in and out of the plaza. Like blood coursing through veins, souls filled this two-directional area. It was daunting to think more than a few steps ahead. Then I saw my opportunity.

A Jewish man and his small son were making their way in. I fell in behind them. We moved steadily through the crowd, left then right. In my looking at the men and listening to their words, their gestures only understanding morsels of expression, I lost my guides!

Oh God, I don’t want to wander into some group’s gathering and make them angry. There were clusters of men some had even brought chairs and little tables to read scriptures from.

“Go left.” the Spirit said, “Keep going left.” I did. There they are! From behind me and to my left, the man and his son immerged! That boy was leading his dad (and I) with determination. The little guy was scouting the path to our mutual goal. Thank You Lord.

Suddenly I was ten or twenty feet away from the Wall. Many were filling the areas against the wall. Most had scripture in hand, reading as they rocked back and forth, the curls along their faces swinging back and forth also.

I am looking, moving left, looking, and then it was like the parting of the red… a place was made vacant. My emotions rose to a peak, I had been singing in the Spirit almost all the way there. I stepped up to within inches, I am feeling the heat of my own breath against the Wall. I look up and it is like God is towering over me and yet I am welcome at His feet. I have praised Him as I made way. Now, He is listening.

I spoke thanksgivings too numerous to mention ending with Janis, His most precious gift to me in this life. I felt no rebuke at not mentioning Christ is first. By now, He knows that and was sensitive to my need. He is Understanding, He is Mercy, He is Grace. I found myself in tears the entire time I was praying. What can I say?

I had my hands against the wall as high as I could reach, my cheek and nose not concerned at the rough stone when I saw something I had heard about. Little pieces of paper where wedged into little clefts in the rock. Oh God, I have no paper, or pen.

It was then I remembered the tissue I carried. I took some out pausing momentarily, I tore off a small piece and then wiped the tears from my face. I found a cleft right in front of me and made a home for my tear soaked message. There was more meaning in those tears than I could ever have written.

I thanked God as I turned to find another soul waiting his opportunity to be heard.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

Paul prays for our Ephesian brothers and sisters. I paraphrase. That they be strengthened, (so) that Christ may dwell in their hearts by faith, “that you” being rooted and grounded in love, might comprehend with other saints, a love that has such dimensions that only one result would be appropriate. What result?

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.

“Exit Strategy” (book seen below) is now available at most e-book venues.

Time is fleeting while readiness falls short.

“Dear Michael, Of all I said previously I think I failed to express how God has used your book in my life perhaps beyond what you initially intended.”

¹⁶  that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man,
¹⁷  so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; and that you, being rooted and grounded in love, ¹⁸  may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹  and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to all the fullness of God.”  

The coming times will demand our understanding. Preparing now is paramount.

You are loved, He waits,

Michael

    Exit Strategy

   We initiate the return of Christ!  (The E-book)

Barnes and Noble, Amazon Kindle, Kobo, many others and around the world.