Month: May 2024

I thought my next blog would be in June when I share on: leaving your father’s house – a Father’s Day special! BUT many plans are in a man’s mind however, it is the LORD’s purpose for him (her or me in this case) that will stand. Truly, it is NOT in me to direct my steps – God does this, and in doing so, He makes my feet beautiful!

When God speaks who can but prophesy(Amos 3:8B). My point is, I really had to share this kiss! I could not restrain myself my hand … like the pen of ready writer, my fingers excitedly went to work. With that said, it is my desire that you enjoy this kiss even as I did and still do … I pray that this Kiss from God’s gracious sweet lips awakens you at your core to His call – you are a people called by God’s Name.

This blog is a spin-off of the Judah and Tamar saga! One of the many lessons to be taken from it is this: do NOT draw back your hand.

It is for this reason that God teaches and tells us these things so that His delight and pleasure may be in us fully, completely, and overflowingly. For our way is not that of those who draw back(Hebrews 10:39A).

Who are those who drew back?

1.Onan– Judah’s second son and Tamar’s second husband. He died because he withdrew his ‘hand‘ thus preventing conception(Genesis 38:6-10). His deliberate intent on preventing fruitfulness/multiplication displeased God and he became a deadline … a dead end.

2. Zerah– Tamar’s second son (Perez’ twin). At the time of their delivery, he put out his hand and could have been born first BUT he drew back his hand(Genesis 38:28-29A).

3. The children of Ephraim(Psalm 78:9-11)– they were armed and carrying bows, yet they turned back their hand in the day of battle. They kept not the Covenant of God and refused to walk according to His Command (Grace). They refused to walk according to God’s Word (The Staff) … they forgot God’s Face, a forgetfulness that happens when one does not keep The Signet and The Staff … a forgetfulness that could lead to being forgotten (like Tamar would have been) – a dead end.

Flipping it from 6 to 9(to better things … to princely things), let’s look at examples of people who did NOT draw back their hand. First, the little boy with five loaves of bread and two fish –John 6:9– this was all he had in his hand. I’m not sure how the disciples knew about this little lad’s lunch. My guess is that he offered … he probably was like: hey, here’s my lunch. However these princely things may have transpired, I reckon that this little boy (who I’m very much inclined to call Gideon or Perez) willingly … fully … and outstretchingly gave what he had in his hand. He certainly did not withdraw his hand – he was a cheerful giver. We all know from2 Corinthians 9:7 that God loves Him some cheerful giver and giving! Through this little lad’s outstretched hand, God demonstrated His nothing-like-it-ness … God demonstrated His Holiness (John 6:1-13).

Before we look at Moses, let’s take a look at Ehud – another person who did NOT draw back his hand in spite of being restricted. The story goes thus: after 40 years of peace, and following the death of Othniel (a man used by God in response to the Israelites cry to God for deliverance from their self-made oppression), the Israelites did evil in the sight of God …. AGAIN! As a result, evil befell them … eighteen (2×9) years later, the Israelites cried to God again for salvation/deliverance. In response God used Ehud, a left-handed man (a man restricted in his right hand as we all are) to do the job. It didn’t matter that he was restricted in his right hand (which is popularly mistaken to be a person’s strong hand) … Ehud gave his (left) hand regardless, and God used him to run a secret (ninja, samurai-like) errand! When you have a moment, check out the details of the story inJudges 3:1-30– you’ll understand why I said it was ninja and samurai-like 🙂. Not only did he not withdraw his hand, Ehud did not withdraw the sword in his hand! He took what was in his hand and went all in! A God-glorifying commitment to the task he was given/assigned/appointed!

Exodus 3captures God’s early conversations with Moses. God called Moses to Himself using the burning bush with fire that was not consumed – a semblance of the Word and Spirit of God –Jeremiah 23:29A…Hebrews 12:29. In this conversation, God tells Moses Who He is and what’s on His mind (salvation). Furthermore, God lets Moses in on his part in His Plan and gave Moses His Name – what a preciousness! Moses was called by God’s Name.

InExodus 4:2and in response to Moses’ reservation to all God revealed to him, God asks: what is that in your hand? Moses responds saying: a staff!

With the staff in Moses’ hand, God gave him two and a third sign to ease his reservations. Twice during this show and tell, Moses had to stretch out his hand. Thereafter came the part where Moses almost withdrew his hand (Exodus 4:10,13) BUT the mercy of God stepped in and stayed his hand (Exodus 4:11,12…14-17). I believe this is a significant part of the story because, like Moses, many of us tend to look at ourselves (and others) when God tells us to “do” something … when God tells us to move in and by His Spirit. Sometimes (more often than not), when God calls us forth, we tend to very quickly see all the ways in which we can’t, are weak, or will fail – indeed, we can’t, we are weak, and we will flat-out fail in and of ourselves – all these are facts! BUT we are NOT the criteria! Thankfully so.

I use the example of Moses to highlight that the response of fear is common to us all, including the best of us. Jeremiah also expressed his version of this fear response inJeremiah 1:6-to-9. In Moses’ case, he said and I quote: “O Lord, I am not eloquent nor am I a man of words, I never have … not even since You’ve spoken to me in this conversation, I am slow of speech. I have a heavy and awkward tongue … Oh, my Lord, I pray You, send by the hand of some other whom You will send.”.

Without mincing words, that right there👆was Moses in the process of withdrawing his hand. Thank God for God (His Mercy) … Moses could have been a dead end BUT the Mercy of God would not have it so. The same Mercy has been extended to us …

For all of us, our experience of God’s Mercy starts with an invitation or calling from God to come into Him, to give Him our hand (including our right hand of weakness). Holding our hand in His, as we walk with him (hand-in-hand), God shows us His out-of-this-world, nothing-like-it-ness Plan (Promise). The PURPOSE of which has already been fulfilled in faithfulness – Isaiah 25:1 …

Like Abraham entered into what God was doing for him and through him (Romans 4:3 MSG), GRACE is how we enter into and remain anchored in God’s Purpose, Plan, and Promise for/to us. PURPOSE and GRACE – a match made in heaven and realized (reali-ti-zed) here on earth. God’s purpose on the earth will not want or lack her mate (GRACE) in fulfillment –Isaiah 34:16.

When God reveals your part in His Plan to you, do NOT look at yourself … do NOT respond based on you. Instead, look unswervingly and undistractedly at His Face and respond based on what you see on His Face. Keep your eyes of Faith fixed on His Face, fixating on the delight on His Face for what’s to come … for what comes next. On His Face, you’ll find no deadlines, no dead ends, instead a Lifeline, a no-way WAY! God will ALWAYS make a way! Yes … even in the wilderness!

Always remember God’s Right Hand.

If ever you feel fear, do NOT draw back your hand. Instead, remember that God’s Right Hand is holding your right hand. Speak His Word in response to His Word (what He tells you) – speak to The ROCK – and watch Him demonstrate His Holiness! Like Elisha threw the stick into the water and a like-never-before happened(2 Kings 6:1-7), speak God’s Word (speak with holy fervor born of Faith) in(to) the seemingly impossible task at hand, and watch God demonstrate His nothing-like-it-ness! Watch heavenly realities that have their foundation in the holy being of God happen here on earth! God’s Glory revealed!

These are the verysame wordsthat God spoke to Joshua at the start of his assignment and God’s conversation with him(Joshua 1:9) … dear reader, do NOT draw back your hand like Zerah did. Instead be like Perez and break forth as the LORD calls you forth and commands your strength! Strength! Courage! Grace! Grace! Grace to it!

TheSignet and Staff(God’s pledge: The HolySpirit) is HOW.

A quick shout out to all the good (God-created, God-named, God-like, godly) mothers out there! To you God has given a honorable title … for many of us, you are the first expression of God that we see here on earth – the first image, likeness, and glory of God that we experience: The Womb Love. Same as with Sarah (Genesis 21:9-12), you reflect God-likeness in that you teach, counsel, and instruct us in The Way of The LORD (Isaiah 54:13, Proverbs 22:6, Proverbs 4:2)– you literally echo God’s heart … like the Garden of Eden, you are a place of nurture, a fountain of gardens.

While the emphasis of this blog is geared towards godly mothers, the same is true of godly fathers. I believe that every God-named parent has been given the unique honor and privilege to be an expression of God to their God-given children (anyone who calls them home). To all godly parents, thank you for your service of love in honor of God Who is Love.

That was a befitting start to this blog: honoring mothers (and fathers) in The LORD – mothers (and fathers) who are found belonging to God – this is the first command with a promise(Ephesians 6:2, Exodus 20:12). Speaking of promises, how do we know that what God promised will be?

Common to us all (in our relationship/walk with God) is the question:How will I know? How will I know it is God speaking to me? How will I know that what God said will happen? How will I know that I have a place in God’s family? These are important questions.2 Peter 1:10-11 encourages us to confirm God’s election and choice of us so that we don’t fall away or stumble – God’s confirmation is the guarantee of the fulfillment of His promise which makes us steadfast.

Abraham, Tamar, Moses, Gideon, Mary, and I have had our respective versions of this ‘how will I know’ question.  Somewhat similar to Gideon, I have asked this question many times and in many ways. Thankfully, same as His response was to Gideon, God gives me a favorable answer of peace each time. I reckon that Peace is always God’s answer to everyone who asks this question because He is Peace. This holds true even for Zechariah (John the Baptist’s dad) – he was given literal silence (I call it a peaceful quiet or quiet trust … some parents might call it a time-out 😃🤭). However you look at it, the truth remains: God always answers with Himself. He gives what is to be received and kept (taken to heart) – Proverbs 4:2(AMPC).

In response to the question: how will I know? Abraham was given Faith – evidence: a sign that outlived his time here on earth (Genesis 15:7-21)… He was given something Eternal (God). Tamar was givena Signet(both seal and cord)and a Staff(Genesis 38:16-29)… Moses was given the Name of The LORD (Exodus 3:7-15, Exodus 33:16–34:6)… Gideon was given PEACE(Judges 6:11-24A)… Mary was given GRACE (Luke 1:26-38).

For the purpose of emphasis and in keeping to the theme of this blog (RE: Godly Mothers), I’ll keep the spotlight on Tamar: a woman who woo-ed, won, and protected a man (Judah) –Jeremiah 31:22B– a woman who encompassed a man (Perez) by embracing him in her womb. This tender love mirrors the Womb Love in which God embraces us into His family and protects us like a mother would (with compassion).

It is this same Motherly (merciful) compassion of God that justified and glorified Tamar, making her forever His and a member of His family. Tamar’s place in God’s Kingdom is referenced in the prayer regarding Boaz’s house in relation to Ruth (another godly mother).

God willing, I’ll share more on Ruth in my next blog. For now, let’s zone in on Tamar.

Sooooo, Tamar was Judah’s daughter-in-law. She was married to Judah’s first son who died, and then to his second son who also died. Out of concern for his third son, who he didn’t want to die like the older two, Judah tricked Tamar into going back to her father’s house (we’ll see the significance of leaving your father’s house in my next blog – can’t wait to share it 🙂). Judah told Tamar to remain in her father’s house until his youngest son was grown and ready for marriage. Trusting Judah and taking him at his word, Tamar went and lived in her father’s house BUT Judah never sent for her when his third son (Shelah) was all grown up.

Fast forward a few episodes, Judah’s wife died. He and his friend (Hirah the Adullamite) went to his sheepshearers, possibly in search for peace or a good time, BUT along the way-side (literally … by the roadside), Judah ended up in the bosom of a woman he didn’t recognize was Tamar … yup, the daughter-in-law he abandoned! I’m not making it up … check outGenesis 38and read the story for thyself 🙂 .

As you’ll find in the story, there was an exchange between Tamar and Judah prior to doing the do. The account of which is narrated below 👇

Judah gave Tamar all that she asked for. After the deed was done, they both went their separate ways. Judah attempted to keep his promise by sending the kid through his friend so that he can receive his pledge from the mystery woman who now could not be found until 3 months down-the-road when Tamar was about to be burned alive for “playing the harlot” – which she did, literally! Judah, on the other hand, was about to find out who she played it with!

Long story short, when Tamar was brought forth, she took the things that were given to her in pledge:The Signet andThe Staff… and she had them presented to Judah. Seeing his belongings, Judah acknowledged them as his. Furthermore, he considered Tamar to be more righteous and just (more giving of water: justice, underserved kindness) than he was.

At the time of her delivery, Tamar had twins, the first of the two boys was named Perez which means breaking forth! Perez, son of Judah, is the Great (X7) grand Father of David, who is the Great (X25) grand Father of Jesus, Who is his Lord, Shepherd, and Father!

My point in highlighting the genealogy of Jesus(Matthew 1:1-25, Ruth 4:18-22)is to call attention to the significance of Tamar’s place in God’s purpose, plan, and household. Her role was significant and not misplaced because of what she was given:The Signet and Staff… without these items she would have been burned at the stake. Instead, she was redeemed and honored. The Signet and Staff– like the righteous and just Love of God – redeems and honors us in like manner. This same honor or honorable title was bestowed on Mary when she was called blessed among women.

Mary wasn’t honored because she was chaste (a virgin) … this can be deduced from the story of the foolish virgins, who also were chaste BUT weren’t honored. Mary was honored and called blessed because she believed/received what was given to her from The LORD (Luke 1:38)AND she held on to it (she kept it) till its fruition. As it is with all virgin-servants, what was given to Mary consists of God’s Covenant-Promise(Luke 1:31-33), His Oath (Name), and the Grace (Command) to believe – all of which are representations of The HolySpirit(Luke 1:35)… He is the Voice and Name of God that named her blessed – Mary was called by God’s Name: Blessed, Fruitful, Ephraim – the Name of the Son in Whom God takes pleasure solely because of the indwelling and signature fragrance of the HolySpirit Who is the pleasure of God.

God’s Glory–Voice and Word is Who confirmed Jesus as the Son of God, as belonging to GodMatthew 17:5… The same is true for us, God’s Covenant–Promise and Oath is the Glory–Voice and Word of God that confirms us and claims us as His Own … as belonging to Him. This has been God’s purpose and plan all along; that we will be His people and He will be Our God (Our Father, Our King, Our Protector) – THIS is The Covenant. The Promise that comes with (and guarantees) this Covenant is The HolySpirit … He is the guaranteed Promise that was given to us by God; He is the zeal with which God zakars and carries out His fulfilled Covenant of Love and Done (His fulfilled Purpose –Isaiah 25:1 AMPC).

God’s Covenant–Promise and Oath are the two immutable things and the three witnesses (the two and a third) indicating that God can NOT lie(Hebrews 6:17-20)… This Surety (The HolySpirit) is Who keeps us in the very certainty of God’s Presence: we within Him, and He within us(John 15:4-17). This is the covenant relationship that God wants to have with us. Hence, The Garden of Eden (Delight) – The HolySpirit (Who is in us and) in Whom we are planted. Hence, The Signet– an unbroken Engagement/Promise Ring:The seal and cord that can NOT be broken – The HolySpirit… this is why The HolySpirit had to come and is here! This is why The HolySpirit was and continues to be given. He is The Connector … He is the One Who keeps God (The Father) glued and attracted to us – God actively and jealously yearns for His HolySpirit.

The HolySpirit is The One Who gives us Faith – The Staff(1 Corinthians 12:9A)– the very essence of God that God finds irresistibly pleasing: His Holy Spirit.The HolySpirit is The Staff that we must lean on and live by– The Commander’s Staff (Judges 5:14NLT). He is The Shepherd’s Staff(Psalm 23:1,4)and the Name of The Shepherd(Genesis 49:24-25)… He is The Helper who blesses us with the blessings of heaven … including the blessings of the womb and and of the breast. He is the Name of The LORD that is the Strong Tower we must abide in. He is the Love of God that we must dwell and continue in –John 5:9. Abide in Him as He abides in you (FULLY). Delight in Him as He delights in you (FULLY). Like Paul, be found always belonging to God – bearing His Name (His Kingdom, His Righteousness … His Household Name).

The HolySpirit is the Faithfulness of God … He is the Faithfulness of all anointed ones, The First and Chief of us is Jesus: The Son of God, The Son Who was given(Isaiah 9:6)… in Him and because of Him, we’ve been given the Spirit of Sonship, The HolySpirit – He is the Kingdom of God within us(Mark 4:11 Luke 17:21)… He is the pledge: the Signet and the Staff that all those who belong to God have been given. Don’t talk yourself out of what is to be received (what God has given).

Do not say that you do not belong …

Don’t say I’m but a man, a boy, or eunuch … don’t say I’m barren, unmarried, too young, too old … I don’t have a job or house, etc. This was a type of excuse some gave when they were invited to The Feast of God’s Kingdom. None of these facts has any bearing on the truth (efficacy) and fulfillment of God’s purpose and plan for you. The only basis for which you have every right in to God’s fulfilled purpose and His will-be-done plan is His Name: The Name of The LORD, His Love, His Delight: His Holy Spirit.The HolySpirit is HOW you knowthat you belong and that God will do exactly what He said He will do.He is the ONLY confirmation you need … the ONLY confirmation there is: The Signet and Staff– hold on to Him, keep Him … He is God’s Command (Grace). Keep God’s Command.

Like Tamar, hold tight to what you have been given(Revelation 3:11). Do not throw it away because you don’t yet see/experience the reality of it. While it may yet not look like it, The Word of God inHaggai 2:19assures us that God will indeed make good on His promise: He will bless us – He calls us blessed. Though it may tarry, it will surely come to pass. Like Tamar, do not despise the wait … be patient. While you may feel abandoned, I assure you God assures you that He will not abandon you nor leave you short-changed.How do I know?The HolySpirit (God’s pledge: the Signet and Staff) is HOW… He can NOT Lie.

When Moses asked God: “how will they know?”, God gave him two signs and a third(Exodus 4:1-9)… In like manner, I give you two and a third sign (signature) from God’s mouth … believe it, receive it, take it to heart, it’s yours!

One …

Two …

... and a Third …

Ever wonder what1 Thessalonians 5:18is really saying?

I remember reading this bible verse a few years ago and wondering how a person could in practice give thanks ALWAYS (every second, every breath, every heartbeat, or however else one chooses to count time). While I didn’t yet see how, I understood through the knowledge of God that (1) it was possible in practice to give thanks ALWAYS, and that (2) giving thanks to God goes beyond merely saying “Thank You God” or meaninglessly repeating the words: “Thank God”. Furthermore, I saw that the instruction to give thanks always comes with (and is itself) a promise from God that there will always be a reason to give thanks no matter what happens. This means that we will never be without reason to give thanks … it means we ALWAYS have thanks to give. What a promise!💖

Think of it as the difference between an unsown seed and a seed sown into Good Soil(Matthew 13:8)– the latter results in and is the result of a fruitful tree. Thankfulness is to Thanksgiving what a sown seed is to a fruitful tree. The cyclic nature of this relationship is why I can say that thankfulness (the seed) is thanksgiving (the fruitful tree) and vice versa. God created it so –Genesis 1:29… the plant-yielding seed AND the tree with seed in its fruit, both are God-given. What a beauty!💖

Like a cycle which goes all the way (always) to its starting point in an unbroken and continuous way, by nature, thanksgiving is always continuous and giving. It is a cycle of giving that does not deplete or bankrupt the giver, instead it gives to The Giver (it gives into its Source) … it is a virtuous cycle, and it shares a resemblance to what I callThe 360⁰ Ways of God💖. While I can’t fully describe this amazing 360^O mystery that continues to unfold like a blooming flower, I can say that the seed-tree cycle is very much like it in that the beginning results in an end that is the beginning. Another way that I can describe it is that it is God-like. God is The Beginning and The End that is The Beginning … hence, He is eternal, never-ending, always continuous.

True to form,God is ALWAYS giving–Isaiah 63:7(VOICE) – He gives, gives, and keeps giving. The same is true of thanksgiving, it gives … ALWAYS. Another God-like attribute that is characteristic of thanksgiving is that it multiplies. Case in point:John 6:1-14… with five loaves and two small fish, a young boy and Jesus both gave thanks. This resulted in a never-before-seen-or-heard multiplication! God multiplies(2 Corinthians 9:10)… because of its God-like nature, thanksgiving multiples!

With the understanding that thanksgiving is God-like, it will be truthful to say then that1 Thessalonians 5:18is a call to be God-like, a call to beauty: thanksgiving.What a fruitful service!💖Isaiah 45:19. This service/beauty (thanksgiving) is what makes us beautiful (thankful). It is the beauty that stems from God Who is the Giver of Himself – He is our Beauty (Isaiah 60:19). This very same Beauty is what God, our King, greatly desires(Psalm 45:11)… it is unique and uniquely God’s. Though He gives it, He will not share it with any man –Isaiah 42:8(VOICE) … He gives it so that we can give (be) it to Him.

This beautiful brightness (fragrance) – thanksgiving – grows and flows out of our heart: the place of beginnings … the place of our conception and foundation in God … the place where we begin/start (heart) with GodSOS 3:4(TPT) 2 Corinthians 9:7(VOICE). God takes pleasure in a thankful (bright and beautiful) heart – He loves a cheerful giver, one whose heart is in his/her giving. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving – this is the way God Himself gives: delightfully, cheerfully, thankfully – very much so, God gives thanks and He does it beautifully and thus faithfully (Godfully). This one thing is certain:God gives FULLYand without reservation … be it one, five, or ten talent(s), God gives liberally and without scrimping.

Walking with God is by faith and it requires humility, the result of which is thanksgiving (the gratitude of Grace) – this is the way God wants it. Micah 6:8

We become God-traveled roads when we step into and remain in the 360^o virtuous cycle/way of God. Becoming God-traveled roads, paths where His Name is always hallowed and echoed, paths where His Kingdom always is and comes, paths where His Will is done every step of the way: all the way (always) is what I believe1 Thessalonians 5:18 is saying … that we choose to always walk with God as He walks with us – always before Him as He is before us … face to face.

Ten days ago, just before I put pen to paper fingers to keyboard to begin drafting this blog, I saw and understood that (1) the measure of how thankful I am is NOT a function of how many thanks I have (or the number of reasons I have to give thanks); (2) One thanks is plenty full enough to give; and (3) the measure of how thankful I am is a function of how giving of thanks I am.

The measure with which we give(Luke 6:38)is the true measurement of our thankfulness. Accurately put, the measure with and to which God has given (and thus gives) to us to give to Him is the only requirement for how we should give(Luke 12:48B)– surely, we have been given much! An abundance! … without measure (John 3:16, 34 … Colossians 2:9-10) – underserving yet faithful –what a just measure!💖 Though I know relatively little and in part, still, I recognize and acknowledge that soooo very much has been given to me by God … truthfully, we have been given ALL that counts: God – He is the what and how of thanksgiving. Everything else is but a clanging cymbal … everything else is idle talk and utter futility, the cause and effect of which is described inRomans 1:21👇

To not give thanks to God is to break faith with God … it is to break out of the life-giving, virtuous, 360^o cycle of thanksgiving … it is to break out of the wheel Will of God … to break out of the Covenant of Peace and to instead break in to a viscous cycle of futility. Friends do NOT break the covenant, enemies do.

Do not leave the Way of Peace … stay the course. Do not break faith with God. No more in and out – this in part was what I believe was happening with the people of Israel at Meribah(Exodus 17:1-7) … in this place of contention, the Israelites kept going back and forth saying ‘is God with or not with us’. This back and forth place is a viscous cycle. It is where and why the nations rage(Psalm 2:1-6)… Zion, do not rage, there is a King in you and He walks with you always. Mirror Him by walking with Him always. This is also what I believe1 Thessalonians 5:18is saying.

God is ever with us, always walking with us. The in and out or back and forth we experience … I’ll speak for myself: the back and forth I’ve experienced happen when I’m not walking with God (when I’m not looking at Him … when I’m not face-to-face with Him). God is always walking with me however, when I look anywhere other than His lovely face, I don’t see Him (I don’t behold Him). Until I’m re-positioned before Him by Grace, I go through this agonizing back-and-forth, contention, doubt, and uncertainty about me and my interpretation of God’s Word to me (particularly when it doesn’t look like anything I see around me, it rarely ever does). This is why the encouragement in1 Thessalonians 5:18, to always be face-to-face with God, is imperative. Being face-to-face with God is the only way we walk humbly with Him. Being always before God is the only way we can walk with Him in righteousness.

This righteous walk – thanksgiving – happens only when we are before God … only when we walk with and in God as He walks with and in us –John 15:4-11. When we abide in God in God-like manner … to mean when we abide in God as He abides in us, invariably, we give thanks always because righteous-giving (God-like giving) is continuous, it endures forever – Psalm 112:9. In other words, before God, face-to-face with Him, is the only way we can be thankful … the only way we can continually give thanks to God.

Sooooo, essentially speaking, what does it mean to give thanks to God? What is thanksgiving? Going by1 Thessalonians 5:18we know that it can’t be a one-day-in-a-year action … we also know that it can’t be limited to only what we consider to be good (or not bad). Now … even though what I’m about to say goes without saying, Imma still say it 🙂: we can’t lean on our own understanding for this answer … the fact that our judgement of good and evil is all kinds of skewed is reason enough. Thankfully, every answer we seek is found in God (Hosea 14:8) – in Him our fruit (the favorable answer of peace/satisfaction) is found. Furthermore, it is befitting to look to God for this answer because thanksgiving is God-like! Soooooo, looking at God (the One Whom I’ve been pointing you to all through this blog), we see thatGod FULLY gives God to God ALWAYS … herein lies the essential meaning of thanksgiving: giving the way God gives! This also is what I believe1 Thessalonians 5:18is saying.

Giving the way God gives is our God-given command – this command is the very blessing that was bestowed on us in the beginning. 1 Thessalonians 5:18echoes this command and blessing.

What a Command! What a Blessing!💖

In pausing to read Genesis 6 to 9 – the story of another beginning, I saw that the sameGenesis 1:28blessing was bestowed on us again in Genesis 9:1, 7!

… Oh precious HolySpirit! How I enjoy writing with You! What a Friendship!💖What a Gift!💖 Truly, I have been given a Teacher –Joel 2:23(MSG).

Dear reader, please bear with me, I’ll be taking an unplanned (by me) yet connected (by God) “detour” to share a bit of what I saw in Genesis 6 to 9, after which I’ll circle back to1 Thessalonians 5:18. What I saw gives expression to the thanks that I am giving by way of sharing this blog. It also connects and gives MORE life (reinforcing meaning) to the reason I really really desired to share this blog today: another beginning! my God-given, brand new beginning.

Okay … here’s what I saw:

Planting happens in the beginning … vineyards are planted in The BEGINNING! I enjoy seeing this … Thank You HolySpirit for opening me up to see it. I enjoy experiencing You! What a Kiss! You really are always my very First Kiss! New every morning, my daily (every moment’s) Bread … GREAT is Your Faithfulness! From dusk to dawn and dawn to dusk, I will sing of Your love forever! How can I not?

My excitement for this new beginning that You have given me is uncontainable … I’m reminded ofJeremiah 31:4-5(MSG), my joy is FULL … You are the JOY in my heart! You are my Happy Birthday! What a beginning this is!💖 A beginning with THE BEGINNING, THE ONE Who was before the beginning … before the very first tick-tock. Alpha, there is absolutely no one else I’ll rather begin again with. You are my Beginning … my First, my All and Always. You are Your promise to me – a hopeful (certain) promise. What a promise You are – what a promise You’ve given:

What a Kiss!💖 I couldn’t help but respond to God’s giving. This is what happens when Love and Truth meet in the streets, kissing happens – Psalm 85:10(MSG). I promise, this public show of affection is God-approvedMatthew 5:14(MSG) …Titus 2:11-14(MSG).

Okay, circling back to1 Thessalonians 5:18… the instruction to give thanks ALWAYS is God’s 360^o Way … it is a promise, a blessing, a command, and a call to beauty – a call to be fruitful and to multiply, to be God-like … this was the Will of God in the beginning (Genesis 1:27) … it is how it ALWAYS must be in The BEGINNING; there is no other way to be in God. Thanksgiving is the lifestyle, livelihood, and reality of those found ALWAYS belonging to The BEGINNING (God). This righteous-giving (fruitful service and fruitfulness) is the mark that we are loved (Romans 8:29) … that we are chosen(1 Peter 2:9) … that we are called by God’s Name and according to His Will (Romans 8:28, 30) – we are expressly named (designated by name and specifically named) with the job description: Give Thanks to God, BECAUSE His mercy and loving-kindness endures forever(1 Chronicles 16:40-41)– friend of God, keep God’s command, be thankful … be loved.

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