Welcoming God … Bem-Vindo!

Ushering God in with Truth … with Praise … with His Love Language: Prayer aka Praise (P-raise). Praise is Prayer (Truth) raised, as in a shout or an increase in volume … an increase (a raised echo) of God’s still, seemingly small Voice – the Sound of His Holy Name: YHWH … the Sound of His Breath! 💖

Bem-Vindo a Casa means Welcome Home in Portuguese – the primary language of a beautiful country God has been calling my attention to – I can’t wait to go there with Him, which is why I’m attempting to learn Portuguese. Hence, its use in the title of this blog.

Unto the topic at hand, where is this Casa? Where is this place … this home … this dwelling or tent that will house God Most High, The LORD of Host? Mi casa? Su casa? I’m asking for a Friend THE FRIEND Who Himself said 👇

God’s questions (in Isaiah 66:1) reveal to us that there is indeed a place where God rests … it is a place whose Builder and Maker is God (NOT man – God is NOT a man that He should lie). This place (The Place of God’s Rest) is the God-made-and-given new heart of man described in Ezekiel 36:26A,27… it is The Place where God rests His Feet.

FYI: God’s Feet, is directly linked to and, is the way to God’s Stomach (His Belly, His Womb: His kitchen) AND His Heart (His bedroom): His Throne Room – the ultimate CASA. On account of Isaiah 6:1-5, it is accurate to say that God’s Throne Room is The PLACE where God’s Glory is ever seen! It is glorious! The same is true of God’s Footstool (where He rests His Feet), even though it’s not always or readily seen by man. Also, on account of Isaiah 6:6-8, it is safe to say that what God is cooking in His kitchen takes place in His Throne Room – God prepared the fruit of Isaiah’s lips There.

PREPAREThe Place

I had the beautiful privilege of hosting a God-lover over the holidays, just before Christmas. I hadn’t seen her (in-person) since 2007. So here I was, 18 years later, getting ready for her visit/stay. While some might say I need not spend as many hours as I do getting my place ready because (to them) my apartment is always well-kept, I still put quite the thought, time, and energy into getting the place ready and set for my guests. The same is true about how I prepare for my own return after a trip away from home. Without mincing words, it is time consuming.

From the sweeping, mopping, and cleaning … to the color of the beddings to be laid, the fragrance that should be in the air … the scented towel(s), the sugar scrub … and oh, the setting of the window blinds (curtains) – are they rolled up, down, somewhere in between, to the sides … open, shut, or partially inclined – what I decide typically depends on the time of day I expect my guest to arrive. There’s a different vibe for day-time vs night-time arrival 🙂. Yes, I be the doing the most. I do all these and more primarily because I want whoever is coming in (myself included) to have a memorable experience and hear the voice of my heart say: Welcome! I prepared this place just for you. Make yourself at home.

This is exactly what this God-lover did: she made herself at home! When I showed her the guest bedroom, letting her know it was where she’d be staying, with her legs in the air, she joyfully jumped right on the smoothly laid bed that took me at least 30 minutes to lay. I was delighted – every second spent (sacrificed) laying the bed was worth the joy she experienced and expressed.

I share all this to lay the foundation and set the stage for what welcoming God entails – it takes time and requires attention to detail (Solomon and Ezekiel can attest to this in relation to the detail that went into the temple building which, as you can imagine, took time). Welcoming God requires preparation and sacrifice: the time of praise that God consumes. It’s called the sacrifice of praise for a reason – SeLaH. This sacrifice of praise is a joy that leads to JOY – The FATHER’s JOY.

In an attempt to highlightother key aspects of what it means to welcome God, I’ll use the examples of Abraham and Mary – they both(1)waited on God,(2) ran to meet Him, and (3)watered His Feet, all by way of welcoming God.

WAITON God at/in the TENT

Waiting is an important part of the ‘welcoming’ posture; it applies not only to a surprise welcome or home-coming party. Speaking of surprise – this is the manner in which God comes … unexpectedly. He comes when and how we least expect it … like a thief! Be that as it may, God is NOT a thief neither is He The Thief – this title is reserved for the enemy (John 10:10). Regardless of how He comes, God is THE FRIEND Who comes to stay, sup, and guide us into all Truth so that we may experience, have, and enjoy Him: an abundantly full and eternal Life … that we may taste and see that He is Good … that we may see His Goodness: His Glory.

Given the manner in which God comes, it matters that we wait (stay awake, attentive, and NOT play fast and loose). Also, it matters WHERE we wait – howbeit at the DOOR of The TENT or in The TENT, it matters more that we are positioned or waiting right There.

The above Q&A is significant. I believe that God asked the question not because He didn’t know where Sarah was (He knew exactly where she was, so much so that He could hear her laugh when she did shortly thereafter). I believe God asked where Sarah was so that the answer would serve as a reminder to us of where we are to be when God comes … right There … in His Name: Jehovah Shammah which means The LORD is There (indicating not only where He is but also Who He is: There) … The Place of your Tent … your promise land (where God makes and keeps His promise). It is where we each are meant to be as we wait for God to come (to reveal Himself or His Word: The Word out of His Mouth) – it is where we live, move, and have our being:in God(Acts 17:28).

Before we take a quick look at how Abraham and Mary waited, I’d like to describe how The TENT is formed. As implied earlier, this house/dwelling is not made by human hands. Instead, it is made by the very Presence of God. Here’s how best I can describe the TENT-making process: when God waits –Isaiah 30:18 (AMPC), or makes a rest-stop (a stop to give each one of us rest … His Sabbath Rest, so that we can enter in and enjoy His Sabbath Delight) … in the very place, land, or ground where His Feet rests or settles/touches down, His Presence forms an A-line-skirt-like TENT, fills the entire resting place of His Feet, and calls it “Mine” … “Beulah” … “The Place of My Rest”.

With this illustrative understanding in mind, let’s take a look atGenesis 18:1-2A…

🟢 ABRAHAM

God revealed Himself to Abraham while he was sitting at the door of his tent. For context, the writer of this chapter was inspired by God to point out that it was the hottest time/part of the day. I take that to mean that it was a time to be in doors … YET, Abraham was seated at his tent door or by the window (of opportunity). Where and how he was positioned is an expression of being expectant … a position of patient endurance. It is a depiction of where a person positions themselves so as to see (and not miss) what comes, passes, or comes to pass. It is accurate to say that Abraham not only endured the heat in a seated (patiently waiting) position, he waited with alert expectation for God – I say this because his eyes were lifted up. In other words, he was on the look-out for God.

🔴 MARY

She too looked out for God. She had the same posture of (welcoming God by) waiting up on Him … she too waited at The DOOR of THE TENT. Note: Jesus Himself is The DOOR – John 10:7,9A.

Same as how ELOHIM was on their way and entered into where Abraham was, Luke 10:38 – 42 tells us that Jesus entered into a certain village, and Mary’s sister (Martha) received and welcomed Him into her house. Mary too was There. While Martha was overly occupied with serving her guests (Jesus included) … let me rephrase 👉 while Martha was There BUT NOT right There (or not present), Mary seated herself at Jesus’ Feet – she was seated at The Place where God rests His Feet … literally!

Mary was right There, listening to His teaching – she was attentive, expectant, waiting … to see/hear/receive what comes (next) out of God’s Mouth. It is important to note that, she wasn’t only waiting FOR God (His Word), she was also waiting ON Him (like a waiter in a restaurant or as described inPsalm 123:1-2VOICE). Mary accommodated and entertained Jesus by giving Him food – His kind of food, a meal (nourishment, manna) that Martha and His disciples (back in John 4:32) knew nothing of … many today still don’t.

By welcoming (or receiving) God in the manner that she did, she was in turn giving God God – Mary was in turn loving God. Positioned at Jesus’ Feet, and contrary to what Martha thought, Mary was actually at Jesus’ beck and call … attending to Him, looking out for Him (for His best/topmost interest – John 4:34). Mary waited ON God and gave Him food – in other words, Mary refreshed God’s Heart.

RUNto meet God … GO the distance

It wasn’t always him … BUT when it was him, o boy! this daddy’s girl would speedily run out to meet him! I share this to say that I understand a bit of what happened when Abraham saw ELOHIM standing at a little distance from him.

🟢 ABRAHAM

Upon seeing ELOHIM inGenesis 18:2, Abraham RAN to meet God and bowed himself to the ground. In other words, Abraham positioned himself at God’s Feet … at His service (ready to serve … to receive and give God … to love). He then said to God:

ELOHIM gave the okay and Abraham went to work – he delegated where applicable and hastened to prepare the meal which he made ready and set before ELOHIM. He then stood by Them (at their beck and call) while They ate – unlike Martha, Abraham was There as in right There. Like Mary, Abraham accommodated and entertained God – he too refreshed God’s Heart.

A note-worthy point to callout here is that there is always a WHY God comes … a reason God reveals Himself WHEN He does. It is to do His Will … to glorify God – God always comes to glorify God. God glorified (God known) is what refreshes the Heart of God (all Three in One) –Hosea 6:6 tells us that God delights in the knowledge of God. God is known when God is glorified; God is glorified when God is known. This is what Jesus, The WORD: God Himself, comes to do no matter the form He takes – be it as The WORD (Isaiah 55:11), The Fourth Man in the fire (Daniel 3:24-25), in the flesh (Psalm 40:7-8A), or as His Holy Spirit (John 16:13). It’s why He went to Bethany exactly when He did, arriving four days after Mary’s brother (Lazarus) had died.

🔴 MARY

John 11:1-44 – Lazarus was sick, so his sisters sent word to Jesus saying: Lord, he whom You love is sick. Jesus received the message. V4– knowing that this was orchestrated by God to honor and promote God’s Glory (His Name) … knowing that the sickness was God-intended to make Himself known, Jesus stayed two days longer right where He was … right There – Jesus waited. He waited to see The Father do what He has done (John 5:19). As in a mirror, Jesus waited to see Himself do what He has done (Isaiah 53:11).

When He did, Jesus then made His way to Bethany along with His disciples (followers). He had not yet entered Bethany when Martha heard that He was on His way, so she out went to Him. After a revealing exchange with Jesus, she went back to the house and said to Mary inV28: The Teacher is close at hand and is asking for you 💖 – I enjoy hearing this. Like music to my ears, it does a number on me every time! I bet it had a same-like effect on Mary. On hearing this, Mary bolted! Like Abraham, Mary RAN to meet God. Also, like Abraham, when she came to the place where Jesus was AND saw Him, she dropped down at His Feet.

God’s Feet – what a beautiful place to be! There was a time (in 2023) when I didn’t know what this meant. I saw myself positioned at God’s Feet and I jealously wanted to be positioned in His Heart instead. In response to what I saw, even though I wanted (and was greedy for) MORE, I echoed what David said inPsalm 84:10 (AMPC, TPT) 👉 I’d rather be a DOOR Keeper and stand in front of the Gate called Beautiful – the Beautiful Place of worship (the House of my God), than be anywhere else or at all. Little did I know (at the time) that where I was positioned was truly my highest calling and the ONLY WAY in to God’s Heart.

Later that day (Dec 28, 2023), as I stayed right There with God at His Feet, He shared a secret with me … He showed me the secret DOOR-Way. He shared with me that His Feet is THE WAY to His Heart.

I core-responded to this Beautiful Truth by telling God that I want to be the Feet of His Heart. In other words, I was telling God that I want to follow His Heart and make His Heart known (seen, heard). Looking forward and through the lens of what God showed me on Feb 15, 2026 (RE: THE FATHER’s JOY), I see that in order to follow God’s Heart and/or make His Heart known/seen, I need to Water God’s Feet.

WATERGod’s Feet (whet His appetite)

Across cultures, offering and giving water (or a refreshing drink) to guests is a way of welcoming them – it’s one of the first things we do. With The Fountain of Living WATER, God, as the Guest, doing this is likegiving Water to WATER.

HOW on earth does one do this??? 🤔💭

The quick answer is: as it is in heaven.Revelation 4:6,8,9 gives us a hint: the transparent glassy sea in front of God’s Throne as well the living creatures who where right There praising God – offering Him glory, honor, and thanksgiving day and night. What a sacrifice!

“How do I give Water to WATER?” – this was my question to God when He showed me this manna. First, He told me about a woman at the well: Rebecca(Genesis 24:6-18) … then He told me about another woman at the well: the Samaritan woman(John 4:4-29) – in both scenes, He asked them to give Him Water. For those who went to read up the Genesis event, and are wondering about the connection between Eliezer and God, here it is: Eliezer means God is my Helper >>> the HolySpirit is God The Helper (John 15:26) 🙂. If you read between the lines, particularly from the perspective that the HolySpirit is the One Who finds and engages the Bride for the Son (Christ Jesus) –2 Corinthians 5:5(TPT), you’ll see the mystery therein which is that Eliezer is a representation of the HolySpirit.

In His response to my question, God showed me:

Believe is an action word – a verb if you will. It is acted out i.e. acts of the apostles or acts of believers … those who act out the Truth given (entrusted) to them by God. It is impossible to truthfully act out what we don’t believe – it is impossible to truly act without believing. Believing is action – both go hand in hand.Romans 10:13-15tells us this much.

Jesus Himself echoed this when He reminded Mary of the Truth that He told her (perhaps while she was sitting at His feet back in Luke 10:38-42).

In other words, when we act (believe … call upon His Name), God acts. This mirror effect is described inJames 4:8A– God draws near to us as we draw near to Him. By extension, I dare say that God enters into us(John 14:23)as we enter into Him(Proverbs 18:10)– this happens when we actionably believe Him or water His Feet. The result? God in action is seen.

🔴 RE:Mary… the evidence of this (God in action) was subsequently seen in John 11:42-45 where and when the Glory of God was seen because Truth was told by Jesus – Jesus gave thanks, prayed to, and praised The FATHER. In essence, Jesus wet God The FATHER’s Feet and thus people saw God (His Glory). Furthermore, those who saw God in action believed in Him like Romans 10:13-15 implies that they would – it’s the only way they/we can.

🟢 RE:Abraham… the evidence of The Truth that God spoke to him inGenesis 18:10,14was seen inGenesis 21:1– God did for Sarah what He had promised in the TENT.

Sarah became pregnant and bore Abraham a Son … God made her laugh and all who heard the Truth of what God did laughed with her. This laughter was different from the former (the first time Sarah laughed in Genesis 18:10-13 when she thought that what God said (the Truth He told) was ludicrous.

This latter laughter was better in that it is the JOY of The LORD – a refreshing of the Heart that is experienced by all parties involved (God, His Daughter > followers > believers > Truth-tellers > Sons) WHEN and BECAUSE God is glorified (known, revealed). This JOY is Praise (Prayer-raised) … it is the Truth that believers actionably tell. This JOY is the Name of The LORD that we call upon, the welcoming WORD (Help!) by which we invoke and embrace ELIEZER … this praise, this prayer-raised, this truth-telling is how we wet God’s Feet, how we give God Water – how we welcome God.

Oh that we would welcome God, He is near, here … and dear 💖. Oh that we would stop our busy-ness and sit still at His Beautiful Feet – still enough to see the Word out of His Mouth … that we would WAIT to see God come –Isaiah 40:9💖. Oh that we would RUN to meet God … that we would go the distance (or actionably follow Him – this is what it means to believe Him). Oh that we would WATER God’s Feet and whet His appetite BY:

Dear Reader, be a doer – act, welcome God. He inhabits the praises of His people – Psalm 22:3… Dear Hebrew, the one through whom God makes Himself known to Himself (as in a mirror), to you, and others – continually offer up a sacrifice of Praise to ELOHIM, continually offer the fruit of lips that acknowledge His Name –Hebrews 13:15… Zephaniah 3:9 … Isaiah 57:19… He has created the fruit of your lips and given you a new language – speech in thankful praise. Spend this currency of Oil and time on Him, put your money your God-given currency (this liquid gold aka Honey from the ROCK) where your mouth is – run your mouth at God’s Feet. Give Him your time – don’t play fast and loose. Spend time with Him … whet His appetite, wet His Feet … give Water to WATER. I share all this to say: Deep, call unto DEEP! Praise YHWH, KING OF GLORY! Welcome Him, He is right There with you.

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