Before Evening Shadows Fall...

The Love of the Father comes ever so softly before the evening shadows fall

He colors our world with infinite beauty

To let us know He is Lord over all! 

In His Love,

Trials in a Different Light

Early morning sunrise...pretty, but dull, boring and with nothing happening. It will become another sunny day with no clouds, no rain or storms, and basically produce a lifeless wasteland. No worries, no cares, like our hearts when there are no trials or struggles to go through, and we become unproductive and complacent. Why would we need to pray or run to the Lord when everything is just fine?

By contrast, this morning is alive with intense colors, motion, excitement and the promise of life-giving rain! The threat is real and takes us to our knees in prayer. Our faith is tested, our hope is challenged, and the storm produces patience, and perseverance as we drop to our knees and trust in the One who stills the storms. 

The difference between the two is a barren desert...or a garden of beauty and abundance. 

Maybe we should look at our trials in a different light!

 .

In His Love,

Longing

Should the morning flee away

let it take me on its wings

to the source of its delight:

He who said, 

"Let there be!"

© Mid Stutsman 2013

 

In His Love,

Heaven's Hosts...

Angelic hosts fly sight unseen

veiled from mortal eyes,

the gentle whisper of their wings

born on gossamer sighs.

They're warriors, invincibly strong,

guardians over our lives,

protecting us from evil's harm~

the Sword of Truth at their sides.

Dare we cease to be in prayer

as they defend what's right

and keep us under constant care

through day on into night?

For while we live and safely dream

there hovers through the skies,

an army of majestic beings

from Heaven's realm on high.

 © Mid Stutsman 2012

 In His Love,

O Come, O Come, Emannuel Piano Guys

O Come O Come, Emannuel


O come, O come, Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Refrain
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny;
From depths of hell Thy people save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.


O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight!

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.


O come, O come, Thou Lord of Might,
Who to Thy tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times didst give the law
In cloud, and majesty, and awe.

In His Love,

Immortally Yours...

In the gray hours of early dawn, when all is etched in silence, black silhouettes lift their branches in praise, and the awakening sun sends a blushing pink tinge along the undersides of scattered clouds. We stand in awe of Your majestic glory and sense Eternity beckons us to a place where beauty unimaginable awaits. If we are impatient, how much more are You, our King, eager to share Your Kingdom with us!
Maranatha, we cry, and once again You reply: "Look Up!"
 © Mid Stutsman 2012

 In His Love,

A Scepter Waiting For Its King...

You stand against the wind, wrapped in a cloak of love, an awesome power building within to silence the roars of the nations surrounding. With the eyes of a dove and the teeth of a lion, barred in righteous anger, You summon the hosts of heaven into a fierce and mighty army with but one purpose~that of defending Jerusalem. Come, King of Kings, hear the cries of Your people... Your scepter awaits.

In His Love,

Earth and Eternity

Earth, a graceful sphere whirling in ordered precision,
keeping measured time beneath swirls of white sentinels.
Blues and greens, patterns and shapes, merging into a blur
of beauty seen from afar. But the quiet of the heavens
cannot long hide the chaos masquerading as peace.
A closer look reveals the heartbeat of our planet is irregular,
a sign of catastrophe and devastation, both ignored and denied.
What then will be the end? Will Earth survive? Will we?
We are inseparable. One spoken into existence--
the other created from its heart. Both loved.
Both destined to be rescued, redeemed and restored...
in God's time.
©Mid Stutsman 2012

In His Love,

Yom Kippur~Forgiveness

Tonight, at sundown, (Tishri 9 or September 25, 2012) Israelis will humble themselves before God in prayer, fasting and abstaining from any kind of work or personal pleasure. All forms of entertainment shut down, restaurants and businesses close. It is the highest Holy Day of Israel, Yom Kippur, and the nation of Israel observes it together as one people. While it leaves them vulnerable, I believe God surrounds them with His hand of protection, and we have the privilege of covering them with our prayers.

Leviticus 16:29 "It is to be a permanent regulation for you, that on the tenth day of the seventh month, you are to deny yourselves and not do any kind of work, both the citizen and the foreigner living with you. For on this day, atonement will be made for you to purify you; you will be clean before Adonai from all your sins. It is a Shabbat of complete rest for you, and you are to deny yourselves.

Leviticus 23:26-32 Adonai said to Moshe, "The tenth day of this seventh month is Yom-Kippur; you are to have a holy convocation, you are to deny yourselves, and you are to bring an offering made by fire to Adonai. You are not to do any kind of work on that day, because it is Yom-Kippur, to make atonement for you before Adonai your God. Anyone who does not deny himself on that day is to be cut off from his people; and anyone who does any kind of work on that day, I will destroy from among his people. You are not to do any kind of work; it is a permanent regulation through all your generations, no matter where you live. It will be for you a Shabbat of complete rest, and you are to deny yourselves; you are to rest on your Shabbat from evening of the ninth day of the month until the following evening."

God was emphatic about denying oneself...it was to be a day of repentance and seeking forgiveness for ones sins. Jews today fast, do not bathe or use personal cosmetics of any kind, engage in marital relations, or wear leather shoes. This is to show a sincere, humble attitude toward God. No food or drink keeps ones mind focused on God and fosters sympathy with those who are poor and without basic needs. Refraining from bathing and using personal body and beauty products is a reminder of those who do not have such comforts. Denying marital relations lets one feel for those who are lonely and without someone special or family. Refraining from wearing leather, which comes from a slaughtered animal, shows a respect for God's creation while seeking His forgiveness.

At the time of the giving of this commandment until the destruction of the Temple in A.D. 70, the High Priest would enter the Holy of Holies through a heavy curtain of separation and make atonement for the nation of Israel.

As true Believers in Yeshua HaMashiach (Jesus Messiah), we know His death on the crucifixion stake (cross) rent the veil of separation, and with His resurrection from the dead, we now have Yeshua as our High Priest, who made a way for us to enter the Holy of Holies into God's presence. For us, observing Yom Kippur is not a matter of works for salvation, but rather a celebration of a righteous holy God accepting the sacrifice of His righteous, holy Son, Yeshua/Jesus for the forgiveness of our sins.

May it at least be a day of intense prayer for our nation and for the nation (not state) of Israel.
Shalu Shalom Yisra'el/Yerushalayim~Pray for Israel, Pray for the peace of Jerusalem
✡  In His Love, ✡   

Whispers

Bands of pinks and lavenders whisper across the morning skies, and the darkness flees. Yeshua-Jesus never yelled at the enemy of our souls, Satan. He merely spoke the truth and banished the deceiver from His presence. We have that same power! Yelling and shouting simply shows our weakness, but a whisper of faith in God and His Word sends demons fleeing from our presence. And that's when the Light of of Truth prevails and lights our way...

In His Love,

The Color of Peace...

The world is awash in fear and anxiety, bombarded with rhetoric and empty promises. But You, O Lord, quiet my heart as I wait in the stillness of Your presence and watch the clouds part to reveal Your glory. Your promises are real, Your Word True, and You color my world with peace.

In His Love,

Hope

As I search for an agent, I am reminded of all the struggles we go through on our life-journey~But, there is always hope, and if we keep that hope alive and trust God with each step, He will lead and guide and show the way.  Never give up, there are as many doors to open as there are ones that have been closed on your efforts!
In His Love,

A Vision for Sharing...

As I ponder God's glory and grace, I also wonder how He wants me to share that with others. I have blogs and networking in place, but my vision is to publish tangible calendars, stationary, postcards, prints suitable for framing, coffee table books...all laced with His insights and wisdom to inspire hope, lead others to faith in Christ, and encourage my brothers and sisters in the Lord. If you have ideas or suggestions, I'm open :)
In His Love,

Writer/Author/Artist

I have decided to take a different direction with this blog and make it about my writing, art and photography. I truly want to be a faithful servant with the abilities the Lord has blessed me, and so I'm venturing out. I hope you will come along with me on this journey...I could use a lot of prayer support and your expert insights and suggestions!!
I will transfer my "moments" to my website, where I will continue them. And I will keep you updated on my writing progress here. To Yhvh Jireh (God the provider) be the glory!!

In His Love,

Opal Skies~

Opal skies~

patterns of endless splendor... 

Your love, Lord, is boundlessly revealed... 

open our eyes!

In His Love,