High ground

Over the past several months, if not since last year I have had a few scriptures that seem to keep coming to my mind. 

The power of the LORD came over me. The LORD brought me out by his Spirit and put me down in the middle of a valley. The valley was filled with bones. He led me all around them. I saw that there were very many bones at the bottom of the valley, and they were very dry. Then he asked me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I answered, “Only you know, Almighty LORD.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones. Tell them, ‘Dry bones, listen to the word of the LORD. This is what the Almighty LORD says to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you will live. I will put ligaments on you, place muscles on you, and cover you with skin. I will put breath in you, and you will live. Then you will know that I am the LORD.’ ” So I prophesied as I was commanded. While I was prophesying, suddenly there was a rattling noise, and the bones came together, one bone ⌊attaching itself⌋ to another. As I looked, I saw that ligaments were on them, muscles were on them, and skin covered them. Yet, there was no breath in them. Then the LORD said to me, “Prophesy to the breath! Prophesy, son of man. Tell the breath, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: Come from the four winds, Breath, and breathe on these people who were killed so that they will live.’ ” So I prophesied as he commanded me, and the breath entered them. Then they came to life and stood on their feet. There were enough of them to form a very large army. The LORD also said to me, “Son of man, all the people of Israel are like these bones. The people say, ‘Our bones are dry, and our hope has vanished. We are completely destroyed.’ So prophesy. Tell them, ‘This is what the Almighty LORD says: My people, I will open your graves and take you out of them. I will bring you to Israel. Then, my people, you will know that I am the LORD, because I will open your graves and bring you out of your graves. I will put my Spirit in you, and you will live. I will place you in your own land. Then you will know that I, the LORD, have spoken, and I have done it, declares the LORD.’ ” (Ezekiel 37:1-14 GW)

Do not be preoccupied with evildoers. Do not envy those who do wicked things. They will quickly dry up like grass and wither away like green plants. (Psalms 37:1-2 GW)

I know in my past I have been in the valley of dry bones. Being concerned with only things of this world. Living for myself. I wonder how many of those I know, or call a friend are adrift in that valley, dry and brittle. Wanting longing for the breath of the lord. Waiting on his living water to refresh. I pray that all who I know that are lost in that valley will find their way to the high ground, and to the lord Jesus Christ. He is waiting, longing for your arrival. 

New

We haven't been this way before. It's the first couple days of 2015. Seems like a lot has happened these first three days. The days ahead might seem a little scary, terrifying even, the fear of the unknown. There is good news though, as scary as the days ahead might seem they have been traveled before!  

So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” (Genesis 33:14 NIV)

But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” (Mark 14:28 NIV)

“See, I am sending an angel ahead of you to guard you along the way and to bring you to the place I have prepared. (Exodus 23:20 NIV)

Jesus has already gone ahead of us into the new year. So I say fear not, and trust for greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world!

http://youtu.be/j3IbQq35BuU

http://youtu.be/DOwTaHT8qkA

What does AD mean?

Below I have reposted a devotional I receive by email. It seems fitting this first day of 2015.  I am going to do something new. It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land. (Isaiah 43:19 GW)

Today is the first day of 2015 AD. 2015 BC means 2015 years before Christ's birth. 2015 AD means 2015 years after Christ's birth.  AD is Medieval Latin for Anno Domini which means "In the year of our Lord Jesus Christ." It is interesting that the birth of Jesus Christ divided our calendar, so that nearly the whole world marks time according to the time of Jesus' entrance. Government documents still use this Christian phrase. President Obama ended his proclamation for National Park Week with: "I have hereunto set my hand this sixteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand ten..." It is fitting that Jesus Christ is the separation of the "old" and the "new." The birth, life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Christ are the "turning points" in world history. It is also true when He comes into our individual lives. "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come" (2 Corinthians 5:17). I know AD has a Latin meaning, but I like to think of AD as meaning "After Divinity entered the world. He is now "God with us." Dear Jesus, Your coming into my world has changed everything for me! "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:10-11).