All of us on this road of life are searching for and needing love. Unfortunately what we find is, love is not easy. A more familiar expression we experience is rejection and it comes from the ones we love the most.
There are so many forms of rejection we experience. I am learning that looking for love in and through people is a road of hurt, disappointment, insecurity, self doubt, low self esteem, depression, and a loss of true identity.
I believe love was and has always been meant to be found in and through our Savior Jesus Christ.
Philippians 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
You see Gods love is perfect! When we seek Gods love and learn His patients, grace and commitment to us, we will be forever changed in the way we view love, especially the way we view it in this broken world full of broken people who only know how to give broken love!!!
As we begin to understand God and His love for us and how His love deals with our broken love. We will begin to know how to love others with a Godly love and learn how to receive broken love as He does.
Simon Peter, Do You Love Me?
John 21
So when they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My lambs.” He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Shepherd My sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Tend My sheep.” (21:15–17)
Anyway, using the Greek words (in their anglicized forms), here is a summary of the passage.
VERSE 15:
Jesus asked Peter if he agape’d Him
Peter responded that he phileo’d Him
VERSE 16:
Jesus asked Peter if he agape’d Him
Peter responded that he phileo’d Him
VERSE 17:
Jesus asked Peter if he phileo’d Him
Peter responded that he phileo’d Him
The argument made by the scholars is that Jesus asked Peter if he had the highest form of love for Him. However, Peter could only say that he had the lower form of love for His Saviour. Finally, the third time He asked the question using the word for the lower form of love. This showed that Jesus was satisfied if Peter could only love Him with phileo love.
The reason we reject and are rejected is that we only know the lower kind of love phileo.
Our call from God is to first recieve His love, (agape love) which is a higher form of love that is perfected in Christ! Then in return practice giving this kind of love to God and others that our desire to be loved and to love others will be fulfilling!
God bless you today, I hope this was a word of encouragement and healing!
The rainbow has such a significant symbolic meaning of promise! In my very first blog I shared with you my very first poem called Born Into A Cloud which I wrote three different blogs titled My First Poem giving you my testimony. In My First Poem, One of the lines in the poem I believe the Holy Spirit wrote Is, the rainbow God created you to be, when there seemed to be no hope the clouds are lifted by the winds of salvation. This poem moved me to do a study on the rainbows meaning in the bible which I will share with you now.
Here is the poem
Born into a cloud smothered into darkness
bringing rainfall in abundance
the deep fog keeps you from knowing who you are
Lightning strikes your person a lashing out in pain
the world is blinded by the dark cloud that covers
life hails in destruction leaving no hope or sanity
until a light shines from heaven revealing your true colors
the rainbow God created you to be
when there seemed to be no hope
the clouds are lifted by the winds of salvation
and you are born again by the love and mercy
of the lord Jesus Christ
whom brings forth truth in everlasting life.
Genesis 9 (New International Version)
8 Then God said to Noah and to his sons with him:9 “I now establish my covenant with you and with your descendants after you10 and with every living creature that was with you—the birds, the livestock and all the wild animals, all those that came out of the ark with you—every living creature on earth.11 I establish my covenant with you: Never again will all life be destroyed by the waters of a flood; never again will there be a flood to destroy the earth.”
12 And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds,15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life.16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
He set a rainbow in the clouds as a promise to us, He will never flood the earth again. Which means when the storms come we will not be overtaken. The Rainbow is a hand painted piece of art by God displaying His heart and person in the beauty of salvation to those He loves. It Is one of His ways to say, I am Here and I love you!
Ezekiel 1 (Expanded Bible)
25 A voice came from above the ·dome [vault; expanse; or platform] over the heads of the living creatures. When the living creatures stopped, they lowered their wings. 26 Now above the ·dome [vault; expanse; or platform] there was something that looked like a throne. It looked like ·a sapphire gem [or la pis lazuli]. And on the throne high above was a ·shape [form; figure] like a ·human [man]. 27 Then I noticed that from the waist up the shape looked like glowing ·metal [or amber] with fire inside. From the waist down it looked like fire, and a bright light was all around. 28 The surrounding ·glow [radiance; brightness] looked like the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day. ·It seemed to look like [LThis was the appearance of the likeness of] the glory of the Lord[Chis manifest presence]. So when I saw it, I ·bowed [fell] face-down on the ground and heard a voice speaking.
In Ezekiel s vision He sees the presence of God and He described it as glowing metal with fire inside from the waist down it looked like fire, and a bright light was all around. 28 The surrounding ·glow [radiance; brightness] looked like the rainbow in the clouds on a rainy day
. looked like the rainbow in the clouds!!!! Even Gods presence is like a rainbow in the clouds. Could it be when we see a rainbow we are actually seeing an image of God. An Image of His promise. Lets look at Moses!
Exodus 24 (Expanded Bible)
Moses Meets with God
15 When Moses went up on the mountain, the cloud [Crepresenting God’s presence] covered it. 16 The glory of the Lord[Crepresenting his manifest presence] ·came down [Lsettled] on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days. On the seventh day the Lord called to Moses from inside the cloud. 17 To the ·Israelite s [Lsons/Tchildren of Israel] the glory of the Lord looked like a fire burning on top of the mountain. 18 Then Moses went into the cloud and went higher up the mountain. He was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.
I love this part because when Moses was called up the mountain what was seen was a cloud covering it. At the top of the mountain what the people could see was like a fire, a glowing fire inside the cloud on top of the mountain. Half of the way up the mountain was covered with the cloud, which means half the way up this very high mountain, Moses was without sight. Isn’t that like our walks with God? when we climb the mountain of God, we can’t see where we are going. When we get to the top we see the glory of God. I believe when Moses got to the top of the mountain the Glory of God was just like Ezekiel s vision. He saw what looked like a rainbow in the clouds. A consuming fire that looked like glowing metal.
Revelation 4
Expanded Bible (EXB)
John Sees Heaven
4 After the vision of these things I looked, and [Llook; Tbehold] there before me was an open door in heaven. And the ·same [Lfirst] voice that spoke to me before, that sounded like a trumpet [1:8], said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this.” 2 Immediately I was in the ·Spirit [or spirit; Ca state of deep spiritual communion with God; 1:10], and [Llook; Tbehold] before me was a throne in heaven, and someone was sitting on it. 3 The One who sat on the throne looked like precious stones, like jasper and carnelian [Ca symbol of great beauty, purity and value]. All around the throne was a ·rainbow [or halo] ·the color of [or that looked like] an emerald.
Around the thrown encircling it was a rainbow. You see when you die and are face to face with God what you will see is amazing color of jewels and sapphires and rubies. There will be incredible light and the image you will see of His glory will look like that of a rainbow. I would like to look at another symbol that represents the rainbow and Gods promise of son-ship, Royalty!
Genesis 37 (Expanded Bible)
3 Since Joseph was born when his father Israel [CJacob’s other name] was old, Israel loved him more than his other sons. He made Joseph a special robe with long sleeves [Ctraditionally a multicolored robe]. 4 When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved him more than he loved them, they hated their brother and could not speak to him ·politely [Ccivilly; Lpeacefully].
The robe of many colors. This robe is the same robe in the Prodigal Son that the Master has His servants get to put on him. It represents royalty son-ship. I also believe this is Gods covering, a rainbow covering, meaning promise!
Exodus 28 (Expanded Bible)
28 “·Tell your brother Aaron to come [LBring near your brother Aaron] to you, along with his sons Nada b, Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. ·Separate them from the other Israelites to [L…to] serve me as priests. 2 Make holy ·clothes [garments; vestments] for your brother Aaron to give him ·honor [glory] and ·beauty [splendor]. 3 Tell all the ·skilled craftsmen to whom I have given wisdom [Lthe wise of heart whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom; Cwisdom here is a practical knowledge, a skill] to make ·special clothes [garments; vestments] for Aaron—clothes to show that he ·belongs to me [is consecrated/set apart/ holy] so that he may serve me as a priest. 4 These are the clothes they must make: a ·chest covering [breastpiece], a ·holy vest [ephod], an outer robe, a ·woven inner [or checkered] robe, a turban, and a ·cloth belt [sash]. They must make these ·holy [sacred] clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons. Then they may serve me as priests. 5 They must use gold and blue, purple and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen.
The Holy Vest
6 “Use gold and blue, purple and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen to make the ·holy vest [ephod]; ·skilled craftsmen are to make it [skillfully worked]. 7 At each top corner of it there will be a pair of shoulder straps tied together over each shoulder.
8 “·The craftsmen will very carefully weave a belt [LThe embroidered waistband] on the ·holy vest that is [Lephod will be] made with the same materials—gold and blue, purple and ·red [scarlet] thread, and fine linen.
9 “Take two onyx stones and write the names of the twelve sons of Israel on them, 10 six on one stone and six on the other. Write the names in order, ·from the oldest son to the youngest [according to the order of their birth]. 11 ·Carve [Engrave] the names of the sons of Israel on these stones in the same way a person ·carves words and designs on a seal [engraves a seal/signet]. Put gold [Lfiligree] around the stones to hold them on the ·holy vest [ephod]. 12 Then put the two stones on the two straps of the ·holy vest [ephod] as reminders of the twelve sons of Israel. Aaron is to ·wear [bear] their names on his shoulders in the presence of the Lord as reminders of the sons of Israel. 13 Make ·two gold pieces to hold the stones [settings of gold filigree]14 and two chains of pure gold, twisted together like a rope. Attach the chains to the ·two gold pieces that hold the stones [Lsettings].
This is the clothing for priest of the Kingdom Of God, it continues on if you want to go back and read more. Notice again it is a robe of many colors and full of jewels. Now this is old Testament, today we Christians are all considered to be a Kingdom Of priest and a holy nation. I believe this is our spiritual robe to be worn as a child of royalty and purpose. The anointed of God. This spiritual robe is Gods presence which if you remember it is that of a rainbow in the clouds. His presence is on us like a cloud, a consuming fire of glowing metal, a rainbow in the clouds of this world. We are His rainbows of promise to the lost.
Revelation 1:6
Expanded Bible (EXB)
6 He made us to be a ·kingdom of priests [or kingdom and priests; or kingdom, that is, priests; Ex. 19:6] who serve ·God his Father [Lhis God and Father]. To ·Jesus Christ [Lhim] be glory and ·power [dominion] forever and ever! Amen.
May God clothe you in rainbows of blessing and purpose, and full of promise as the children of the living God.
In a world gone mad, I can’t help but to be sad
At what has become the new norm
It’s like a storm that blew over and never blew away
What can I say, as days grow darker
I’m left with only this light given to me
A light meant to shine
It’s at this precious time, it’s meant to shine even more
If my words are touching your soul
Then let it be known, there is a light shining greater than me
It is He that will set you free, and fulfill your needs
In dark times like these
It only takes a word spoken in the dark, from the heart
Where this light can be reached
There is only one name that can claim the power of light
Only in His name, can the blind gain sight
His name is Jesus
I have been writing poetry since I was 32, that was twenty years ago when God gave me the gift at a retreat! After years of sharing this gift It has been put to music by two producers I met, Michael Feifer and Brandon Jarrett. They did an amazing job! I pray God uses these songs to bless and heal! I hope you like it, and if you do like it, please share it! Thank you!
I wrote this song out of Song of Solomon 2 King James Version (KJV) 2 I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. I met two producers Mike Feifer, and Brandon Jarrett who produced my lyrics into music. Brandon Jarrett is singing Rose of Sharon. I hope you like it!
I see you, I’m waiting
My dear, time is fading
I long for you to see
I have come, to set you free
Everyday I wait, for you to hear my call
The life I have for you, delivered from the fall
A renewed life, will come to be
I have come, to set you free
If you could open your heart to me
You would see, what your life in me would bring
My love for you, would sing
I have come to set you free
So let the clouds be moved
So your heart can be soothed
Let my light in, let it gleam
I have come to set you free
Let your faith be awakened
Let your hope be renewed
There is promise waiting for you
I have come to set you free
I come across people everyday that do not understand what Jesus has done for them. I see the love of God reaching towards them yet they refuse to see. If they would make the smallest effort to find the truth, what God would do in their life. If you are reading this and the person I described sounds like you. Please make a simple prayer from your heart asking Jesus to show you that he is real and open your heart for Him to show you. I am confident He will do Just that. May you know the full love and understanding of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Ruby red, the color of the stripes He bore
Draped across, waving glory, at attention I adored
White Crystal color, were the stripes and stars
Displaying his presence and light
A symbol that lights up the night
Ocean blue the water that cleanses our souls
The back drop to the stars we’ve come to know
His banner over us, flaps in the wind
I hear the words, the little boy said
One nation under God, as his tears fell
For his father he lost, fighting for our freedom
It’s the reason a hero is declared
Prepared for us the life we now live
What one lifes sacrifice can give
I see a symbol of God, laid over his father
As to say you are honored
He gave His life for us, as did Christ
The ultimate sacrifice and glory
Leaving a longing, a pride that pushes us through
What he gave, he knew
A story that will never be forgotten
A symbol representing the only begotten, Son
His banner that blesses our nation
Reminding us of the purpose of our creation
So we might unite as one
In relation to Him, the Son
The hope that carries us through
The true meaning of the red, white, and blue
There it stands, as I listen to the band
Playing the star spangled banner
To Our flag
I was lifted by the spirit, and taken to a holy place
High above the clouds, surrounded by His grace
Was a river flowing and embraced by so many colors
My mind began to race, from all I was seeing
Fish with wings were hovering and then diving
In and around children splashing and playing in the water
I had to ask myself was I dreaming
As seen once before in A Moment In Heaven
A rainbow criss-crossed another rainbow across the sky
So many of the greenest trees, the Box-tree, cypress, the pine
The Olive, and the Myrtle were planted on the edge of the river and a highway to holiness
Some of the largest turtles were walking around, I think seven
Butterflies, flowers, many different animals, fruit trees
There were sounds from angelic god like figures singing
I saw them at a distance just inside a sparkling Gate
Guarded by two awe inspiring Cherubim, standing in His glory
People lit up like lanterns by the joy on their faces
I saw a homeless man at the edge between the highway and the river
A man standing next to him with his hand on his shoulder praying
His tears were the source of the flowing river
It appeared his healing had triggered a fountain to flow
It all then opened up and I saw thousands of poor in the spirit
Lifted up by the saints of the trees, people like you and me
Serving others and setting them free
The power of this love from these trees planted
Flowed the river of God
A few days after the holy spirit moved me to write this post, God started to speak to me about some of the symbolism in this post. This post is talking about our walks on the highway to holiness. The process as a Christian’s life walking towards heaven. The highway God spoke to me is the source of life. The ground in which Adam was formed. It is where wheat is grown. The ground represents bread! Which bread represents Jesus, Gods word. We are to eat this road, meaning scripture while walking on it.
The river represents water, the holy spirit, healing, washing, cleansing and so as we pray for others the spirit of God has called us to do His work. The holy spirit cleanses and so the tears coming out of the man in the form of the spirit. The source of life, living water forming the river.
So many places in the bible God refers to us as trees, oaks of righteousness!
All of the things on the road, the rainbow, fish, turtles are things unseen by the human eye, they are in the spirit hidden from our flesh.
The turtles were something of curiosity in my heart. I had wondered and asked God why the turtles? So I was led to search their meaning. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that turtles represent longevity of life, wisdom, and protection. Their important in this poem because they speak of Gods protection on this road, they speak of Gods wisdom on this road, and they speak of the end result, eternity. The fact that the spirit led me to write the number seven represents creation, new life, forgiveness 70 x 7.
Click on the red A Moment In Heaven to read the first vision
Like a flower stuck by the pod of its seed
I wonder what I could be, if I could just get free
Squeezed by the pressure holding me in
Is it my sin that keeps me from breaking out
I want to shout, my wings are ready to display
This promise that remains in my heart
I know I am called to be a part of something beautiful
Is this what it feels like to be born
New life breaking the surface of the hard ground
Am I experiencing a life to be found
Breaking through, I hear a voice
Carried by the wind, Lazarus come out
Am I being formed, transformed by this pressure
Is this going to measure the man I will become
Shall I push through this test, when I want to rest
My heart feels so depressed, as so many of Gods best
And most powerful soldiers, who have manifest this process
Elijah awake, let me mend your sick heart
Come drink from the brook, where the Ravens brought you bread
Climb the mountain, eat the scrolls and go to whom I send
The pod falls, and the miracle begins!
FULL OF ROSES INSPIRATIONALS 