The Cup

Breath of God, move this way

let us know Your atmosphere

bring to us the holy cup

let us drink Your passion here

for we are Yours, Your virgin bride

Your blood has bought us with this price

 - revel8r 12/30/2018 -

When Clouds Get in the Way

When it's raining, do we wonder if the sun still exists?  No, we simply go on about our business and don't give it another thought.  Sometimes we might grumble if the clouds remain for too long, but life goes on, and when the clouds finally do move on, we are delighted to see the sun again.

But when less-than-optimal circumstances arise, we doubt the Son.  We doubt His love.  We doubt His faithfulness. Sometimes we even doubt His existence.  And here is where folly is born, for "the fool says in His heart there is no God".  (Psalm 14:1)

So then, next time the clouds of life gather, let wisdom rule the day and continue on.  Embrace these clouds as a means to grow and mature as you walk through the day, trusting implicitly that He is always there.

Yeast Can Be Hazardous to Your Health

When they went across the lake, the disciples forgot to take bread. 

“Be careful,” Jesus said to them. “Be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” 

They discussed this among themselves and said, “It is because we didn’t bring any bread.”

Why did the disciples assume that Jesus was talking about the bread they had forgotten? We can imagine their insecurity about having forgotten to bring food to each.  And when Jesus said something that had something to do with bread, in their insecurity they jumped to the conclusion that their oversight had been outed.

Why was Jesus so abbreviated with the Pharisees and Sadducees? Remember that he had been around this mountain before in Matthew 12:38-40.  He had been a little more explanatory and had alluded to His resurrection there.  He was not interested in repeating Himself again.

But what was this yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees?  In the end the disciples understood He was speaking about their teachings.  Why should they beware of their teachings?  It was no secret that they had come to an impasse.  But what was it about their teachings that made Jesus warn the disciples?

It seems apparent that the Pharisees and Sadducees were people who were afraid of losing control.  They were under the Roman thumb, and they seemed to pay it forward by lording the Law over the people.  And the people seemed content to play that game, submitting to traditions and laws that were extra-biblical.  Indeed, it was out of fear that their teachings proceeded from their lips.

And the disciples were following suit in this modus operandi, for it was out of fear (insecurity at the least) that they missed Jesus' point when He said "beware of the yeast".  But if they were walking in a place of confidence and faith, their understanding might have been more timely.

Now and Not Yet

open these doors

into what is only Yours

something draws me more

into a life beyond, and born

i hunger to thirst

for wells and waves

and eternal stones, founded on 

my home without walls

for all is ruined

as i've tasted and seen

this earthen dream

holds naught for me now

and yet

there are islands here

in this mortal ocean

that hold me on

and so i surrender

to render eternity

into this present

and find my Current in You 

- revel8r 12/16/18 -