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(While sitting at an old upright piano, as I played the final chord of a worship song and as I left the SUSTAIN pedal down to allow the harp strings to resonate for a long time, I sensed the Lord say)
“I blessed you with a piano that understands the power of 'sustain'. There is a strength in 'resonance' which is not found in 'staccato' or even 'digital delay'. SUSTAIN carries My HEART---My SUSTENANCE---My PERSISTENCE---and yes, My EVERLASTING VALUE. There are sounds in the heavens which began millions of years ago and they are STILL resonating today. I'll give you one example which will help you understand it all. 'IT IS FINISHED' still resonates as strongly today as on that day which My Son spoke it. Your own words carry RESONANT value. Have you ever spoken words you wished you could swallow back into your mouth? It is said you cannot take back and retrieve negative words. I say ‘Yes you can’. It is accomplished with two words---FORGIVE ME. Then it is upheld with true repentance, true change of behavior, and true honor. Then, it is all held together from that with which we first began---SUSTENANCE. You have heard it said, 'Having done all to stand, STAND THEREFORE...' That's all that is. Take a stand for righteousness and then SUSTAIN it. You have read, 'Jesus Christ THE SAME yesterday, today, and forever'. You guessed it: SUSTAIN. As far as My love for you in comparison to your behavior, your ups, your downs---it does not change---My love is SUSTAINED unchanged. Not even your mighty, amazing exploits for My kingdom can influence the measure of My love for you. It is SUSTAINED by Who I Am and who I have made you to be.” 'It was THAT MARY who anointed the Lord…'
(John 11:2) (John 12:1-11) When we are spoken about, what is the defining trait which identifies us---wise, wordy, wishy-washy, wanderer, or WORSHIPPER? Two sisters, Mary and Martha, had a most important Guest for dinner and Mary probably lingered too long at the feet of Jesus while the food on the stove probably needed stirring and the table needed to be set. Her sister Martha could only do so much. As a result, dinner was probably later than Martha had planned and perhaps colder than it should have been. However, THAT MARY---that worshipper---was too overwhelmed with gratitude. Her brother Lazarus, who had laid in a tomb stinking and rotting away for four days, was now alive and well, and sitting AMAZED across the table from the One who called him back to life. Mary went and tracked down the most expensive perfume she could find from her collection, drenched Jesus' feet with it, and wiped His feet with her own hair. The aroma and very atmosphere of the room was filled with the extravagance of her action. Judas criticized it, everyone else was bewildered---but Jesus absolutely loved it! When people remember this grateful servant of God, she is most appropriately referred to as “…’THAT MARY’ WHO ANOINTED THE LORD WITH FRAGRANT OIL AND WIPED HIS FEET WITH HER HAIR.” What will people remember about us? Will we ever be blamed for excessively expressing our love for God too extravagantly? Will we ever be referred to as “that Ruben (Tony/ Sam/ Larry/ Sara/ Maggie) who continually goes way overboard in demonstrating his or her love and devotion to God”? Perhaps that is not such a bad way to be remembered. |
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August 2024
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