You want me to wash who's feet?

Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him before He washed his feet.  I have often said I don’t think I could have washed his feet if I were Jesus without at least pulling or twisting his toes. But of course Jesus did not do that and he loved Judas.  Well that is fine if you are Jesus, which I am not. However,  He reminds me I have His Holy Spirit living in me, which enables me to be able to offer the same compassion and love. Well, my dear Father, that is a tall order because I can think of a few Judases and if I were presented with their feet to wash, I know they would wish they had Jesus on the other end of their toes.  But every time I go into that mode of thinking, You bring me back to the place that says I can do it.  Not that “I have to” but that “I can” with the Holy Spirit guiding me.

I don’t know if I’m writing this just for me or there are others out there who have a “Judas’” in their lives.  I don’t find that people talk about it much.  Those Judases aren’t the ones that are glaring them down at every turn, but they are the ones that cause a gut reaction when their name is brought up in normal conversation. I don’t think I’m alone here. If I am, then this article is only for me.  But I have a few people who, when they come to mind, only the Lord and I know how I react.  I’m way too sophisticated to let on to the world but God and I know. And He tells me to surrender them to Him.

So how does that work anyway?  I think I’ve surrendered them a million times, only to have me take them back into my hands again.  So He is helping me by giving me a thorn in my flesh.  I now have a real live physical issue that gets aggravated when I want to get a hold of them and do it my way again (for the millionth time).  I would have thought I could have let go of them by now but apparently not, and He can see that I need further assistance or motivation. 

Don’t get me wrong these varied people I would gladly pull out of a burning car or usher away to safety if the need arose. And they are also not people that I think about or obsess over as many days go by without so much as a thought of them.  But when their names come up I can feel the tension in my soul.  I want that gone and He wants it gone, too.  I have far too many great things to accomplish here with my time left on earth for a few puny people related issues to hold me back.  Here is my official declaration, no more holding hostage in my hands His children.  If they behave badly it is His problem.  And it is leaving me free to hold on tight to the cross with two free hands. 

I say this all the time, but He makes me a better person.

Beauty Treatments

Whenever people talked about the rapture and they made it seem like a reconnaissance mission I always felt a little bit bad about that.  The main reason I felt bad was after the rapture occurs there will be perilous times, unlike any the world has ever seen.  Well, I have unsaved friends and family members so if Jesus were to come back today that would mean they were to face seven years of misery.  I was not ready to be happy about that.  Sure I’d be safe and secure in Heaven but other people I love will be here to stand up to the worst time history will ever know. 

I have to admit I got a bit hung up a few years ago about the whole blood moon thing where there were date setters.  I did not go overboard but I was persuaded enough to envision the end as I knew it.  I know the dangers of that now and I am really glad I “fell” for it as it gives me a much better (first hand) understanding of how segments of the world get duped into the “facts” and begin to live their lives as if it is the end.  

What I have heard recently is it is wrong even to think of it as a reconnaissance mission when Jesus comes back.  The Word says He is coming back for His perfect, spotless bride.  I don’t know where you live or what your neighbors are like but I would really be stretching it to call His bride at this time perfect and spotless.  Heck, the different churches are so divided and the Scripture says in John 13:35 ^“By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  I mean, I don’t think so.  That is not the view from where I’m looking.  So just maybe He’s not coming (right now) on a rescue mission.  Instead He is pouring His Spirit out over all the earth to be who we are called to be.  And I’m going to just come out and say it:  

John 1:12-13  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Did He give us the right to become children of God so He could rescue us or for something else?  Did He say Luke 10:19 or not?

“I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”

If nothing will harm us, what then do we need to be rescued from?  Rescued from nothing?  That is not a rescue.  Maybe, just maybe, we are supposed to start walking in the power and authority we were given at salvation, i.e.:  The blood of Christ, the DNA of the Father, and the power and authority that carries.  This phrase keeps coming up in my own personal life but, “What if we have been asking for the very thing we already have?”  We just don’t know we have it.  And we don’t know how to use it.  Queen Esther had six months of “beauty treatments” before she was to be presented before the King as a possible wife.  I believe we have come into a new era and you will begin to see the body of Christ rise up on the wings of the Holy Spirit and do many signs and wonders. I’m not the first one to say it but this may be your first time to hear it.  Put away your rapture ideas and begin to embrace the greatest time the world has ever known. 

Now for those of you who know my New Age background, I can assure you this is not the same. In a sense it is why I fell into New Age 31 years ago because I knew the quest and zeal for the “power” New Age offered.  Organized Christianity did not offer more at the time.  This is exactly what I was looking for in 1987 only with one BIG exception: it is backed 100% by Scripture. Anything deviating from Scripture is a lie so with that said, get ready.  The negative, dark side of media, news reports, entertainment and our culture are going to be overtaken by the move of the Holy Spirit.  And it won’t be small either, it won’t be like you will be able to miss it, it will be everywhere. 

So, playing the devil’s advocate, what if I’m wrong and the rapture is coming soon?  Well, I’m happy, enthusiastic, loving God and other people, joyful and expectant.  So I go to Heaven in the rapture blessed and abundant.  Maybe even convert a few others along the way.  It’s a win-win.  So unpack your bags and start asking the Holy Spirit to prove this right or wrong.  Let’s have some beauty treatments!