Longing for Eden

Today I am nearly at the 38 week mark in this pregnancy and the above photo couldn’t be more true – in more ways than one.

First of all, I am longing for my baby Eden to be born and am getting increasingly impatient for his arrival! As the end draws near, there is literal  discomfort and pain in the longing as my body aches from this journey of pregnancy, mixed with hope and anticipation and joy, knowing of the reward to come!

As I talked about in a previous post about how we came to name our baby Eden, part of the reason we chose this name was because it speaks of another, greater longing for the original garden of Eden where man lived in unbroken, intimate communion with God. This is the second longing which I think we feel more intensely even as we sense that His return to the earth is drawing near. This longing is also one of aching as we feel the pain of His absence, as well as joy as we look forward to the day when we finally get to see Him face to face!

In Ecclesiastes 3:11 it says that God has put eternity in our hearts – or in other words, a longing for Eden, our original home, to be restored. I believe that this longing exists in everyone, believer or not, for we were all created this way – with the belief that there must be more to life than what we are experiencing – whether we choose to acknowledge that or not.

I read a quote recently from the book The Longing for Home by Frederick Buechner, where he writes, “What is the connection between the home we knew and the home we dream?…The first home foreshadows the final home, and the final home hallows and fulfills what was most precious in the first.“  As another writer put it on their blog, “Maybe we have lost Paradise but our hearts long for Eden. A place of wholeness. A place where creation and the created ones coincide without incident. We long for the new heaven and the new earth. Creation groans and so do we. We long for things to be put back in place. Back the way they were supposed to be.” The new heaven and earth, our final home, is the fulfillment of the original home that man had with God and it is where all things will finally be made right again.

“Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” (Revelation 21:3-4)

Michael Milton, in his sermon entitled Longing for Eden, writes, “Every man and woman who ever lived intuitively longs for his or her eternal home. You were made for Eden…So there is a longing. That is the eternity God has placed in your heart — to be fully restored with God and to be home with Him. However, the longing is confused by sin. We cannot get home, we cannot identify or come to terms with the longing, much less fulfill it ourselves. We must have help to fulfill it. Jesus is the fulfillment. He is our way home…The longing inside of you, fulfilled in great part by the [first] coming of Jesus and the salvation of your souls, is going to be completely fulfilled at His second coming.”

And so, as I feel the discomfort and pain of longing for my baby to finally arrive and to get to hold him in my arms, I am reminded of the greater longing for my Bridegroom and to finally see Him and be with Him in Paradise.

“Indeed, the Lord will comfort Zion; He will comfort all her waste places.  And her wilderness He will make like Eden,  And her desert like the garden of the Lord; Joy and gladness will be found in her, Thanksgiving and sound of a melody.” (Isaiah 51:3)

Even so, Lord, come! (And you too, baby Eden)

The Essential Jesus – Hebrews 1:1-4

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Hebrews 1:1-4

My Father has always been speaking to humanity and throughout the ages, He spoke through His prophets. But in these last days, He spoke to you through me, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the worlds. Instead of speaking through men, though dreams and visions, He chose to use me, His very own Son, as His mouthpiece and His representative.

For I am the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person. I uphold all things by the Word of my power. I, myself purged your sins and am now sitting at the right hand of the Majesty on high. I’ve been exalted above the angels, having inherited and obtained a more excellent name than they.

No longer do you need prophets to tell you the Word of the Lord – you have me and my words and the Holy Spirit to give you revelation on it. Before, my Father spoke in part and in mysteries and veiled images, but in me He spoke with resounding clarity and volume and fullness! For unlike the prophets, I share the very nature of God, His character and likeness. I am His glory and splendor and divine light all wrapped up and manifested to you in the flesh.

It is by my Word, by my power that the entirety of creation is held together and kept from crumbling into pieces. Without me, it would all fall apart and cease to exist. There is nothing in all of creation that can claim to have power or control over its life – for it is all within my hands. Everything depends and relies fully on me!

Yet, with all that power and all that glory, let me remind you that I chose suffering and death that I might completely eradicate and deliver you from sin! With this power I could have destroyed mankind or chosen an easier way to redeem it, but I didn’t. I wanted you to know and see my love for you and that I am not a cold-hearted, distant, all-powerful deity that has no concern for his creation. No! I am God and therefore I am all-powerful, but I am also love incarnate and I willingly sacrificed myself for you because my heart is alive and full of passion and affection for you!

I am even now sitting at the right hand of my Father, with my scars as a vivid reminder of the blood I shed for your sins, as I act as your Mediator and Intercessor. It is my joy to sit next to Him, working in partnership with Him, for your good. There I am seated, higher than any majestic or powerful angel, higher than all rulers or principalities. Only to me has there been the name given of King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

There is no being who can compete with my excellence in my identity and nature and position beside my Father. I am superior in every way – especially in the depths of my love for you, my Bride! There is no other love like mine – there is none that can compare to me, none who can satisfy like I do!

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – His Government and Peace

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. Since there was simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, I split it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, with the last one being “His Government and Peace”. Merry Christmas!!

Isaiah 9:6-7

When I come into my Kingdom, the government of the earth will rest on my shoulders. I will gladly shoulder this responsibility and I am, in fact, the only one capable of doing so. I am the perfect leader and the burden of leadership over all of mankind is no burden at all for me!

My government is also an increasing one that began thousands of years ago and which is growing daily. The bounds of my Kingdom are ever expanding and its glory is ever shining brighter and brighter until it reaches its perfection.

The gates of hell will not prevail against my Church – it will keep reaching out and taking territory from my enemy. What joy I take in rescuing souls from the kingdom of darkness and conveying them into my Kingdom of light! My government and peace are relentless in their expansion, for I am relentless in my pursuit of the hearts of mankind! I am forever wooing and winning the love of my subjects and conquering sin and wickedness, that I might rule and reign in their hearts.

The more you submit to my leadership and rule, the more peace you will experience, for as my government increases, so does my peace. Allow me to govern your day, your thoughts, your emotions, your actions, your time, your words and watch the result of peace that will flood into your life! The more you say, “yes” to my Holy Spirit within you, the more you will be set free from fear and doubt and anxiety and striving.

As both the Root and Offspring of David, I will rule and reign upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, for my Father has given it to me and has set me on His holy hill in Zion. Where there has been chaos, I will order it and establish it, setting all things in their rightful place. I will be both a King and Judge and I will judge all things rightly with true justice.

In fact, I am the only one worthy to take the scroll from my Father, the title deed to the earth, and to open it and unleash its judgments. I am the only one able to judge the earth and its inhabitants perfectly with righteousness and equity, for I am the only one who was slain and who gave my very own life for mankind. I shed my blood and bore the wrath of my Father in order to redeem you to Him, which makes me the only one worthy to receive the power and riches and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and blessing.

Just and true are all my ways, as King of the saints, for I alone am holy. I will reign from that time forward, even forever. My Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and my dominion will never pass away or be destroyed. All peoples, nations and languages will serve and worship me, for it is from every tribe and tongue and people and nation that I have redeemed my chosen ones.

Not only will I reign as King of kings, but I will make my subjects kings and priests who will also reign with me on the earth. For in addition to being a King and a Judge, I am also a Bridegroom and you are my Bride and I desire to have you seated with me, ruling together with me, partnering with me in bringing my purposes to pass.

The zeal of my Father, the Lord of hosts, will perform this! My Father, who is the Lord Almighty, the Lord of the Armies of Heaven – He is jealous for His own honor, to bring to pass His word and to accomplish His purposes. The One who holds the heavenly hosts in His hands, who created all things, who has ultimate power and who commands an angelic army - He is passionate and filled with zeal to see me established on my throne. He trusts me explicitly to rule and reign in accordance to the desires of His heart and He is committed and determined to bring this to fulfillment.

All of this and more was being proclaimed and prophesied in my first advent and you will see it all unfold to its completion at my second advent. Surely I am coming quickly!

** This post was influenced by Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Isaiah 9 and David Guzik’s Study Guide for Isaiah 9 as well as the following scriptures: Isaiah 60; Matthew 16:18; Colossians 1:12-14; Revelation 22:16; Revelation 5:1-14; Revelation 15:3-4; Daniel 7:13-14; Ephesians 2:6-7; Revelation 22:20 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – Prince of Peace

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. And since there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, I am splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “Prince of Peace”.

Isaiah 9:6-7

I am the Prince of Peace. Of the increase of my government and peace there will be no end. I will sit upon the throne of David and rule over my kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of my Father, the Lord of hosts, will perform this!

When I come, I will bring an end to all war, strife, division and turmoil. I will bring an everlasting peace to the minds and hearts of the subjects in my kingdom. There will be no more anxiety, worry, contention, striving, or fear – just absolute peace.

But you don’t have to wait for that day to experience the peace that comes from me. Today you can choose to surrender your fears and anxieties to me and receive my peace that passes understanding, my peace which comes as a guard around your mind and heart. When I left the earth to return to my Father, I left my peace with you and gave it as a gift to preserve and keep you until I return for you. My peace is available for you when you feel troubled or afraid, that the trials of this life would not be able to shake you or overcome you.

For my peace is not a passive, weak gift, but it is a weapon of warfare against the schemes of the enemy, effective for fighting off his attacks. I am the God of peace who will crush Satan underneath your feet! I am your Prince of Peace who fights for you and I myself am your peace, so you will have peace by welcoming and embracing me. Hold fast to me and I will fill you with my peace by the power of my Holy Spirit.

But my peace isn’t only for you personally, it is for my Bride as a whole, for I came to bring oneness and unity in my Church by breaking down every dividing wall. In my flesh I abolished all enmity between Jew and Gentile, man and woman, master and slave, rich and poor, young and old. I came and preached peace, that you might know my heart for you and be empowered to release your offenses, your bitterness, your strife, your prejudices and love one another unconditionally. You are not all separate and disconnected from each other, for I came to make peace between you, creating one new man. As the Prince of Peace, it is my heart’s desire for there to be complete peace among my subjects, that my Bride would live in peace and remove every dividing wall, for I came to reconcile you to each other, as well as to my Father.

However, I did not come to bring peace as the world interprets it, but a sword. The sword is the instrument by which peace will be brought, for I will come with the sword to cut away all those things that are keeping you from peace. My wisdom is first pure and then peaceable, so as long as you try to hold on to those things which are impure, you can never have true peace.

Also, by proclaiming allegiance to me and picking up your cross and following me, it is a direct act of warfare with the world, so you must expect trials and persecution as a result. To embrace me and my peace will also mean that the people closest to you, in your own family, may turn against you. My peace doesn’t mean you will never experience difficult circumstances, but it does mean that you can experience internal peace in the midst of them.

For though I came to bring peace on earth and good will towards men, I also came with a sword to declare war on all sin and wickedness and injustice. To be friends with the world is to be my enemy, for the world advocates those very things that make true peace impossible. So you too must declare war on all things that are contrary to my ways, for as long as you hold onto them, you will find that you have unrest in your soul and will not be at peace with my Spirit who dwells in you. For my Spirit yearns jealously within you, for you to submit completely to my leadership in your life, as your Prince and as your King.

** This post was influenced by Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Isaiah 9 and David Guzik’s Study Guide for Isaiah 9 as well as the following scriptures: Ephesians 2:13-18; Luke 2:14; Matthew 10:34-39; James 3:17; John 14:27; 2 Thessalonians 3:16; Romans 16:20; Philippians 4:6-7; James 4:4-8 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – Everlasting Father

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. And since there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, I am splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “Everlasting Father”.

Isaiah 9:6-7

I am the Everlasting Father, for I am God, one with my Father, who is from everlasting to everlasting. I am the Father of eternity, the very source and author of everlasting life and of the great work of redemption. I am the Creator, existing for eternity past with my Father and the Holy Spirit, partnering with them both in the works of creation.

Eternity itself and time and the endlessness of time in both directions was my design and idea. I am the Alpha and Omega, the Beginning and the End. I am eternal and unchanging, the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. I am He who is and who was and who is to come. I am He who called the generations from the beginning, ordaining the ages and setting in place the times and places of the events of history.

Before me there was no god formed, nor shall there be after Me. Indeed, before the day was, I am He, I am God, I am the Lord and besides me there is no Savior! I am the First and the Last; besides me there is no God. I inhabit eternity, for it belongs to me and eternal life is my gift to you.

I invite you to share eternity with me and to experience pleasures at my right hand forevermore! For this is eternal life – to know my Father and to know me – it is my joy to give to you the fullness of joy in my presence by spending all of eternity revealing my glory to you, the glory that I had with my Father before the world was.

I am giving you the ability to inhabit eternity with me and for everlasting ages I will satisfy your heart with the knowledge of Our heart, for there is no end to the glory and depths of wisdom and beauty in Me!

** This post was influenced by Matthew Henry’s Commentary on Isaiah 9 and David Guzik’s Study Guide for Isaiah 9 as well as the following scriptures: Revelation 1:8; Hebrews 13:8; Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 43:10-13; Isaiah 44:6; John 17:2-5; Psalm 16:11 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – Mighty God

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. And since there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, I am splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “Mighty God”. In this one, Jesus got a bit more personal with me, so I’ll include my own name in here, but you can replace it with your name and ask Him to speak to you about the issues that are closest to your heart.

Isaiah 9:6-7

I am the Mighty God. I am the One who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth. I am the Commander of the armies of heaven, riding victoriously. I hold everything together by the power of my Word, by the strength of my right hand. I am mighty in battle, a fierce warrior and judge to my enemies, and I am also mighty to save, demonstrating my power on behalf of the weak and lowly and repentant, to rescue them from the grip of sin and death and oppression.

I am a mighty man of war, coming in my zeal and wrath against wickedness, sickness, bondage, deception, poverty, murder, and oppression of every kind. I am coming to show my power and strength to rescue and deliver the sick and broken, to rescue those in chains – both literal and spiritual, to break the power of every lie of the enemy, to break the back of poverty and bring the poor into great abundance, to deliver the innocent lives from death, and to set free every person being exploited, abused, crushed or taken advantage of!

There is no foe, no enemy, no stronghold, no demon, no principality that is beyond my ability to defeat and soundly destroy! I have the power to end human trafficking, abortion, wars, famine, cancer, epidemics, unjust governments, homosexuality, divorce, infertility, murder, atheism, Islam, every cult and false religion or god, and even the sin and compromise in my own Church. There is NOTHING that can stand in the face of my zeal and my love. I am mighty to tear them down and to bring healing and restoration to every one who has been victimized by them.

Jacquie, I am your Mighty God. I am mighty in battle on your behalf. I am stronger than your every weakness and failing. Every thing in your life that looks impossible is nothing to me. I am jealous for your heart and I am mighty to finish the work I have started in you.

I am powerful to deliver you from shame and to set you free from fear.

I am mighty to save your loved ones – their hard hearts will be my joy to soften and unlock and transform before your very eyes.

I am mighty to overcome the pain and hatred and deception in that broken relationship – I am more than able to bring restoration and healing where it appears impossible.

I AM going to heal your jaw – trust me – and know that I take great joy in you as you keep asking me with your mustard seed of faith – don’t give up!

I want to confront and tear down every lie and every accusation that the enemy has made about me to your heart! He would make me out to be weak, uncaring, and incompetent, but I want you to know me for who I really am! I want to demonstrate my power that is working in you, for you and for those you love.

Don’t believe his lies!! Don’t try to protect your heart from disappointment or embarrassment by planning for or expecting the worst (that I won’t answer your prayers) and barely hoping for the best. Believe me and what I tell you! I AM MIGHTY!!! My strength and power is beyond anything you could possibly imagine! My abilities would blow your mind and captivate your heart if you had the courage to fully believe them and put your faith and trust in me.

I give you permission to tear down the idols that you have made out of your fears and problems, for you have set them higher than me.

Look at the confidence and boldness that David had in me and my power when he faced Goliath. He was full of faith and courage because he knew my heart and my strength from the place of intimacy with me. It’s not a false hope or hype or prosperity gospel I’m asking you to embrace – it’s ME! Those who know their God will be strong and do mighty exploits. Don’t be afraid of the giants in your life or let them intimidate you with their lies.

Do you want to confront the giant of abortion and the plight of the orphan in your city and nation? So do I! I realize it’s way bigger than you and you can’t battle it alone, but you’re not alone! I am with you! I am backing you up!

Do you dream of making a difference, making an impact and inspiring and equipping people to pray and intercede? So do I! Are you small, lacking in resources and knowledge? Well, I’m not! I have all the strength, money and wisdom you could ever need and more!

Are you becoming more aware of your own struggle with the desire to pray? I am mighty to fill your inner man with strength and perseverance by the power of my Holy Spirit. Your weakness is no obstacle or discouragement to me, for it is my joy and delight to woo you and win your heart in the place of prayer and to produce joy in my house of prayer (in your own heart) and to give you my abundant grace to pray.

Are you aware of the power of my blood? My grace is sufficient for you in your weakness! My strength and might is made available to you through my blood shed on the cross.

I AM THE MIGHTY GOD!! This is my name by which I am called. It’s not just a quality I possess – it’s WHO I AM ALL THE TIME.

** This post was influenced by the following scriptures: Isaiah 48:13; Daniel 4:35; Revelation 19:11-16; Hebrews 1:3; Psalm 89:13; Psalm 24:8; Isaiah 63:1; Isaiah 42:13; Isaiah 61:1-3; Mark 10:27; Philippians 1:6; Daniel 11:32; Ephesians 3:16; 2 Corinthians 12:9 **

Take Courage, Young Mother

“…God takes small, imperfect things and builds them into a habitation for his glory. O, how we should take courage in our little spheres of influence! And is this not the message of Advent and Christmas?

What more appropriate word could God have said to Mary as Jesus was growing up: Take courage, young mother, you build more than you see. And so it is with every one of us. Nothing you do is a trifle if you do it in the name of God. He will shake heaven and earth to fill your labor with splendor. Take courage, you build more than you see.”

Excerpted from Take Courage: You Build More Than You See (1982) by John Piper (bold mine).

A great reminder to me today as a mom, that I am building more than I can see in the little hearts that I have influence over. I am raising up the next generation of prophets, intercessors, worshipers, and lovers of God!

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – Wonderful, Counselor

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. I’ve actually been in this passage for over a month already, as there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, so I will be splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “Wonderful, Counselor”.

Isaiah 9:6-7

I can say without an ounce of pride or vanity that I am Wonderful! I am full of abounding and endless wonders that are available for you to search out. I want to show you the beauty of who I am, that your heart would be overcome with wonder and awe and amazement. I want to surprise and delight you with how wonderful I am!

Gaze at me and seek my face and allow yourself to be filled with the fear of the Lord, with reverence, astonishment and admiration, with worship and fascination. I want to wow your heart and captivate you with  my wonders and the mysteries hidden in me!

I am your Counselor. I am the wisdom of my Father and I came to teach and instruct you in His ways. In me are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, the depths of which are unsearchable, beyond finding out. The riches of our wisdom is limitless and we have never required direction, counsel, instruction or teaching from anyone.

Contained within me is all knowledge and understanding, which is why I can invite you to come to me and learn from me, for though I am wisdom incarnate, I am also humble in heart, which makes me a compassionate and tender Counselor.

Do you need direction? Do you need counsel? Are you seeking wisdom? Come to me. I want to show you the hidden riches of secret places that you might know me and my ways. If you seek for wisdom as for hidden treasure, then you will discover the knowledge of me, for I give wisdom freely to those who search it out. I love to speak knowledge and understanding to the humble seeking heart. It is my glory to conceal the secrets of my heart because I know that there is great glory and delight in store for those who will search me out.

And I have revealed my mysteries and the plans of my heart for you by my Holy Spirit. For my Spirit searches the deep things of my soul that are beyond finding out – He has full access to the deep wells of wisdom in my being and He knows my thoughts. This is why I also gave Him to you to be your Counselor, Helper and Teacher. Embrace my Spirit and ask Him to teach you about me and to give you my thoughts and reveal to you my emotions, my wisdom, my counsel to you.

For I have much to say, much counsel that I desire to share with you, if you would simply come to me, ask of me and take the time to listen.

** This post was influenced by the following scriptures: Romans 11:33; Isaiah 40:13-14; Matthew 11:29; Isaiah 45:3; Proverbs 2:4-6; Proverbs 25:2; 1 Corinthians 2:9-13; John 14:26 **

The Essential Jesus – Isaiah 9:6-7 – A Son is Given

You can read about the origins of this blog series on The Essential Jesus here and catch up on previous posts here.

Though I wasn’t due to write about Isaiah 9 for quite some time, I figured it was fitting to write about it during the month of December, as it is a key prophecy about the birth of Jesus. I’ve actually been in this passage for over a month already, as there is simply so much contained in just these 2 verses, so I will be splitting it up into several posts that each focus on a certain phrase, today’s being “A Son Is Given”.

Isaiah 9:6-7

To you a child was born and to you a Son was given.

I am the child who was born. Though the Mighty God, I became a helpless infant. Though the Everlasting Father, I stepped out of eternity and into time. I took on flesh and took on Your nature, humbling and emptying myself to be born into your world. For you, that day, I was born and came as your God and your Savior. Though in the form of a baby, my identity and name was unchanged – Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

My Father gave me to you as the most precious and valuable gift that has ever been or could ever be given. He did not keep me only to Himself, but considered it worth the cost to give His only begotten Son as an offering to and for you, that He could purchase you for Himself.

Yet, not only did my Father give me to you, but I gave myself to you. I came willingly and with great desire burning in me to show the depths of my love for you by giving myself completely to you, pouring my very life out for you, holding nothing back. I want you to know and to be confident in my love for you, because I am the Son who was given to you. I love to give myself to my Bride! I delight to give myself to you, to reveal myself to you, to serve you, to give my heart and love to you, holding nothing back . It’s who I am and what I love to do – to give to you!

But it didn’t stop there, for I also gave my very own Spirit to you, to be with you and to be your Helper, Comforter, Friend and Teacher after I returned to my Father. What a joy and delight to give my Spirit to you, for I love Him and take pleasure in my relationship with Him and I knew you would too! Besides my very own life and blood that I gave for you, there was no greater gift than to give you my Spirit. He loves you so deeply and He loves to give you gifts of His own. He loves to reveal my heart to you and to reveal my Father to you.

And that’s another incredible gift I could go on and on about – by giving me to you, my Father was truly giving to you the gift of Himself, for I came to show you the Father and to give you insight into His heart like never before. I came to give you His Word, His love, His mercy, adoption into His family – I came to give you the Father Himself, for we are all One we all give each other to you! We all love to give to you!

There are so many gifts in our heart for you – may you receive each and every one of them! For though I gave my body for you once, I have always been and will never stop giving myself to you.

** This post was influenced by the following scriptures: Philippians 2:5-8; John 3:16; Luke 11:13; Romans 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; 1 John 4:13; John 17:6-8, 22-26 **

Naming Baby #3

I am just over 28 weeks in my pregnancy with our third child and at my 20 week ultrasound, I greatly anticipated the possibility of finding out our baby’s gender, as we had with our first two children. However, I was sent to a different hospital this time where they have a different policy about this and they would not tell me the gender at the appointment, though they would put it in the report that they sent to my obstetrician. I was totally bummed, because I really wanted to know right then and now I’d have to wait a couple more weeks to find out!

However, I believe the Lord designed it this way, because a few days later, Joe and I went on a trip to the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, and I had the opportunity to pray for our baby and listen to the Lord speak to me about him/her without any preconceived ideas about the baby based on gender. I really wanted the Lord to speak to me about our baby’s identity and possibly about their name and He was faithful to show me some things.

Now, you’ll have to forgive me, but this is going to be a slightly lengthy story of how our baby’s name came to be chosen…

As I was praying, I recalled how many times in the Bible, babies were named based upon something that the Lord was doing personally in the life of the mother or even what He was saying corporately to His people. So I began to think about what the Lord had been speaking to us and putting on our hearts and He led me to Psalm 132:1-9…

¹ LORD, remember David…
² How he swore to the LORD,
And vowed to the Mighty One of Jacob:
³ “Surely I will not go into the chamber of my house,
Or go up to the comfort of my bed;
⁴ I will not give sleep to my eyes
Or slumber to my eyelids,
⁵ Until I find a place for the LORD,
A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob”…
⁷ Let us go into His tabernacle;
Let us worship at His footstool.
⁸ Arise, O LORD, to Your resting place,
You and the ark of Your strength.
⁹ Let Your priests be clothed with righteousness,
And let Your saints shout for joy.

Something we have been longing for in this season is for a greater realization of the reality of God dwelling with us. There are multiple facets and levels to the dwelling place of God, the first being the incredible truth that God desires to dwell and abide in us (John 15:4-11; John 14:16, 23; 1 John 4:13-14; 2 Cor. 4:6-7). We are carriers of His presence through the indwelling of His Spirit – jars of clay containing the infinite treasure of Jesus within us!

Secondly, we desire for God to have a dwelling place in our city, that there would be a literal, physical place where He could come and rest and manifest His presence and receive worship and adoration from His people. We long to see a house of prayer established in our city where we could go to worship and pray at any time of the day or night. We long to have His presence in our city, to enjoy being with Him and feeling Him in a tangible way, and so that our city could be transformed by His power to save, heal and deliver the people who live here.

Thirdly, we are eagerly anticipating the day when Jesus returns to the earth and we get to see Him face to face! When He comes, He is going to purge the earth from all sin and wickedness and He is going to make all things new so that He can once again reconcile heaven and earth, that God the Father may come and make His dwelling place on the earth permanently, bringing the New Jerusalem to earth so that we can dwell with God for eternity! (Revelation 21:1-7; Revelation 22:1-5)

As I was praying, I also kept hearing the word “joy”, but didn’t know how it fit in with the idea of God’s dwelling place. But as I read these various passages I mentioned above, I began to notice a common thread of joy throughout them all. When we abide in Jesus and He abides in us, we experience the fullness of His joy in us (John 15:11), when we are in His tabernacle and in His house of prayer, we shout aloud for joy (Psalm 132:9, 16; Isaiah 56:7), and when He comes to dwell on the earth, there will never be sorrow or crying every again – only the sweet, inexpressible joy of being with our God forever (Revelation 21:4)!

My prayer for our baby became that he/she would know the joy of God dwelling in their inner man, but who would also long for the dwelling place of God here on earth, and who would experience joy in the house of prayer as a priest who ministers before Him, as one who simply loves His presence.

A couple weeks later we finally did get to find out the gender of our baby, which is “inconclusively” a BOY!! While the ultrasound technician’s confidence in their opinion leaves something to be desired, we are thrilled and our son Justice is very excited to be getting a baby brother! However, this news presented somewhat of a dilemma in the naming department. We had a name that we liked for a girl, but nothing for a boy. Joe kept trying to convince me that the name could be used for a boy as well, but I was not budging. I was stubbornly insisting that it was strictly a girl’s name and I simply could not imagine naming our son this. Finally he gave up and threw up a prayer to God to speak to me if this was the name for our baby.

The very next day after he prayed that prayer (without me knowing it), I sat down during my morning devotions and I specifically set out to talk to the Lord about this name and ask Him to show me if this was the name He had chosen for our baby. I decided to look up the meaning of the name in the Hebrew, since it comes from the Bible. The name actually means “delight” or “pleasure”, which certainly seemed to fit with what the Lord had spoken to me about the word joy.

I then began to look at all the scriptures in the Bible where this name appears, and since it is actually the name of a place, I only discovered one person in the Bible who had been given this name. It just so happens that it was a man (a point for Joe’s argument), but also a priest who served in the temple! When I went to read the scripture in context, I found myself in 2 Chronicles 29, which is the story of King Hezekiah, who ushered in a season of revival, especially regarding the restoration of the priestly service. The temple was in disrepair and ministry to the Lord had been neglected, so King Hezekiah reopened and repaired the temple and then issued a call to all of the priests to consecrate themselves and the temple and return to the Lord. His charge to them was this,

“My sons, do not be negligent now, for the Lord has chosen you to stand before him and serve him, to minister before him and to burn incense.”

Coincidentally (I think not), this verse has been a prominent one that the Lord has given to us corporately at Sanctuary House of Prayer, where we attend. We have prayed this verse countless times, asking God to raise up men and women who would love Him wholeheartedly and who would be called to stand, serve, minister and burn before Him. I was stunned when in the very next verse it lists the priest with this name – Eden. He was one of the very first to respond to the call and to consecrate himself to God and who was among those who worshiped the Lord with the instruments of King David’s tabernacle. They worshiped, played music and presented offerings to God, praising Him with gladness and calling the entire nation to return to God as well.

Wow!! I was blown away that the one person in the entire Bible who is named Eden was a priest who also longed for the dwelling place of God to be established in his nation and who desired to minister to Him there. It quickly became obvious to me that this was in fact the name that God had chosen for our child and it also confirmed all the things He had spoken to me earlier.

Not only this, but the Garden of Eden also happens to be the original dwelling place of God where He first lived and walked with mankind before sin entered the world. Eden was truly a place of delight and pleasure, where man walked with God in unhindered, unbroken, perfect communion and this is exactly what Jesus is returning to the earth to restore!

If our baby had been a girl, I may have never searched out the name so thoroughly and discovered these things! But, an added bonus is that if the ultrasound technician’s prediction is wrong, our baby will still be named Eden.

The name is continually growing on me and I am falling in love with my little boy Eden and can’t wait to meet him! Another fun little tidbit is that my initials are JRE and the first initial of my three children – Justice, Rayah, and Eden – match my initials! So, that’s just a special little gift from my Father to me.

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