Misteltoe

The mistletoe bears it's fruit at the time of the Winter solstice, the birth of the new year. Like life springing from death. Today is the Jewish New Year.

Moving from being helped to being perfected

And Azariah slept with his fathers, and they buried him with his fathers in the city of David, and Jotham his son reigned in his place.
2 Kings 15:7

Azariah means, "Jehovah has helped", and Jotham means, "Jehovah is perfect".

The Biblical idea of perfection is a bit different than our Western idea of perfection. A perfect score, a perfect job, marriage, game, meal, etc. The Biblical idea of perfection is wholeness. A moral person who is content is perfect. A person who's joy comes from the inside is perfect.

Just getting help is like getting money of food or having a need met. We all have needed help and help is good. But, a better thing is to be one who has so much that you give help. It's a great testimony to have received help from God, but it's even better to be one through whom God helps others who may later become one's who help others.

Shifting supply lines

Arise, go to Zarephath which belongs to Sidon and dwell there. Behold, I have commanded a widow to feed you.
1Kings 17:3

Previously, Elijah had been commanded to go to the brook Cherith where he got water and the Ravens fed him. But, a time came when that provision ended and God directed him to a new one.
The brook drying up and the Ravens no longer bringing food, focused Elijah back onto trust in God, rather than reliance on God's gifts. Elijah is drained of self reliance.

Zarephath is the third place Elijah has been moved to in this season.
Zarephath is a Gentile city, in the region that Jezebel is from.
The word Zarephath means refinery.

God took Elijah from the brook in Israel to a Gentile widow. Jesus references this story in Luke 4:25-6.

God sovereignly chooses people, unexpected people, people out of left field; who will be key people God has chosen to help us. God chooses someone whom He will have to do a miracle through to bring provision. He chooses someone who will allow Him to do this.

When we rely on God for our provision, we find that he shifts where it comes from sometimes and we have to exercise faith to receive new supply.

God's building

Unless the Lord builds the house, the workers labor in vain.
Psalm 127:1a

At first glance, this word might be taken to mean that God's got to be at the center of something, inspiring it and empowering it, blessing it; for it to be real or valid or authentic. While that is true, it is the secondary meaning. The primary meaning is revealed by looking at the original words that were chosen. The words for build and house have the same root as son and daughter, as well as each other. So, "builds the house", is not primarily talking about building a place of worship or a community thereof, nor is it primarily talking about building a business. It is primarily talking about God building families. Then, if you want to talk about God building the church for instance, you have to go back to this fact that God is a family man. When God builds something, he builds it through fathers and mothers and sons and daughters. Fathers and mothers have children and they also adopt children. This is God's building plan.

That'll be the day

Buddy Holly-That'll Be the Day

Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die

Well, you give me all your lovin' and your turtle dovin'
All your hugs and kisses and your money too
Well, you know you love me baby
Until you tell me, maybe
That some day, well I'll be through

Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die

[Instrumental Interlude]

Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die

Well, when Cupid shot his dart
He shot it at your heart
So if we ever part and I leave you
You sit and hold me and you tell me boldly
That some day, well I'll be blue

Well, that'll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that'll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you're gonna leave, you know it's a lie
'Cause that'll be the day when I die

Well, that'll be the day, hoo-hoo
That'll be the day, hoo-hoo
That'll be the day, hoo-hoo
That'll be the day



The story behind the song from SongFacts:

Holly had been kicking around his home town in Lubbock, Texas trying to write a hit song for his small Rockabilly band since he had attended an Elvis Presley gig at his High School some time in 1955. His band in those days consisted of him on lead vocals and guitar, Jerry Allison on the drums and Joe B. Maudlin on upright bass. He and Jerry decided to get together and go see The Searchers a Western movie staring John Wayne. In the movie, Wayne keeps replying "That'll be the day" every time another character in the film predicts or proclaims something will happen when he felt it was not likely to happen. The phrase stuck in Jerry's mind, and when they were hanging out at Jerry's house one night, Buddy looked at Jerry and said that it sure would be nice if they could record a hit song. Jerry replied with, "That'll be the day," mocking in the western.

Holly and his band The Three Tunes recorded this in Nashville in 1956, but Decca records didn't like the result and refused to release it. A year later, Holly re-recorded it with The Crickets in a studio in Clovis, New Mexico owned by his new producer, Norman Petty. Backup vocalists were brought in and the key was lowered to fit Holly's voice a little better. This version became a huge hit and made Holly a star that summer.

This was the first song John Lennon learned to play on guitar. American Rock stars like Holly and Little Richard were a big influence on The Beatles.

So, what does "that'll be the day" mean and how is that meaning applied in Holly's song? He's saying to his lover that she'll never leave him. He adds that the day you leave me will be the day that I die, which reminds me of, "till death us do part". Someone else says, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." However, the context of the words in Holly's song is romantic love. There's no marriage mentioned. It's just a love affair. The fact that his partner is threatening or predicting a break up does not bode well or reflect positively on the depth of the relationship.

To the outside observer, it would seem that the man's lover is telling him there are problems that will necessitate her leaving. Rather than reason together on the issues that are being raised by her, his response is instead, "you'll never leave me, we're in love". As is the irony in so many catchy songs and great poetry through the ages, the slice of life depicted in this song is not about the rush of romantic love, but the denial one can fall into after having started off in love. Love feels good and love is part of life to be celebrated. But as sure as love is, so are problems. Everyone has problems. Every relationship runs into problems, challenges, and conflict. Many people would rather not face these and instead say, "stop and look back", instead of listening to what their partner is trying to say.

I think that another meaning this song could have is that we fall into a cynical sarcasm in our relationships and we lose faith in the best in others. We also get this way with God. We begin to believe in our experience more than God's word. Rather than staying soft and vulnerable, we get hardened and bitter from disappointments. We get into a mode where our imagination fails us and we no longer believe. In the absence of God, we begin sitting on our imaginary throne and decide that our future is set, going no higher than the past which we glorify because it's all we have. Memories are now distorted and idolized.

This ought not be and it doesn't have to! So what? Repent.

Takes your breath away

"...it all took her breath away."

2 Chronicles 9:4

You can be so "wowed" that your breath is taken away. You pause, you are in awe. The Queen of Sheba had her breath taken away by Solomon. God wants to do this for all of us.

Confusion driven out

Isaiah 47

The Fall of Babylon

1 "Go down, sit in the dust,
Virgin Daughter of Babylon;
sit on the ground without a throne,
Daughter of the Babylonians.
No more will you be called
tender or delicate.

Babylon means confusion. Babylon rose and fell in Bible times, but Babylon also rises and falls on the prophetic book of Revelation. Babylon is falling again today and it may rise and fall again in various places before it's all over because Babylon is a spirit.

One of the enemy's tactics is to confuse you: father of lies, and one of the things God likes to do is bring clarity: the Spirit of Truth.

I like this song by Rick Cole:

Part the waters that surround me
Make the wind and waves be still
Pierce the soul of my confusion
Clear the mist and rend the veil

See the longing in my spirit
Know that I choose to be Yours
Lord, I’m hungry and I’m thirsting
To be filled and to be used

You’re the Holy Lord Almighty
And I come to seek Your face
You’re my Light, my Hope, my Mercy
And Jesus is Your name

Torrential

In the above picture from England, it was said that they got two months rain in two days! You might feel dry and parched, but what if rain is on the way? Are you ready for it? What if God's rain storm of blessing is on the way to you? What if your prayers are about to be answered? Will you be able to receive it?.

the invitation

“Whoever is simple, let him turn in here!”

Proverbs 9:4a

Are you simple or complex? Are you simple or sophisticated? Are done learning or ready to learn?
Are you resistant to advice or open to counsel? Are you hungry for wisdom or full of your self?

Father

Listen son, to the instruction of a father and give attention that you may gain understanding.

Proverbs 4:1

Fathers teach their children through word and deed. We learn from our dad's and we catch life from them. I think that our examples are powerful. I probably heard millions of words from my dad, but his example stays with me as much as the words. Words are powerful and I could not have done without those, but example is just another dimension that is as important too.