Have you seen the dove?

I was wondering, at Pentecost just past, why Jesus had the symbol of the Spirit as a dove - whereas the disciples had the tongues of fire. And this is what emerged for me...
We see the dove in the story of Noah. After the rain had stopped, Noah sent out a dove, and eventually it returned with an olive branch in it's mouth. Noah took this to mean that life was returning to the earth after the judgement of God.
We always see the dove as a sign of peace. That would mean 'peace with God' - because the judgement had passed. Is this also what the dove on Jesus meant? The sign of peace with God now - because of Jesus?
John the Baptist declared (just a couple of verses before he tells of Jesus and the dove) "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!" So yes... why not? The dove is the Spirit pointing to Jesus as the one who takes away our judgement. The dove means "The judgement has passed" - because all our sins are laid on Jesus.
Have you seen the dove? Does he witness in your heart "the judgement has passed." Do you know for sure that there is no condemnation for you because you are in Christ Jesus?
Ask him to show you. He's good at that!

The cat who had ears to hear!

We have a cute and gentle cat - Cinamon by name - who was being robbed of the joy of sitting on our knees! About 18 months ago she took offense at a second cat we took on as a favour to an elderly neighbour who had to go into care. Fluff cat, was old and insistent that she alone belonged on our knees. So Cinamon backed off with much bad humour. Fluff cat went to the happy hunting ground over a year ago - and still Cinamon held her grudge.
But one day a few weeks ago, I thought "Why is this animal still refusing to sit on our knee? The old one has died!" So I took her in my arms and spoke firmly and kindly close to her heart.... "Sweetie pie, I know you were offended by Fluff girl, but she is not here any more. She is gone! You can now sit on our knees anytime you want. In Jesus name I release you from this offense and say 'Get on our knees!' This is where you belong!"
I honestly did not think it through... it was just spontaneous... and I did not think about it any further.
But the next evening she walked along the back of the couch and then down my shoulder and onto my knee - where she slept for some time. She continues to get on my knee or David's knee. The problem has gone! I continue to be amazed... but should I? Are we not to speak life and order into all creation?
Mmm... what does this little 'parable' say about other 'injustices' and lacks we put up with?
Keep looking for his YES!

A new challenge

I find that every few months the Lord digs in and issues me a challenge. This time I heard it while listening to John Ortberg (from a Willow Creek Leadership Summit) speak about making disciples.

"Do we admire Jesus, or follow him? Are we impressed or devoted? Do we applaud or do we surrender? Do we approve or do we obey?"

He talked about having public convictions - what I say so you will think I believe.
Private convictions - what I think I believe (but what often fails me in a test!)
Core convictions - what the hard places of life reveal I truly DO believe! Owch!

This is my learning curve... observing my core convictions in a crisis/test... and speaking into the deep places of my soul the 'superior' truth. eg. The other day I was roundly criticised... and began to feel fearful - but then spoke to myself the following: "God always intends good for me - so Lord, I wait to see your goodness in this." It lifted my fearful soul out of the downward spiral and 'set me on a rock'. I am looking for his YES! in this confusing situation and enjoying the view!
Keep looking up!
Kath

Having ears to hear...

Welcome to this blog - a new venture to capture the divine 'yes' moments that bubble up daily. I find that having an ear to hearing God's YES keeps my heart singing, despite what life throws at me.
I recently went to the funeral of a former colleague, a sweet and gentle woman who died too early. She had a condition that came and went - and this time the complications were too much. Her husband, not known for inspired speech, touched us all by eloquently telling us about the visit he made with her to the hospital chapel. My friend was one who always struggled with the amount of suffering in the world. It caused her to doubt the love of God. At the end of the communion service she sat with a wonderful smile on her face, and she said to him, "I will never again doubt the love of God. It has washed over me with such reality just now - that I can never doubt it again." Within 18 hours she was dead.
What a merciful, loving God - to give him this wonderful assurance that his beloved wife is now totally emmersed in the perfect love of God forever.

Have you known the love of Jesus that fills and convinces your heart? Ask him to 'pour out his love upon you through the Spirit he has given.' Romans 5:5

Kath