Fountains of Life

Sometimes You Have to Step Backwards to Go Forwards

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Recently a house was torn down in our neighborhood. I don’t think anything was terribly wrong with it; they just wanted to build something bigger and better. So it was crushed and hauled off in pieces. Then even the foundation was dug up and all that concrete was removed too. Now it sits as a raw plot of land, untouched and ready to be built upon. 

Seeing this process take place the last few weeks reminded me of our first year on the mission field. We began pastoring a church formerly under a previous couple and, of course, we were different from them. Our ways of doing things weren’t the same so we lost many members at first. Actually, we got down to only a handful of people, but we had to create a new foundation from us, not from the previous pastors. Like the house, there was a tearing down before a building up.

Sometimes you have to step backwards — seemingly loosing ground or even destroying something — before you can move forwards and gain ground. At times it can be painful — the letting go, the releasing of the older/known/familiar past for the newer/unknown/unfamiliar future. 

I’ve been physically detoxing this past month and it’s been the same principle with my body. After a couple weeks off of sugar, breads, dairy, and other stuff, my body reacted in not a kind way. I had cramps, headaches, and felt horrible for a few days. On the surface this looked like I was going the wrong direction, but I had to get worse before I could get better. My body went through purging out all this bad stuff I had in me till I could get cleaned out and feel better. Now I’ve reset a superior foundation to build my health on.

God even used this principle with the flood. He “cleaned out” the earth — just took Noah and his family and rebuilt from there. Of course, He put a rainbow up to remind us He’ll never do that again, however, the principle of going backwards in order to move forward happens in everything. 

Even as I write this post, I can simply highlight and delete whatever I’m not happy with and start over. Clean slate. Cleared lot. New foundation. 

You can’t put new wine in old wineskins. (Matt.9:17) In certain situations you might can build on previous foundations but if it’s gonna be bigger, better, stronger and improved, you need something new to base it on. Don’t waste the new wine in those old wineskins. 

My dear reader, you may have to step backwards before you can move forwards, but remember — it’s progress and you’re still advancing. 

Anointing Flows From the Head

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Ps. 133 — Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running don on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountain of Zion; for there the Lord commanded the blessing — life evermore!

I love this psalm. It explains how spiritual authority works. And with so many things happening in this world right now, it’s good to be aware of how this principle operates.

Biblically speaking, oil represents anointing. Mary, in John 12:3, anointed Jesus’ feet with expensive oil then wiped them with her hair. Exodus 29:5-7 explains some of the priestly anointing process of Aaron, where they put on him the breastplate and poured anointing oil over his head. “At his consecration the high priest symbolized unity—he bore on his breastplate the names of all twelve tribes, so when the oil depicting the grace of God was poured on him, it ‘flowed on’ all the tribes.” Those under his spiritual authority received blessings. 

My dear reader, this is simply a principle. It’s like sowing and reaping, if you sow, you’ll reap. And whatever you sow, you’ll reap — be it good or bad. And as a principle, it works in all of life. Whatever anointing is at the “head,” it will flow down upon the rest. Maybe it’s a deceitful CEO; if so, there will be deceit and fraud throughout the company because that’s the standard he/she has set for others. If it’s an honest, transparent leader, then those underneath will fall under that model. 

I once had a Bible teacher in 9th grade who was wonderful. Our class was going through all the books written by the Apostle Paul. Mr. Schottletner, my teacher, very much encouraged us to state our views and interpretation of the scriptures without condemnation or judgment, yet he led us to the truth of the Word. To this day I remember him because of his openness to silly and sometimes rude and obstinate teenagers, while gently guiding us into truth. His precious anointing of patience and humility flowed blessings onto his students. 

As an adult I had a job where at one point I was asked by my boss to falsify documents (basically lie) to be able to return some product. Afterwards I quit that job because what “flowed from the head” was, for me, corrupt and unethical and I didn’t feel comfortable in that job anymore.

So whether it be a scout leader, an executive, or even a president, their anointing will flow down from their authority onto us followers — one of the reasons we need to choose wisely who we will follow, and another good reason to observe how we ourselves lead. Whatever standard a leader presents, those under them will conform and present a unified front in agreement.

The Word tells us that Christ is the head of the church. (Eph. 1:22) As we, the body of Christ, follow and submit to Him, His anointing will flow down upon us creating unity and blessings. 

 

By Cyndi

Am I Insignificant?

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We’re exhorted in the Word not to think too highly of ourselves and that’s true, we shouldn’t. (Rom. 12:3) However, I’d like to point out that sometimes we don’t think we’re significant enough to merit much at all — questioning sometimes whether God could even use us. 

As I was reading through the book of Acts the other day, I came across a story I didn’t really remember. It was just a few verses regarding Paul’s nephew, the son of his sister. In chapter 23, verses 12-33, this young man heard about a plot to kill his uncle Paul. Paul was imprisoned because the Jewish leaders didn’t like him preaching about Jesus. He had been interrogated once, yet not found guilty, so a plan was devised to bring him before the Sanhedrin again supposedly for more interrogation. However,  about 40 men vowed to murder him on the way there. What a devious scheme! 

Having perceived this plan, the nephew told his uncle, who in turn brought him before a centurion, who in turn brought him to the commander who was in charge of Paul in jail, since Paul was a Roman citizen. And to this commander the young man told of the evil plot. Long story short, Paul’s life was spared. 

Now we don’t even know the name of Paul’s nephew, yet he played a significant role in saving his life. This story is just several verses in a very large Book, but imagine how small this Book would have been had Paul’s life ended here! 

This made me think — none of us are insignificant. None. God individually created us for our own specific roles. Not only do we not look alike, but we don’t talk alike, we don’t dress alike, we don’t think alike, and we don’t behave alike. And we’re not supposed to. We each have a unique purpose. Yes — you have a purpose! You are not insignificant! I can’t do what you do and you can’t do what I do. So you be you and I’ll be me!  

Look at what Paul’s nephew did! In one sense what he did was very small and simple — he told the truth about something he’d heard to those in authority. Yet the ramifications of this small message was huge! In that sense, what he did was tremendous! It not only saved his uncle’s life, but it affected the lives of millions of people afterwards for years. And we are still feeling it’s effect now!

So dear reader, I tell you sincerely — you matter! You’re important! You’re just like Paul’s nephew. You are NOT insignificant! You are fearfully and wonderfully made (Ps. 139:14) and God has a plan for your life! (Jer. 29:11) Now go be you. 

The Necessity of Community

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Flying back from the Dominican Republic recently I was reading a short but interesting book called The Longevity Book, by Kale Brock. In it he speaks of the four pillars of longevity and wellness: nutrition, community, movement, and attitude. It was a great read for the plane ride yet what I couldn’t stop thinking about was the importance of community that he spoke of and especially its impact in a time like now in 2020.

With pandemic messages and statistics throughout the media, and much fear and anxiety throughout the world, I thought, “Lord Jesus, this is a time, not only when we need You, but we need each other more!” There are ways to “gather” as a community — perhaps through internet, phones, social distancing or somehow — but we desperately need to stay connected to one another. If we don’t, the results are tragic. A friend of mine told me her friend’s daughter has been biting her lips raw because of anxiety. Those who are binge-watching TV are gaining weight. People are stressed and worried! Meanwhile, our health and happiness are being damaged by the lack of community!

I reflect back on our Dominican Republic trip, where, at the church,everyone wore masks yet still fisted or elbow pumped one another. We sang our hearts out together, praised the Lord, and danced and rejoiced in God’s goodness. Sanitary rules were followed the whole time and our lives were enriched through fellowship. We communed with one another. It was sweet.

After this wonderful church service we had the joy of hanging out with one of the pastors and his wife at their home. We nibbled on chicharron and drank freshly made papaya and guanabana shakes as we sat in their patio telling stories, laughing, and simply enjoying the rain falling onto the metal roof. What a refreshing time it was! And all because of community. 

I’m truly thankful for our Dominican friends and the community of Christian brothers and sisters, and my goal is to somehow continue this same semblance of fellowship here in the States, especially in these trying times. 

Dear reader, our lives truly depend on community and I believe these verses in Ecclesiastes say it well: 

Two are better than one because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up. (Ecc.4:9,10)

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By Cyndi

Heart Blockages

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This week I went with my mom to her cardiologist. She’s in the process of getting tested to see if she has A-fib or not. Apparently your heart pumping too slow is just as bad as your heart going too fast, for when it’s too slow, it allows the blood to pool up — stagnate — and cause a clot to form. Of course, we know this could possibly produce a heart attack or stroke, which is why my mom’s doctor is checking it out. Heart blockages are not a good thing.

As I sat in the doctor’s office looking at all the posters about clogged arteries and such, I was reminded of something I’d read earlier this week by Laurence Freeman about sin. He says, “…if we see that sin is something that blocks us rather than being the breaking of a rule …. then we begin to see that God doesn’t punish us.” It’s not about the anger of the Lord falling upon us sinful people, it’s about a blockage keeping us from having a continuous relationship with Him.

What a wonderful analogy right before my eyes in this sterile room!

Sin stops the flow of life between us and God — it pools up like blood in an artery, makes a clot and gets in the way of us communicating back and forth with our Abba Father. It has nothing to do with any punishment from Him, for He is Love. (1Jn. 4:8) He’s not about trying to find fault with us, penalize us, or cause pain because of something we said or did. Now sometimes we may suffer the consequences of our own actions, but that’s simply the principle of sowing and reaping being played out. As Laurence Freeman also states, “Sin contains its own punishment.“

We merely create a heart blockage when we sin. Our hearts aren’t open and free to hear the Holy Spirit clearly and — as I’ve had some blockages of my own this week — we tend to not walk in the fruits of the Spirit much either. (Yes, my behavior in traffic situations this week have produced some rotten fruit out of me!) But…BUT…the good news is there’s an easy fix. An easy remedy!

Repentance clears out all the clotting! It’s quicker than any outpatient procedure and works better than a pacemaker! Repent and forgive. Blood will flow freely from our heart through our arteries when there are no blockages. So goes it with our relationship with God. (And yes, my friend, I did humbly repent!)

Hear me, dear reader, it’s not about punishment. It’s not about His love being withheld from you. He’s promised there’s nothing that could EVER possibly separate us from His love! (Rom. 8:38,39) (Yes, I was kind of shouting there!) 

His life — His blood — is in us. May we fervently choose to remove any blockages hindering that precious flow in order to live as a living, breathing example of His heart of love on this earth.