Shabbat Shalom

May His glory rest on you as you rest in Him this Shabbat...


Art used by Pat Marvenko Smith, copyright 1992. To order prints visit her "Revelation Illustrated" site, http://revelationillustrated.com/.

Ir David

That is... The City of David...

The story of the City of David began over 3,000 years ago, when King David left the city of Hebron for a small hilltop city known as Jerusalem, establishing it as the unified capital of the tribes of Israel. Years later, David's son, King Solomon, built the First Temple next to the City of David on top of Mount Moriah, the site of the binding of Isaac, and with it, this hilltop became one of the most important sites in the world. (From the http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/ website)

In case you didn't catch it, the City of David is the original Jerusalem... a "baby Jerusalem" if you will. The city before it became The City.

Standing outside this city a couple of years ago, I must say, the actual site is, shall we say... not so impressive. Especially after spending 9 days looking at old cities, it really just looked like another old city. Sorry, it's just not my thing ;-) Now, don't get me wrong; I was all kinds of properly reverent regarding the historical significance, etc, but looking around I had pretty much the same sense I had on the whole trip: "He ain't here" (well, at least not in any way that He isn't with me all the time!)

But as we listened to the lecture on the City of David, I looked over at my new friend Renae, and over her head, way up in the sky, was a sweet little sight that made me smile:

Look closely... do you see the tiny rainbow? :) Today, as I ponder "baby" Echo, and how singularly unspectacular we kind of are (again, don't get me wrong, you all know I ADORE this little body!)... I ponder that little rainbow over little old Ir David, and I remember God's promise... of a New and Glorious City-to-Come... and a New Day, a Shabbat for us to enter, and a New Name that will rest as a gentle blessing on the heads of those who "have a little power, and have kept (His) word, and have not denied His name." (Rev 3:8-12)
Stand firm, little Echo. Remember His promises, keep His Word, persevere, and do not give in to the temptation to deny His name...
And this weekend, may you Shabbat in Shalom. You are loved.

Shabbat Shalom Lecha Dodi

"Shabbat Shalom Lecha Dodi" that is, Sabbath peace to You, my Beloved.

All over the world, people are welcoming the "Sabbath Bride," a mystical personification of the Sabbath. This notion of a Sabbath Bride or Queen has deep roots in the Scriptural understanding of this lovely Day that our Lord looks forward to with intense delight.

He longs for the Wedding Feast, and the Day in which the Bridegroom whispers to His Bride, "Come, lie down with me in Rest." And She responds, "Willingly, my Beloved!"

May we also call His Sabbath a delight, as we look forward to His Coming. And until then, may our relationship with the Father continue to blossom...

Precious Lord, take my hand, lead me on, let me stand
I am tired, I am weak, I am worn
Thru the storm, through the night, lead me on to the Light
Take my hand, Precious Lord, lead me home.

Ah Precious Lord, I know how prone I am to wander, to skip ahead, or to lag behind. Hold my hand, Dear Papa... let me walk with You. And please don't let go of my hand.

Until all this is sorted out, and we behold the Beloved face to face... Let us greet each Sabbath with faith, hope, and love... Faith that He has paid our Bride-price, hope in His return, and Love... Love for Him first, above and before anyone or anything else.

Erchamcha, Adonai... (I love You Lord) and Shabbat Shalom to YOU, my Beloved!

Oh... heh heh... and to you too, all you Echoes near and far. You are loved.

Shalom...

May His light shine brightly for you... this Shabbat, this season, this year...

may you be encouraged as you refuse to kindle your own fires... may His presence engulf you and may you find rest in Him.

Shabbat Shalom, Echo!

shalomy shabbot to you courtesy of echo west!

Blessed are the peacemakers...

Matthew 5:9 "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God."

Peacemakers... eireno-poioi ... makers of peace. poieo is the Greek word used for Creating in the LXX. It's doing, making, creating, manufacturing, producing, causing, accomplishing.

Blessed are those who produce peace (as a fruit, a la Gal 5).
Blessed are those who create a safe, peaceful place for others to rest.
Blessed are those who accomplish peace through keeping short accounts with God (1 John 1:9), refusing to go to bed angry (Eph 4:26), preserving unity (Eph 4:3), and forgiving each other (Col 3:13-14).

Blessed how? "They shall be called sons of God," receiving inheritance alongside the Firstborn...

"For a child will be born to us...And His name will be called ...PRINCE OF PEACE." Isaiah 9:6

Let us follow this Prince of Peace in all things, especially in this making of peace during this season we celebrate as the one heralded by the angels: "Peace on earth..." (Luke 2:14)

Doesn't matter if we are "clever enough" to know that this probably isn't when the Word took on flesh. Rather than squabbling about dates and times and seasons, let us concern ourselves with "Righteousness, Peace, and Joy in the Holy Spirit" (Rom 14:17) which is how Paul defines the kingdom of God, which we are to pursue FIRST (Matt 6:33).

As Shabbat ends, receive this exhortation to move from resting in peace (shabbat shalom) to working out peace in our relationships and in our world.

Okay, go.

Shabbat Sha... lamb?

"He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom, and shall gently lead those that are with young." Isa 40:11

May you be increasingly aware of your true Shepherd...

Shabbat shalom! May "peace be in your walls" that is, may you be a place of safety for others because you have taken refuge in the true and eternal Ark... The Name by which we are saved. Rest well Echo. See you soon!

Shabbat shalom...
Not sure how to share with you the peace (shalom...safety and security) of this moment. A few quiet minutes, no pressing agenda, just a conversation with our Father while i hang out at starbucks. What are we talking about? Only this:
Ah, you are loved, Echo! Be at peace with Him, with eachother, and with yourselves!
"Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons of God!" Matt 5:9
May you make shalom with eachother and rest well in Him this shabbat! May His Spirit bear witness with yours that you are His...as you call out to Him, your Abba, your Daddy, your Papa.
{sigh}
Again i say, you are loved!

Rest in Peace

This Saturday, whether you are...
...or more like this...


...may His presence delight you, and may His Word be your food.

Shabbat Shalom

Hearing...

I loved Toni's post about hearing, and making sure we are "shamaing" the right voice.

Thank God that He DEFINITELY speaks through His Written Torah!

I shared with a friend last night that I've finally gotten to a point where I don't read His Word because I "have" to... I read because I HAVE to... it's my breath, my fuel, my food. It grows and strengthens me in Him even as it breaks my heart and tears down my self-sufficiency.

It wasn't always like this, though. I once heard someone share that they had gotten to this point, and I realized I was very far from it... so what happened? I asked Him to change me. "Simple" as that! And He has a way of responding to such prayers...

Thank You Lord for Your Word... truly we can say:

"This is the bread we have been given
The covenant law from God's own hand
By this law we learn to love
Lead us now into Your way"
Teach us how to Love, Lord...AMEN

Eat well today, Echo, and rest well in His tent. Shabbat Shalom... you are loved...
October 31, 2008 8:12 AM

shabbat shalom echo north!
(photo courtesy of echo south)

Sukkot Shalom!

May you rest in His sukkah... His booth... as you find sweetness in His Sabbath this week!

Shabbat Shalom...

This is about as clear as it gets sometimes! But even this is temporary. The sun WILL shine through and the fog WILL lift. Just wait...oh wait, i say, on YHWH. Ps 27

Shabbat Shalom!

Shabbat flowers! Flopped for a nap, i look up & there are the flowers toni gave me. Dont they look nice, even from this angle?
Flowers fade and die quickly, and our lives are but a breath, but each brief life may be a container for something of God. These flowers spent who knows how long growing and then being processed and packaged and chosen and purchased and repackaged. Once received they rode with me to work and sat on my desk then back out to the car for a drive to detroit then waterford then finally fenton where they will spend the next few days on my windowsill before they are thrown away.
A meaningless existence, short, without value? no! They contain God's beauty not only in visual glory but even more in love expressed received & enjoyed. And now they also teach us a little about the value of appreciating the temporary and fragile NOW, for in THIS moment He speaks and it is with THIS breath i praise Him even as i close my eyes for a sweet sabbath-afternoon nap. C u 2mro Echo!

Still my heart will say
Blessed be Your Name!

May your joy and peace be found in the Lord. He is your light...may He be your Sabbath rest. May He find you content to lie down with Him in His pasture, secure and at perfect peace as your mind is fixed on Him!

Shabbat shalom Echo!

"...hidden in Christ..."
It is what it is. Some days you are ok just going incognito.

May it be His glory to conceal us, and our glory to reveal Him to others!

Shabbat shalom!

Z-Z-Z-Z-Z-Z

It's been a looooong week! (I know you're all nodding) Thank the Lord it's Sabbath! Take a load off and rest. The Shepherd's got your back, it's all good. He knows His little sheep are tuckered out. Shabbat Shalom fellow flock members of ECF!

...He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul...

Good Sabbath ECF

May you each rest in His presence as you cast aside all the business and worries of this week. He's waiting, go, take rest and comfort in Him and in this set apart holy time. Shabbat Shalom ECF.