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About Daniel

Follower of Christ, Author, Musician Though I have been a "Christian" for so many years, in many ways I feel life with Christ is a quest in with many troubles and dangers. It is frightfully more dangerous than anyone ever told me at the outset. Any "true" adventure would be, wouldn't it? This blog is about the adventure of discovery in this quest to follow the one who forged the path to life and true love so many years ago. I have found that the epic rescuing story of Jesus is far more relevant to you and I than we give it credit.

The Mystic One – Chapter One

Posted on December 4, 2024 by Daniel

“Poppy, with your book, just spread the love of Jesus.” — Emma, age 11

Message From Jesus

Prelude – Captain’s log, stardate: 10182021

One morning I awoke to Jesus standing at my bedside.  How long was he watching me sleep? With a huge smile on his face, reflecting an infectious joy bursting from his being, he spoke: “Daniel, Go and tell all your friends that if they want to get to know me…” 

At this point, Jesus showed me a vision of me holding up a Bible open to the Gospel of John pointing to chapter one. 

Jesus began to share this message: 

“Marinate your mind in this Gospel.  Just as Namaan immersed himself seven times in the Jordan River to receive healing for his physical leprosy (a deadly lack of feeling and sensitivity), so now immerse yourself and marinate your mind in the truth of this Gospel to receive healing for your spiritual leprosy. Refresh yourself in this life-giving message of the Gospel of John as many times as it takes and receive all the healing you need.” 

Knowing Jesus Christ is Everything! 

I am interested in discovering what the Apostle Paul was on about when he said, “Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christand become one with him.” (Philippians 3:8-11 NLT)

Are you curious to know for yourself the “infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus” that Paul was so obsessed with? Are you curious what it means to “become one with Christ”? 

Me too.

Jesus said, “If you want to get to know me…” 

Ball’s in your court 🎾 

ACTIVATION:

The Gospel of John is a witness, a testimony, with the express purpose of connecting you in relationship with Jesus. Written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit by Jesus’ close and dear friend John, who identified himself as, “the disciple whom Jesus loved”, this Gospel’s purpose is that we might know we possess “eternal life” (John 20:31, 1 John 5:13). Jesus defines eternal life as an experiential knowing — as a relationship — with his Father and with himself (John 17:3). John presents Jesus as the One who is eternal Life (1 John 5:20). 

Your Challenge: 

Schedule at least two hours (and yes, I just googled: “How long does it take to read the Gospel of John?”) where you can be alone and undisturbed. Grab a Bible, (I would suggest a good readable translation such as the New Living Translation or The Passion Translation) and read through the entire Gospel of John! And, most importantly, never forget to invite the Author, the always present and available Holy Spirit of Truth who always leads us into all truth, to reveal Jesus and elucidate his Word to you as you read.

———

“CUT!” <end scene>

“Okay, that’s a wrap people. I think he nailed it. We were worried that he was going to get a little preachy and pretentious, but he pared it down quite a bit in the plethora of edits, making so many improvements by removing all of his sass, and most importantly, he seems to have remembered that he actually loves people. I think the opening quote from his daughter is going to help guide the message and tone of the book in a really good direction that we can all get behind. I think Jesus would be proud. And who knows, Daniel seems to think they will go for this challenge…”

p.s.

I am reminded of the time when Jesus knocked the religious wind out of me (in much the same way as when Fezzik knocked the wind out of Wesley… you know, in that scene in the movie Princess Bride, when Fezzik slams Wesley back against the rock wall to dislodge Wesley because Wesley was on his back slowly choking him out to put him to sleep? Remember?) with the following verse from the Gospel of John some 20+ years ago:

“You have your heads in your Bibles constantly because you think you’ll find eternal life there. But you miss the forest for the trees. These Scriptures are all about me! And here I am, standing right before you, and you aren’t willing to receive from me the life you say you want.” — John 5:39, The Message

Okay, so that was definitely NOT the translation I first read it in… but, I like it! 

Here’s the version I first read it in:

“You search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life; and these are they which testify of Me. But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.” — John 5:39 NKJV

Basically, what this Scripture is saying is that you are holding up your bible in front of Jesus’ face while simultaneously wondering where Jesus is. (That last sentence was from my daughter Emma.) I have now come to see, based on what Jesus says, that the Scriptures are not enough. You need more! You need what the Scriptures have always been “testifying of”!

My point is this:

“The Bible is the treasure map. Jesus is the treasure.”

It is known that first century life in Israel was very religious. Every boy was raised in a religious community that met in synagogue every Sabbath with the reading of the Scriptures. Every man was trained to the point where they could read from the Tanakh, and were expected to, beginning at the age of thirty. This is why Jesus was thirty years of age before he began his public ministry.

And yet, in spite of this biblically literate population of first century Jews, the Gospel of John informs us that Jesus, “came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him.He came to his own people, and even they rejected him.” (John 1:10-11 NLT) 

As Paul Young says, “When Jesus showed up he was not recognizable inside the paradigm that religion had constructed.” Our paradigms… our perspectives through which we view reality, have always been the problem. Our sight needs healing but we cannot be healed from our blindness if we still claim we can see (John 9). 

All that to say, the reality of Jesus is WAY beyond and far superior to the mere curriculum of the Scriptures, all of which were only intended to introduce you to the very real experience of his friendship! (According to Jesus).  

This is NOT however intended in any form or fashion to dismiss, denigrate, disparage, or even to dissuade you from making a lifelong study of every word of Scripture! Memorize the whole blessed thing! There is no fault in loving God with all your mind! It’s part of the GREATEST commandment!

“One of them (a Pharisee), an expert in religious law, tried to trap him (Jesus) with this question: 

“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?”

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. — Matthew 22:36-38 NLT

 Saul (who we have now come to know as the apostle Paul), a disciple of the renowned rabbi Gamaliel, and a self proclaimed Pharisee of Pharisees, no doubt was well familiar with the whole of Scripture. But, with all of his religious zeal and devotion, and memorized Scripture, did he love God with all his heart, all his soul, and all his mind? 

His legacy is as one who formerly persecuted followers of Christ, hunting them like the SS of the Nazi regime and hounding them to imprisonment and even death. That is, until he encountered Jesus on the road to Damascus. 

You know what I’m thinking? I’m thinking that since this is a book dedicated to encounters with Jesus, we ought to honor the apostle Paul’s encounter with Jesus by devoting some space right here and now to Paul’s encounter with Jesus! (I probably could have saved some space in this book by trimming the fat off of that previous sentence… and definitely NOT including this current sentence that you are, in fact, right now reading, about me explaining how I should have more thoroughly edited the previous sentence… which you have to admit, was not really quite as efficient as it should or could have been written… in my opinion… actually, when I think about it, this whole paragraph could likely be deleted and no one would even miss it. Does it say anything useful at all? At this point I would likely argue that humor is always useful and this very lengthy paragraph does amuse me… I find it cathartic to ramble on so and torment my readers with my trivial sense of humor… tra-la-la.)

And so, without any further ado, the conversion of the apostle Paul:

“But Saul, still breathing threats and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priestand asked for letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. As he traveled, he got close to Damascus, and suddenly a light from the sky shone around him. He fell on the earth, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”

He said, “Who are you, Lord?”

The Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It’s hard for you to kick against the cattle prods. Rise up and enter into the city, then you will be told what you must do.”

The men who traveled with him stood speechless, hearing the sound, but seeing no one. Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened, he saw no one. They led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. He was without sight for three days, and neither ate nor drank.

Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias!”

He said, “Behold, it’s me, Lord.”

The Lord said to him, “Arise, and go to the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judah for one named Saul, a man of Tarsus. For behold, he is praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and laying his hands on him, that he might receive his sight.”

But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to your saints at Jerusalem. Here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”

But the Lord said to him, “Go your way, for he is my chosen vessel to bear my name before the nations and kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake.”

Ananias departed and entered into the house. Laying his hands on him, he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord, who appeared to you on the road by which you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he received his sight. He arose and was baptized. He took food and was strengthened. Saul stayed several days with the disciples who were at Damascus. Immediately in the synagogues he proclaimed the Christ, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were amazed, and said, “Isn’t this he who in Jerusalem made havoc of those who called on this name? And he had come here intending to bring them bound before the chief priests!”

But Saul increased more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived at Damascus, proving that this is the Christ…”

(and then… and then… there was this whole plot to murder him… and then…etc…etc… and, don’t you wish you could read the rest of the story for yourself? Well, have I got news for you! You can! Paul’s story (as well as all of his supporting cast and crew, past, present, and future) has been published and is widely circulated in this book called the Bible. What you just read was from Acts chapter 9:1-22 in the WEB 🕸️ translation. All the spidermen of the multiverse convened at the council of “Let’s make a translation that is practically copyright and hassle free for people (such as Daniel) to copy and paste large portions of into another book that someone (likely named Daniel) is going to write, so that he doesn’t have to worry about getting sued by a Bible translation company” and made the WEB translation. Very nice of you guys! Thanks Peter Parkers! Thanks Spidermen! We love y’all!)

Jesus partnered with and inspired Saul, (who we know as Paul), to write a huge portion of the New Covenant (the New Testament). God enlivened and restored every bit of that investment Saul made in God’s word; for as the Scripture says, “My word does not return void but accomplishes the purpose for which I sent it.” And what is the purpose for which God has sent his word? Jesus enlightens us regarding this in the Gospel of John:

For I did not speak on My own, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me a commandment as to what to say and what to speak. And I know that His commandment is eternal life; therefore the things I speak, I speak just as the Father has told Me.” — John 12:49-50 NASB

Father’s command is eternal life! Well isn’t that somethin’? Maybe we should look into that? Perhaps we ought to even do like a research project on this… ya know?

<I want to, at this point, wrap up this chapter by telling you of one of my encounters with the Gospel of John that saved my life:>

I thought I was LOST… like, for good. Do you know what that feels like? If you do, I am SO sorry! But, not to worry, I am your poster boy of hope. Yes, there is hope for the lost! Here is my story (at least one of the many thousands of stories you’ll likely find interesting):

I was reading the Gospel of John one day many, many, moons ago, (this was definitely before Blockbuster and Radio Shack went out of business, and perhaps even before Al Gore invented the internet) looking for a loophole in the Scripture for Daniel to find salvation… and I found it! It was right there in John 6:37:

“However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them.” — Jesus, John 6:37 NLT

Jesus, who cannot lie, has promised to receive (and NOT reject) ALL who come to him! 

“I am coming to you, Jesus! Ha! In your face, Jesus! No matter what kind of a jerk you and I both suspect I am, you can’t get rid of me now! You HAVE to receive me! You promised! Even if I turn out to be an incorrigible  brat like that boy in the book “The Ransom of Red Chief”and totally drive you crazy!”

I actually thought I caught Jesus in THE GREATEST cosmic mystical glorious loophole of any century… an’ dag’gummit, I was tickled pink!

“He tricked hisself into guaranteeing my acceptance… and I caught him! Can you believe that? …I feel SO smart! I feel like Sherlock Holmes er somethin’!”

Okay… so, I admit, that was my broken perspective at the time.

The truth is, (and Jesus backs me up on this point), I am a gift to Jesus from the Father. The Father gave me to Jesus. This is shown by the fact that I came to Jesus. The Father doesn’t give crap gifts to his Son. He only gives good gifts to his Son. 

“You, Daniel, are a good gift to my Son,” Father declares.

Father says the same to you:

“You,             _______ (<— insert your name here), are a good gift to my Son, Jesus.”

And Jesus promises to give eternal life to all those who the Father has given him… ALL those who come to him. Here is the evidence:

“Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him. And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.” — Jesus, John 17:2-3 NKJV

These verses, and much much more, from the Gospel of John have formed a proof, like a mathematical proof from geometry class, so that I can know with absolute certainty that I possess eternal life! 

I am IN!!! I am secure in the love and care of my Good Shepherd and my loving Papa! I am secure and safe in his family and this shall never be revoked… an’ y’all are IN too!!!

You can have this same assurance!

Say it with me:

“I am secure in the love and care of my Good Shepherd and my loving Papa.” 

The Gospel of John saved my life! Jesus restored me to LIFE… just like Lazarus, he has brought me back to life (John 11), by the power of his word! I now know Jesus, the Mystic One, who is my Salvation!

You can too! Are you up for that Gospel of John reading challenge?

p.p.s.

I appreciate you taking the time to read this. I appreciate you! I do have a request… would you pray for me? Send me some positive vibes… a warm thought… thank Jesus for me. Would you download a sample of this book? At the time of this writing there are links at daniellovett.com to take you to thechristianmystic.org where you can download the free sample of The Mystic One (it is currently titled The Christian Mystic, sorry for the confusion on that point. God told me to rename it.)

If you want to go above and beyond, please consider subscribing to my Youtube channel “Awakening with Daniel Lovett“, please like and share this brand new first chapter. Leave me a comment here or on the Youtube channel to tell me what you think!

You are loved! You are seen! You are appreciated! You are honored! You are!

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What Matters Most?

Posted on February 19, 2024 by Daniel

In this clip from a speech, Brad Pitt says:

“I don’t know if any of what we do matters in the end. What I do know that matters is the people we hitch ourselves to and the indelible mark they leave upon our very being. I was reading a passage recently where a character was asking, “Which is most important, the journey or the destination?” and the other replied, “It’s the company.” And I couldn’t agree more.”

I have watched many Youtube shorts and this one made such an impression upon me to such a degree that it merited a blog post – an investment of a few hours of my day writing and refining a proper reflection and response. (Buy me a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/daniellovett)

So let’s address the first thing Brad says: “I don’t know if any of what we do matters in the end.”

Ecclesiastes is a book Solomon wrote that begins by declaring everything meaningless. There is a verse in Ecclesiastes that says, “Most of what God has given for us to do is busywork”.

My response and question to this remark is this: Are there things God allows us to do that are more than meaningless and beyond the busywork? Are we capable of activity that is elevated beyond simply the maintenance of our own existence?

I shared this clip with my songwriting class yesterday and asked them these questions. As a wholistic songwriting coach who is interested in writing songs that matter, I wish to impress upon my students that songs come from who you are. Songs come from an inspired place within your soul that are in touch with the Divine Source of all inspiration. We write songs that matter with Jesus as our songwriting partner. As he said, “Apart from me, you can do nothing… and I have appointed you to bear much fruit… fruit that will remain.”

Jesus, or in his own language, Yeshua, is introduced by his best friend John as the Logos in John 1:1

Logos can be translated as “Meaning”.

Ha! Isn’t that something? Yeshua is the One who brings meaning to our existence. But the only way this is going to happen for anyone is found in a phrase that Solomon includes at the end of his treatise on the meaning of human existence: to “fear God”. I bring this up because I must. This was a hard learned lesson I have often reflected upon in my 47 cycles around the sun.

Solomon wrote: “And this is the end of the matter: Fear God and keep his commands.”

Is he hinting at his discovery of what does bring meaning to life? Is he finally declaring, as a service to humanity, what actually matters?

I have learned in my studies that to “fear God” means “reverential trust”. Reverence means to give Jesus the proper respect that is due him. He is Lord. He’s the boss. He is the Master. He is the Leader in the Divine Dance of Life. We let him lead. We submit to him as our Master. He is the only Master Jedi… the only One… and we are all the Jedi apprentice padawans. He is the Husband and we are the submissive humble wife in this scenario.

The Lord greeted me one Sunday morning with the words: “Today I am going to teach you about the fear of the Lord.”

“Okay”, I responded… and waited for him to say more.

“Later…” he replied.

I went off to church and a few minutes before going on the stage to lead the church in worship, he spoke: “Okay, it’s like this…”

“Wow… okay.. so this is happening now. Great!”

“The fear of the Lord is exampled by what John said about me”, Jesus said, “Recall when he said of me, ‘He must increase and I must decrease’? He humbled himself and became small so that I could loom large… You do the same.”

And so I did. I got out of the way that day and Jesus loomed large. We had a brilliant and powerful time of anointed worship.

May Jesus loom large in our life today. Say it with me would you?

“Jesus, loom large in my life today.”

Ask Jesus to lead your dance of life. As the Scripture says, “Set apart Jesus as Lord in your life.”

The second part of Solomon’s prescription was: “Keep his commands”. I love how John highlighted this in his first letter when he reminded us of Jesus parting words to his disciples before going to the cross: “Love one another… love one another as I have loved you.” John added that “his commands are not burdensome.” Indeed, hasn’t Jesus promised that his yoke (his teaching) is easy and his burden (what he commands) is light?

So what can we do that matters? Is it possible to focus our entire lives around what matters? Can we saturate our days with love? Repeat after me:

“Yes we can!”

Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you.” This means we are hitched to him to work with and alongside him. He is the lead ox in this scenario. Anything we do that matters (including writing songs that matter) are only going to happen with Jesus as the one we hitch ourselves to. He is ultimately the one who brings the meaning to our life as we keep company with him.

“What if we hitched ourselves to Jesus? What if he is, first and foremost, the company we keep? What would it look like to have Jesus as you best friend?”

I am reminded of a few Scriptures. One verse talks about how God has promised never to leave us or forsake us. Jesus says, “I am with you always”. This means that Jesus is already upholding his side of this friendship. He is keeping company with us. You already possess an amazing relationship with God and it’s not your fault:

“So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends with God.” Romans 5:11 NLT

In Revelation 3:10 Jesus, when speaking to believers says, “I stand at the door and knock. Whoever hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and we’ll share a meal together as friends.”

The veil has been torn. We all have access to the holy of holies. This is what some call the secret place where we can fellowship with Jesus and our loving Father in ABSOLUTE Peace. Safe. Secure. “Wrapped in the arms of your Father’s tender hug”. (Those are lyrics I wrote today for a new song I am calling Love Psalm 2024.)

What does that mean to you?

It says to me that I you and I have been purchased at a very high price. You and I have been valued by the blood of God’s only begotten Son, our best friend Yeshua. You and I have been made holy. You and I have One who is responsible for us. Our Creator, our Good Shepherd and Overseer of our soul, has taken responsibility for us. We are safe in his care.

I encourage everyone to open the door and invite Jesus in.

Holy Spirit seems to be indicating to me that Jesus is making a reference to Song of Solomon in that revelation 3:10 verse. Is this really to be interpreted as a Divine romance between each and every one of us and God? Is Jesus not spoken of as our Groom? Are we not spoken of as the Bride? It seems he is hinting at the fact that we are more than friends. To what level of intimacy does Jesus want with each and every one of us?

I invited my songwriting class kids to ask God this question:

“Jesus, what kind of relationship do you want to have with me?”

I invited them to inquire of their own heart:

“What kind of relationship do I want with God?”

I reminded them that you can have as close of a relationship with God as you have ever witnessed anyone have with Jesus. Even in Scripture. God is no respecter of persons. Elijah was a man just like us. Jesus best friend John was a man just like us. You too can be the disciple whom Jesus loves.

I was in a nursing home this morning doing a concert and, before I started, I observed a woman lean over to another woman who could no longer talk and said, “I love you. You are my very best friend. I love you.” She said this just to make her feel loved and special that day. She meant it. I closed my eyes to take it in so this moment could leave an indelible mark in my memory. It’s moments like this that make you realize what matters in life. The love you give. The genuine love you give.

John wrote, “Those who live in love, live in God and God in them.”

If you have found any of this inspiring, connect with Jesus to receive more revelation on this.

To wrap this blog post up I’d like to share the lyrics of another song I wrote:

Who You Are

VERSE 1:
I feel safe when I’m with you
And after all that we’ve been through
You’ve proven yourself worthy of my heart

So I’m practicing your Presence
And I lay down all my resistance
To experience the joy of who you are

CHORUS:   Who you are, who you are, who you are, Jesus (2x)

VERSE 2:
Great and Merciful High Priest
You’re the One who always sees
Every need within my soul, you satisfy

In your love I’m born again
My Good shepherd, my best friend
Always when I see you, I can’t deny

CHORUS:    Who you are, who you are, who you are, Jesus (2x)

BRIDGE :   You are the only One, my destiny,  my meant to be         
You are the only One,  who I adore, who I’m meant for 

VERSE 3:
So I’m practicing your Presence
And I lay down all my defenses
To experience the joy of who you are… 

CHORUS:     Who you are, who you are, who you are, Jesus (2x)

BRIDGE :   You are the only One, my destiny,  my meant to be         
You are the only One,  who I adore, who I’m meant for 

(Buy me a coffee here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/daniellovett)

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Songwriting Class

Posted on January 31, 2024 by Daniel

My wife and I have both been donating our time to a co-op homeschool group as teachers. I had the honor of teaching a group of students about songwriting this past fall semester 2023. It was epic! We met every other week through the Fall and wrote two group songs by the end of the season. I will be recording the songs and releasing them on Youtube (because once you create a work of art, you have a responsibility to share it). We performed the songs for the whole group of about a hundred kids. I would like to share the lyrics below to one of the songs and will be sharing the Youtube video once it is complete.

Here is the lyrics to the song:

Your Love is a River

CHORUS:
Your love is a river, whose source will not run dry
Always flows forever, our constant love supply
Your love is a river, and I’m resting in this flow
Drinking your affection,  as you bring me home

VERSE 1:
When I feel sad and doubtful
You bring my hope to life
Forever you are with me
Forever you are kind
And when I see you
I know_ everything’s alright  (CHORUS)

VERSE 2:
You are faithful to show mercy
In all the wrongs we do
Even through the worst of me
You stay steadfast_ and true
And when I see you
I know_ everything’s alright

BRIDGE:
I stand beneath, the rush and the roar
Immersed in mercy, I could never ask for more
Held in your care,  Nothing compares
To your love as it falls over me
It’s all around,  there’s no escape
Takes up all time,  fills every space
Your Presence here, removes all fear
Your love transports me, to an ocean of grace

CHORUS 2:
Your love is an ocean, I’m surrounded on all sides
It just goes on forever, with no end in sight
Your love is a ocean, and I’m sinking like a brick
Drinking your affection,  drowning me in bliss
Yes, I’m drowning in this bliss

Psalms 103:8 TPT

“Lord, you’re so kind and tenderhearted and so patient with people who fail you! Your love is like a flooding river overflowing its banks with kindness.”

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Nativity Dream

Posted on December 23, 2023 by Daniel

I am sitting at Luna, one of my favorite coffee shops in Green Bay treating myself to a quiche and a coffee after a successful Christmas concert. I could not hold back the tears when I told them of how my daughter had been a part of a Nativity play called, The Very Worst Best Christmas Pageant Ever. I was moved during the the last scene when Imogene Herdman, who played Mary, held baby Jesus and cried when she finally understood the meaning of Christmas and what a gift Jesus is to us.

What would you do and how would you feel if you were suddenly transported back in time to the Nativity to witness the events of the birth of Jesus? 

The Lord gave me a dream in which I suddenly found myself standing with my daughter Emma on the right side of a stage in a theater at the closing final, “take a bow” and clap for all the actors, moment at a Nativity play. Everyone went still and were in shock at my sudden appearance. They didn’t know what to think or do. I looked out at the audience, in shock myself, and then turned to see all the actors from the Nativity play. I held an unopened bottle of wine in my hand.

My attention was drawn to baby Jesus. I had an Imogene moment as I was overwhelmed with what this meant for me personally… what Jesus meant to me personally.

Without even thinking about it, I dropped the bottle of wine, approached the manger scene, and fell facedown on the floor before my Lord, the baby Jesus.

A strange thing began to happen as I started to slide across the floor toward the front of the stage. Somehow I knew I wouldn’t fall, and sure enough, as my body slid off the stage I began to float. Suddenly I flew up above the audience and then out through the roof.

Okay, I realize that the last part distracted people from the impact of the message. I get it. But how can you leave out a cool part like that?

So… facedown before the Lord. Let’s stay there for a bit.

Reminds me of a bit of Scripture from Philippians 2:5-11 NLT:

“You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.

 Though he was God,
    he did not think of equality with God
    as something to cling to.
 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges;
    he took the humble position of a slave
    and was born as a human being.
When he appeared in human form,
     he humbled himself in obedience to God
    and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

 Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honor
    and gave him the name above all other names,
 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
 and every tongue declare that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father.”

NASB puts it like so: “For this reason also God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Every knee will bow before Jesus, Yeshua, the King of kings and Lord of lords. He forces no one. He woos every one. He draws all unto himself by tender lovingkindness and grace.

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Yeshua making everything sad come untrue

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Daniel

“Gandalf! I thought you were dead! But then I thought I was dead myself. Is everything sad going to come untrue? What’s happened to the world?” “A Great shadow has departed,” said Gandalf, and then he laughed and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and as he listened the thought came to Sam that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count.” — JRR Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings

Yeshua is in the business of making everything sad come untrue.

Revelation 21:4; Isaiah 25:8

4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourn-ing, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”

8  He will swallow up death forever; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the reproach of his people he will take away from all the earth, for the LORD has spoken.

Do you remember when he said, “Behold, I make all things new”?

That means you.

He means you.

You are made new. Don’t just take my word for it. Holy Spirit in the Good Book puts it this way, “You are a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old is gone. The new has come.”

The last enemy to be defeated is death. And “death” speaks of any sense of separation from the One who is Life. Oneness in the Life of God is the end game, which is already and “not yet” ontological truth. There awaits for us all a glorious culmination to the story in which we all “get” our Oneness. Outside of time and space in the heart of the Father, this is already Reality. From our perspective this has been hard for us to imagine, but God knows God’s Love… which never fails. From God’s perspective, this has never been in question.

As the Scripture says, No one is abandoned by the Lord forever. Nothing and no one has been left out in Yeshua’s reconciling finished work. 

We all know the details of the story. A death on the cross where Life swallowed death in victory. A victory that is confirmed by the resurrection and ascension. There is a phrase in Scripture, he was risen for our justification. The expiation of sin has been accomplished. “It is finished”, the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world has declared. And he will draw (drag) all mankind unto himself. Holy Spirit has been poured out upon all flesh (Joel 2). Which leaves no one out. Holy Spirit of Savior Yeshua is on the job and will continue to draw all unto himself until every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. It is a promise.

 This glorious nature of Awakening happens one at a time… and suddenly all at once, because we are all bound to each other. If One of us ascends, we ALL ascend. And none of us can win unless we ALL win. As long as there is any lost or fallen, we are ALL lost and fallen. The glory in this Gospel is that One of us has ascended… all the way… and has brought us ALL with him. Start paying attention to how the Apostle Paul uses the word ALL.

Sure, we may come and go in waves as we test love in all manner of ways, but we will always find good pasture in the care of our Good Shepherd. Don’t doubt anymore. It’s easy. Just don’t do it and it won’t be done. Doubt doesn’t happen by accident you know. “Oops I doubted”.

No…it’s a choice. 

O crap… we are really going there right now? 

I hated myself for doubting you God! I sentenced myself to hell for doubting your goodness and love. I am so ashamed that I became unconscious of your love. I was found out. I had said “no” to love. Ihad warred against love. I stood opposed to love. I became your enemy. I became love’s enemy. I hated myself. I rejected myself for doubting your love. And it lasted a great while. It was a great sadness that I would never wish upon my worst enemy. I just described what is at the core of the dark night of the soul. Self-loathing shame tormented me.

But Jesus, my Great Physician, Yeshua my shrink, has found this sin sick soul of this fallen lost sinner and made me a new creation. My sins are white as snow and as far from me as the East is from the West. It is a Gospel… a good news of forgiveness. 

I see you. I know the dark times we, as divine sparks of human consciousness, experience. I know of the lies we entertain to cope with our own personal hells of our own making. But… the truth will set us free. The Truth will set us free.

Are you ready to be free?

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