Mid Wives can be Amazing!

The other morning I awoke with the theme of  "Thy Kingdom come" on my mind.  Jesus asked us to pray that His Kingdom would come to this earth.  But how does that happen??  Is it just a 'suddenly' when the Lord returns...or is there something unseen going on right now?

In Luke 1:38 young Mary has an encounter with an angelic messenger who told the startled girl, "Don't be afraid." After hearing what the messenger said Mary responded with an amazing statement! "Behold the maidservant of the Lord. Be it unto me according to Your Word."  This after hearing that she would bear a Son by the Holy Spirit...before being married!
Think about the mindset she had...that of a completely surrendered 'maidservant'...basically a slave to HIM.
And what did this birth cost her?  The young man she loved was going to reject her.  Her reputation would be questionable in that village and among her extended family for the rest of her life! She would be suspect and misunderstood.  When she brought the baby to the temple an aged man called Simeon prophesied that "a sword would pierce her heart." And indeed we can only imagine her pain as she stood at the foot of the cross and watched her beloved Son die! Yes, we've read the whole story and know she would see Him resurrected, but she had to walk through the whole process BEFORE seeing it.
BUT consider, muse on this...in surrendering to this whole process of HIS birth and in loving Him, did she not bring forth the Kingdom?!

Now let's shift gears and go to Genesis 35 where Rachel. so many many years before,  is travailing in birth with her last son, Benjamin.  Listen to what the midwife told her as she was dying, "Do not fear, you will have this son also."  As the mother breathed her last she named him, 'Ben-omi which means 'son of my sorrow'...and indeed he was; BUT...what did his father, Jacob call him? 'Benjamin' which means 'son of the right hand.'   Have you ever considered what  a picture, a foreshadowing this was. of the Messiah Who would later come, live through the whole process of human life; die  and then be resurrected now to sit at the Father's right hand?!

When we bring forth something of the Christ life we, like Rachel, may experience travailing sorrow, even a type of death BUT in doing so,  we also are granted the privilege of producing something Divine...something of the Kingdom which one day will be completely manifested on this earth.   In those times of our lives we may need a faithful midwife, telling us not to fear...not to shrink back!  We can have this experience of Christ also...and it will be worth everything!!!

Let's now go to Exodus 1 where midwives were helping the women of God with their births in Egypt.  These ladies are actually named in the holy Scriptures!  Shiphrah which means 'splendid, royal canopy' and Puah which means 'brilliant, glitter.'    I'm pretty sure that is how God sees those who assist people of God in their 'transition' moments of bringing forth more of Christ in their lives! They were told by the then world ruler (who is not worthy to have his  name recorded by God here) that they were "if a son, kill him."    Scripture says, "But the midwives feared God...didn't do as the king of Egypt commanded but saved the male children alive."
When confronted by the ruler they said " the Hebrew women are 'chayah'-lively, revived, quickened- so didn't need them for the birth.   As a result of their faithfulness Scripture says, "Therefore God dealt well with 'them'...He provided households for them because they feared Him."  "And the people multiplied and grew very mighty."

Precious believers, can we "settle it in our hearts" that we will not shrink back in our travailing moments?  Are we willing to assist those who are in 'heavy labor' around us?   I am convinced that by doing so...one by one; and trial by trial in this way His Kingdom is coming!!

The High Praises

Recently a book by a man called Merlin Carothers came to my attention.  I was strongly encouraged to read it and what amazing timing!  I can only conclude this was my heavenly Father directing me.
This brother has been with the Lord for some time now, but when here he had incredible revelation about the matter of praising the Lord at all times, for all things.  There is a verse in Ephesians 5:20 which does instruct us to do exactly this.
But why thank Him for all things?  There is something divine that happens when we do. In fact, "the Lord inhabits, dwells in the praises of His saints."  When trials come as they will, do we not want HIS Presence with us in them?  Absolutely!   Our soul is so easily distressed, but praising in the midst of trials subdues the anxiety, the sadness, the negative moods of any kind.

The Bible says that we believers have "the mind of Christ."  When I checked the Greek meaning for 'mind' in this Scripture I found it includes not only thoughts, but also emotion and desires.  So.o.o.o....it looks as if we have two minds--HIS and our unrenewed one.  Which one will rule us?  Which one will "have dominion over" the other?    I am finding in a very wonderful way, that by verbally praising out loud, the Lord causes HIS mind to subdue my natural one...and the 'double mindedness' that I have so often endured is ended. Will there be more battles this way? Sure! But I can "settle it in my heart"  that I will praise Him!
Again in Psalm 149 there are some amazing verses. (I just love the Bible!!) "Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two edged sword in their hand."  Have you ever considered what the 'high' praises are??   In Hebrew here, the word indicates the abundant, satiating, running over, flowing almost to produce a sense of drunkenness.
Then the "two edged sword in my hand."  So,o,o,o  we praise first, and then we discover we have authority in the battle!  The next verses go on to say..."to bind the kings with chains and their nobles with fetters of iron. This honour (magnificent splendor) have all His saints."
Oh, to just dare to actually do this at every times...in every trial!!!
Many people I know have been undergoing severe trials in their lives. I believe our Lord is teaching us how to endure in victory!  Let's dare to praise Him...to "always rejoice!"