A baby’s feet resting on a soft blanket
Christian living, Family, Seasonal

Socks for Jesus

“Blue light special on aisle nine. Children’s shoes for ten dollars,” boomed the voice over the speaker. Shoppers rushed eagerly towards the ominous blue light spinning around like a top.

Sarah, my three year-old, and I continued our Christmas shopping ignoring the people pushing by.

Passing the Christmas trees decked in colored lights, we slowed down, as she declared, “Pretty Mama!” Then she clapped her hands to “Frosty, the Snowman”, as I pressed the red nose of the famous character again. The toy’s hips swung back and forth in rhythm.

“Need to get moving,” I muttered.

Turning my attention back to the duty at hand, I asked, “What do you want to get daddy for Christmas?”

With an inquisitive expression, Sarah tilted her head. “But mommy, it’s baby Jesus’s birthday. What we get Jesus for Christmas?”

“Hmm. You are right,” I said, “What do you want to get Jesus for His birthday?”

“Socks,” she said, “Socks, Mama.”

“Why socks?”

“To keep His feet warm. They must be cold in the stable.”

“Of course. You are right,” I said. “Off to find warm socks.”

With all other gifts forgotten, we strolled to the sock aisle. “How about these, sweetheart?” I held up some multi-colored socks for her to see, but she had already spotted the ones she wanted.

Pointing, she said, “No, Mama. Those.” I brought the brightly colored, fuzzy socks closer for her to see, as she nodded her approval.

She held them securely as we finished our shopping.

Later that evening, she carefully wrapped the precious gift in a small box with bright green paper and a red bow on top. “To Jesus.  Love, Sarah” the tag read.

“Hon. What do we do now?” I turned to my husband for advice, after we tucked Sarah into bed. “If we have a birthday party for Jesus, and He doesn’t show up, then what?”

Suddenly, a light bulb went off in my head, “I know.”

“What?”

“We will find one of those live nativities and let her leave her present there.”

Surfing the internet, we frantically searched. Sure enough, God provided.

A couple of days later, I bundled the girls up in their matching red, wool coats, pulled hats over their ears, and placed gloves on their fingers. Sarah clasped the precious treasure, as we were off to find baby Jesus.

Her sister snuggled close to my chest, while Sarah grasped tightly to her daddy’s hand with one and proudly to the gift with the other. My sister and five year-old nephew met us there to join the celebration.

Abruptly, Roman soldiers stopped us at the theatrical entrance to Bethlehem, “Why have you come to the city tonight?”

Innocently, Sarah peered up in their harsh faces, “To bring baby Jesus a present,” but daddy quickly added, “To pay our taxes, of course.”

The guards snickered to themselves, as they said, “Welcome to Bethlehem then.”

Shuffling by quickly, we paid our pretend taxes at the next booth, and then entered the city in search of the baby.

Past booth after booth we walked, each selling spices, hand-woven cloths, whittled wooden toys, or other treasures. Whiffs of fresh bread dipped in olive oil, sweet dates, and sheep filled the air.

“Look, Mama. The shepherds!”

Nearby, the shepherds watched over their sheep. Suddenly, music began to play, while behind them, spotlights lit up the sky. A man dressed in a white robe with golden, make-shift angel wings attached to his back appeared, declaring the good news that Emmanuel was born that night. Sarah jumped clapping her hands with joy, while her cousin chased a stray sheep.

“But where is baby Jesus?” Sarah asked, turning to me.

“I don’t know, sweetie. But maybe we should try to find the innkeeper. He would know,” I said.

Behind us, the wise men filed in with camel in tow. “Maybe we should follow them to find where baby Jesus is,” daddy wisely added.

“There’s no room in the inn,” a man said, as he halted us from following.

“But I have a present for baby Jesus,” Sarah said, as she cautiously pushed it forward for the man to see.

“Hmm,” the man replied, “You have heard about the baby, who is said to be the new king? We must keep this quiet from the Romans for they would seek to kill a King of the Jews.” He bent down almost whispering in Sarah’s ear. “Come then, little one. Come see Baby Jesus.” Sarah’s eyes lit up as he rushed us through his door.  “Go out through the back, to the stables.”

The wise men were just kneeling, presenting their gifts to a young mother cradling a baby in her arms. Joseph stood watchfully to the side. Illuminating the perfect scene, a shaft of light beamed into the heavens behind them.

“Oh, Mama. We found Him,” Sarah whispered.

My eyes brimmed with tears. “Go ahead, Sarah. Go to baby Jesus, and give Him the present.”

Timidly, she approached, gently placing the gift at Mary’s feet next to the gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

At that moment, her cousin overcome with the desire to also bring a gift, began to sing, “Happy birthday, Jesus.” In turn, we all joined in.   

Mary’s eyes filled with tears, as Joseph smiled. “Thank you,” she said, “Thank you for these beautiful gifts.”

Sarah ran back to our arms. “Do you think He’ll like it?”

“Oh Sarah, Jesus will love it, for He loves you,” I said. We snuggled together, as her daddy leaned over kissing her on the forehead.

“Time to go,” daddy said, but as we solemnly walked away, I glanced back to etch the image in my memory.

For years, we made the same trek to find Baby Jesus, but as the children got older, new traditions replaced the old.

I will never forget that first holy night when heaven kissed earth, and joy broke through our darkness with the real gift, Jesus.

First published in Refresh Magazine, Christmas Issue 2020

A woman sitting beside a softly lit Christmas tree
Christian living, Family, Seasonal

Light in the Night

Darkness enveloped the planet, like an evil vice grip, squeezing out the final breath.  Hopelessness hung in the air as crosses lined the roadways with the bodies of anyone who tried to resist the iron fist.  

Greedy, power hungry religious leaders gambled their way to positions of power, making deals with their oppressors further smothering those under their influence.  

The vague illusions of a “messiah” who would come to rescue them from their oppressors seemed to fade as the lights of the last Hanukkah had been snuffed out.  

Four hundred years of silence from the prophets with the only hope left being a miracle of a menorah that had burned eight days instead of one.  Oil that miraculously didn’t run out left the last flicker of hope each year.  Perhaps Yahweh had not forgotten His promise.

Then the iron fist of Rome would pound again demanding all to bow beneath it’s blow.  A wind in the darkness swiftly blew the candles’ flames out, except for the spark that remained.  

That spark impregnating a young virgin had been planted where no human eyes could see.

On the darkest night at the moment when all hope seemed lost, a cry of joy cracked open the heavens.  With the beat of angel wings and a song of glory to God in the Highest, Messiah’s birth was proclaimed.  Not to the high and mighty though, but to the lowest of society, the shepherds out tending their sheep.  

Brilliant light pierced the black shroud of the long night.  The death grip of darkness yielded to the flicker of a spark which now blazed in glory, as Messiah broke through the trembling knees of an exhausted mother.  

A baby.  He came as a baby.  The light of the world.  

He came as a servant, not one to be served.  He came to deliver us, not from an evil political system, but from something far more dangerous… ourselves, our sinful nature.  

He came as a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief, carrying our burden of sin.  

He came to love us, not to be loved.  In fact, He was hated by those who should have loved Him, betrayed by the kiss of a friend.  

He came to humble Himself to the lowest position, to offer Himself as a lamb without blemish as the sacrifice for our sin, which had separated us from our heavenly Father.

They looked for a strong military leader who would crush Roman rule and be crowned King.  Does that sound familiar in our time?  Do we find ourselves looking for the same thing?  

Our hope is not found in a political or religious leader.  Our hope is found in the true Lord Jesus Christ.  

The true Lord Jesus Christ has come, the light of the world illuminating our darkness.  For those who receive Him, rivers of joy can flow regardless of the circumstance.  

Joy to the world the Light has come!

One day, He will fully return again as the ruling King of Kings, as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  He will finish what He begun.  

Until then, may we remember what He said.  If we want to be the greatest in His kingdom, then we must be servant of all.  Love one another, even love your enemies.  Do good to those who hate you.  Then Paul said that if we don’t love, we don’t even know God, for God is love.  

As the world seemingly sinks into darkness at times, keep your eyes fixed on the Man of Light.  We bear His light now.  Let it shine.  Let the Light of His love shine in and through you to push back darkness.  May your Christmas be full of His joyous, love Light.

Is. 53, Luke 2:9, 10, John 8:12, John 13:14, 15, John 13, 1 John 4, Luke 6:27

A narrow alley with weathered walls and blue-painted trim
Christian living, Family

Rebuilding the Walls: A Timely Word

As I was spending time with Yahweh this morning, I asked Him where to read. I immediately heard “Nehemiah 4”.

“But when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, he became furious, completely enraged, and he ridiculed the Jews. He spoke before his brothers and the army of Samaria, “What are these feeble Jews doing? Can they restore it for themselves? Can they offer sacrifices? Can they finish in a day? Can they revive the stones from the heaps of dust and rubbish, even the ones that have been burned?” Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, “Even what they are building—if a fox should get up on it, he would break down their stone wall.” [And Nehemiah prayed] Hear, O our God, how we are despised! Return their taunts on their own heads. Give them up as prey in a land of captivity. Do not forgive their wrongdoing and do not let their sin be wiped out before You, for they have offended the builders [and provoked You]. So we built the wall and the entire wall was joined together to half its height, for the people had a heart to work. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, the Arabs, the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites heard that the repair of the walls of Jerusalem went on, and that the breaches were being closed, they were very angry. They all conspired together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to cause a disturbance in it. But we prayed to our God, and because of them we set up a guard against them day and night. Then [the leaders of] Judah said, “The strength of the burden bearers is failing, And there is much rubble; We ourselves are unable To rebuild the wall.” Our enemies said, “They will not know or see us until we are among them, kill them and put a stop to the work.” When the Jews who lived near them came, they said to us ten times (repeatedly), “From every place you turn, they will come up against us.” So I stationed armed men behind the wall in the lowest places, at the open positions [where it was least protected]; and I stationed the people in families with their swords, spears, and bows. When I saw their fear, I stood and said to the nobles and officials and the rest of the people: “Do not be afraid of them; [confidently] remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and [with courage from Him] fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and for your homes.” Now when our enemies heard that we knew about their plot against us, and that God had frustrated their plan, we all returned to the wall, each one to his work. From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while the other half held the spears, shields, bows, and breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens loaded themselves so that everyone worked with one hand and held a weapon with the other.”
‭‭Nehemiah‬ ‭4:1-17‬ ‭AMP‬‬
https://www.bible.com/1588/neh.4.1-17.amp

As soon as I finished reading, I heard these words in my heart.

The enemy has come to taunt you, but I am your defender. The walls of your country have been in ruins, but I am rebuilding the walls and I have put those in place who will rebuild it day and night. The enemy is furious that the walls are being rebuilt and he has sought to stop the work, but I will not allow that to happen, and I will cause all his plans to be uncovered and brought to nothing. Instead of my people being mocked, I will make a mockery of the enemy. He will become a laughing stock to others.

Not only will he be made a laughing stock here, but also in other nations around the world.

The blanket of fear that he has attempted to wrap the world in will be removed. And I will wrap the world in a blanket of my love, for I am drawing all people to my heart during this time and this season.

Many have lost courage. Many have given up hope in this season, but I am the God of all Hope. I am the God of the angel armies.

Take courage, pick up your weapons, and your tools and keep right on building, for you will prevail by my hand and by my strength. Stand and see the deliverance of your God!

Close-up of a lion’s face with a thick mane
Christian living, prophecy

A Recent Wild Vision: “I’m Not Done Yet”

What I am about to detail here occurred on July 23, 2020. As I was resting while recovering from illness, I saw this in my mind’s eye, the sanctified imagination screen as I call it, and I heard these words in my heart, “Come.  I have things to show you.”  Immediately, the following began to unfold.

In the first vision, I saw myself go into the courts, and I was overcome with the presence of the Lord and went face down.  I heard Him command me to stand up, but I didn’t have the strength.  Then I was picked up on my feet.  I knew I was there to intercede. 

 I heard, “What is your request?”

Then, I said, “For the children, and the daughters and the sons.  For them to be rescued, for justice to come, for vindication, for the abuse to stop.”   I was particularly praying for sex trafficking and also for the Chinese church. 

I saw what looked like a clock.  I heard, “All will be accomplished in due time.” 

Then He said He was with those who were wounded and abused, but the time for full vindication had not come yet.  Others must be added.  His timing is perfect. 

I asked was there anything I was lacking or needed.  I heard “Patience.” Then I saw myself fall on my face again. 

Next, I saw the ship, “The USS Constitution”, and I saw the same big wave Kathie Walters had seen come over the ship. The wave completely changed our course as a nation and ran the ship into a safe harbor. (Kathie saw Trump tie himself to the steering wheel because the ship was tossing.) 

A little bit later as I continued to just rest in God’s presence, I heard again, “Come with Me. I have something I want you to do with Me.” 

I saw Yeshua as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  He was fierce-looking.  I saw myself beside Him, sometimes like a lioness, sometimes like a little girl.  It kept changing depending on what we were doing.  He immediately took me to the Great Wall of China.  He said, “You were once a slave, just as the slaves who built this wall, and you have forgiven.  You are to roar with me now.  Their vindication has come.”  I saw both of us roaring towards the wall.  His roar obviously was way more powerful than mine.  I felt more like little Simba in the Lion King.  But as we roared, the Wall of China began to quake and crumble like a wave.  

Then I saw the ground begin to swell like a pregnant belly about to burst open, and I saw all these people under the ground pushing, like thousands and of thousands.  It was as if the ground was like a thin film. Then all of a sudden a swell and all of these people burst forth as if it had just given birth. 

I heard, “This is the time of the underground church in China to birth forth.”  I saw the face of the current president of China, and I heard the Lord say that this was the last wave of persecution the Chinese church will face. It will be quickly over. Their time had come.  He said He wasn’t done showing me things yet.  We went to the emperor’s palace.  He jumped over the outer wall.  And then began to roar, Xi Jinping and all the ruling party came out and bowed their faces towards the ground.  Then the Lion grabbed Xi Jinping by the scruff of his neck like cats do, and shook him really hard and tossed him to the side.  

Then, I saw the Chinese flag come down, and I heard, “It’s time for a new flag.  It’s the time of the Chinese church to rise and rule.”  I saw a new flag that looked like a Chinese flag, but it had a golden cross across the middle.  It was raised up on a flag pole. 

Then  Yeshua said, “I’m not done yet.”  I then saw a very large Buddha in front of the Lion.  I heard, “Buddha has consumed the children, and its belly is full.”  I saw the Lion roar again, and the belly of Buddha broke open.  All these children ran out and into Yeshua’s arms.  The rest of the Buddha crumbled away.

I heard again, “I’m not done yet.”  I saw the Hindu idol, Shiva?  He just went up and bit its head off.

Again, I heard, “I’m not done yet.”  I saw a map of the Middle East, and I heard, “Brothers, put down your weapons.  It’s time to come home.”  Then, I saw many men with weapons, begin to make tools out them, and I saw others link arms together.

Again, “I’m not done yet.”  I saw Him walk into the EU chamber in Europe, and all the Euro leaders were there, men of great power around the table.  But when the Lion entered the room, they all just stood like statues and shook.  I saw the Lion put both paws up on a large oval table in the middle, and as He did, the entire tabletop just flipped completely over.  “I heard the tables are turned on them.” 

Again, I heard, “I’m not done yet.”  I saw the Russian flag.  I saw the sickle and the hammer come apart.  The hammer pounded on the sickle until it was like a straight line. As if it turned into a measuring rod.  Then Yeshua took the hammer to Lenin’s tomb and pounded it into dust.  Next, it hit the top of their governmental building in Moscow, at the top steeple in the middle.  I saw the leaders rushing out, and looking up.  I heard, “Justice has come for the church in Russia.”

I asked Yeshua about Africa.  I’m finally getting a clue, right?  I heard, “I’m not done yet.”  Then I see the Lion off the coast of Africa at the top, and I feel great compassion in His heart.  I see an image of Heidi Baker and many other leaders of the church in Africa.  He takes His paw swipes it across the water and a tidal wave of water rushes over all of Africa beginning at the top and moving down, but it’s more like golden glory.  I was concerned at first for more flooding in the natural, but as this water went over the land, the land becomes lush green, and full of life.  I saw South Africa highlighted in gold. Then I saw glory lights all over Africa, and it all joined together and became one great light.

Of course, I’m wondering about America and Israel. But He had kept telling me, “Wait. I’m not done yet.”  

So, we end up in front of the White House.  And as we stand there, it’s like the whole top of the house is laid bare and you can see everyone and everything, even down into the lowest basement.  I hear, “I’m exposing everything.”  I see people running for cover, some afraid.  But then I see President Trump, come out and stand in front of the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.  He then goes down on both knees and is weeping, his face to the ground.  I hear, “Rise up my son, and rule well.”  I saw him in a crown and robe. It wasn’t like he was a king, it was more like his sonship authority.  

President Trump turned around to face the White House.  I heard Yeshua tell him, “Set the captives free and bring justice.”  In his right hand was placed keys and in the other a gavel.  But then this was funny, Yeshua also laughed, and said “Clean House.”  And I saw President Trump and all of his cabinet and staff with mop buckets, mops, and gloves on.  They all looked like a cleaning service, like maids.  Very funny.  

Then the Lion went to the center of the mall.  Again, He said, “I’m not done yet.”  He began licking up the water in the pool in the middle, and then He thumped His paws on the ground.  When He did the ground began to quake, and surge like an earthquake.  The monuments began to shake, like everything to the foundations, and things were breaking and falling, but the structures still held.  

He again said, “I’m not done yet”, and He went to the Capitol, and He walked into Congress.  I saw what looked like a Spirit of Jezebel, but I also saw Nancy P. and others in Congress.  He just walked in and interrupted the session.  Nancy P. was defiant and others standing around were scared.  He just picked her up and shook her like a rag doll, and very powerful men were around, and they just shook and began to run away.  Then I saw that same wave that hit the U.S.S. Constitution begin to flow all over our nation, and destroy major strongholds across our nation.  

Honestly, at this point, I got so excited and felt like we were done. Totally forgot about Israel until I sat down to write this.  Then again, I heard with a laugh, “I wasn’t done yet.  You forgot something.”  Immediately, I saw us standing at the Dome of the Rock. Again, I saw the Lion first lick all around the base of the Dome, and then I saw where He licked, He began clawing at the ground, then all of a sudden with one paw, He lifted the entire structure of the Dome of the Rock up and placed it in a nearby land.  He said, “I’m reestablishing My Kingdom here.”  

I kept expecting to see some kind of new temple come down from heaven, but then I heard, “This is not an earthly establishment, nor anything like what you have seen before.”  Instead, I saw like a golden shaft of light from heaven hit the freshly dug up ground, and I saw a huge golden cross in the middle of the shaft.  As it shone, people began running and flocking to it.  Then I saw the Wailing Wall, and I saw in golden graffiti across it, “Yeshua”.

 I also asked Him about the timing of the Antichrist, like the mark of the beast, etc..  Of course, He didn’t answer me directly, but I saw a large clock again. And I heard, “The enemy has been trying to push the time forward.”  The clock hands were at ten til midnight.  Then I saw two large hands come and hold the clock hands in place.  I heard, “It’s not his time yet.  It’s mine.”