Taking Hebron

  The Rising By Rachel L Peterson 2-16-2022 Wounded, broken, doubt and gloom, Gray clouds, whispers, voice of doom. Helpless, fragile, fettered wings, Song of morning no voice sings. Darkness, silence, all seems gone, Coolness, softness, hints of dawn. Glimmer, gleaming, pins of light, Rays spread out to chase the night. Shimmer, glisten, warmth on me, Shifting, looking, start to see. Echoes, distant, calls of hope, Twitching, turning, look up slope. Moving, slowly, feet find place, Craning, searching, heart does race. Pushing, paining, fight but weak, Resting, waiting, just a peek. Lifting, spreading, stretch out wide, Stagger, stubble, hope inside. Warm air, dancing, swirls of grace, Dark eyes, upward, lifted face. Grounded, flapping, at full length, Desperate, giving, all my strength. Sounds of life up in the skies, Longing voice comes out in cries. Moment, breaking, up from ground, Wonders, craving, freedom found. Grief and pain, once out-sizing, Now gives way to the rising.

“but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” John 4:14 Over Thanksgiving I was in the hospital with an infection related to the autoimmune disease that I have. There was a chance they might have to treat the infection with surgical intervention, so I was not allowed to eat or drink for several days.  Boy, was I thirsty! They were giving me IV fluids so there was no way I was going to shrivel up in dehydration, but my body wasn't convinced. All I could think about was having a drink of water. It was incredible! The all consuming intensity of that thirst was like nothing I've ever experienced.  Some people might feel a little concern over being in the hospital with an infection, the prospect of surgery... not me, all I could think about was the relief one little swallow of cool water would bring to my dry and pasty mouth. Finally, I asked th

  NASCAR is a popular sport amongst my younger siblings. Everyone has a favorite driver and I love to hear the enthusiastic cheering each week as they celebrate the race winner! (When everyone in the family, including the dog, has a favorite racer, there's always a good chance one of our guys will win!)  As I've shared in previous posts, I've been dealing with some health issues. For many months now normal daily activities have proven too strenuous for me, but I've found great joy and usefulness in the time I have to pray. I treasure being able to lift up the needs of my family and friends to the Lord.  Yet last night, I found some of these people and their needs had gone beyond a prayer burden to being just a burden, burden. I love deeply, and my heart just breaks when I see people I care about hurting and having a hard time. I want to fix things, find the answers, and make the hard choices for them. But as I wept to the Lord last night I knew I couldn't do what my

  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed. Isaiah 53:5 The last line of this verse often comes up when someone is sick and we're seeking supernatural healing. Thus this verse has come up a lot for me over the last five months, as I continue to navigate this new medical diagnosis.  I always thought I had a high pain tolerance and endurance for suffering, but over these past several months I've been pushing the limits on what I thought I could tolerate. One day while I rested on the couch a song was playing that quoted the last line of Isaiah 53:5. I started thinking about this verse and wondering what it really meant.  When Jesus died on the cross for my sins it was done. Salvation was paid for and was now free and available to any who would receive it. Isaiah 53:5 says He was whipped for a specific reason, healing. Yet, physical healing doesn't seem to come lik

 I will lift up my eyes to the hills- From whence comes my help? My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth. Psalm 121:1-2 The other day my siblings were playing a game and from the next room I could hear an issue escalating. As the only adult in the house I had been left in charge of such matters.  After muddying through the usual confusion of what actually happened, the "victims" crying and the peacemakers long discourse, I finally encouraged my offended little brother to pray and forgive those he felt had hurt him.  As he concluded his weepy prayer I noted that he had not forgiven "in Jesus name." When my sisters and I were young, my mom taught us to say or pray, "I forgive you (or them) in Jesus name." The reason was, you had to forgive even when you didn't feel like it.  Now in situations where you weren't really that angry or offended we didn't always say it. But when you were still angry, you had to say it. And I must admit

And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death. Revelation 12:11 Before I wrote the book Echoing Thunder , I spent months studying and learning about what it was like to be blind. One man who came on board with the project, was an older gentleman who would become an instant friend. Like a fun-loving grandpa, I always enjoyed our email correspondence as he taught me about his world.  One thing he told me about himself in one of his first emails was that he was an atheist. He didn't know I was a Christian and he didn't provide this information as some kind of a threat, it was just his bold personality. He told me his name, his political affiliation, religious convictions (or lack there of) and his life story!  Knowing this, I never talked religion with him. I was just his friend. Then the long awaited day came and I emailed him the book in manuscript form so his computer could read it