Kaleidoscope- valiant bride

Proverbs 31:10 TPT

Who could ever find a wife like this one— she is a woman of strength and mighty valor! She's full of wealth and wisdom. The price paid for her was greater than many jewels.

The Hebrew word for "strength and mighty valor" is חַיִל (pronounced khah'-yil) and is typically associated with a powerful army or elite warrior.

John 19:30‭, ‬34 TPT

When he had sipped the sour wine, he said, "It is finished, my bride!" Then he bowed his head and surrendered his spirit to God. ... But one of the soldiers took a spear and pierced Jesus' side, and blood and water gushed out.

The Hebrew words for "to finish/complete" (Strong's H3615, כָּלָה, kaw-law'), "completion/finished" (Strong's H3617, כָּלָה, kaw-law') and "bride" (Strong's H3618, כַּלָּה, kal-law') are homonyms, and etomologically, the Hebrew word for "bride" comes from Strong's H3634 (כָּלַל, kaw-lal'), which means, "to complete, perfect, make complete, make perfect".  Jesus's blood/death was the dowry (bride-price, as red as rubies but infinitely more valuable) and completed/fulfilled/accomplished the old covenant of law.  Then, blood and water flowed with the issuing of the new covenant of grace.

Revelation 19:6‭-‬8 TPT

... Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns! Let us rejoice and exalt him and give him glory, because the wedding celebration of the Lamb has come. And his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, shining bright and clear, has been given to her to wear, and the fine linen represents the righteous deeds of his holy believers."

There seems to be a mysterious combination of grace and freewill regarding the giving and receiving of the fine linen.  Mysteriously, He has prepared these good deeds in advance (Eph. 2:10), but the Bride makes herself ready by partnering with Holy Spirit in the completion of the righteous deeds.

Father, thank you for fulfilling the old covenant.  Jesus, thank you for making us your valiant bride of grace.  Holy Spirit, may I walk in 100-fold measure of righteousness, to the glory of Yahweh.  I love you.

Yellow leaves this fall

I have been so captivated by the beauty of the trees that have turned golden-yellow this fall.  

Somehow, they resonate with my soul.  Perhaps it is a passion for His glory.

Father, you are such an amazing artist! You are glorious, and you make gloriously beautiful handiwork.  I want to radiate glory like these trees.  Holy Spirit, please help me.  I love you.

Metallic behavior

Praise Yahweh, all you servants of Yahweh who minister by night in the house of Yahweh. Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise Yahweh. May Yahweh bless you from Zion, he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalms 134:1‭-‬3 NIV

In our family discussion Sunday morning, we were talking about how Jesus is especially present when two or three are gathered in His name (ekklesia).

When I read Psalm 134 on Monday, it occurred to me that perhaps when we gather together in His name, it is like the overlapping electron valence and conduction bands in a metal material: Holy Spirit flows very easily among/through us.

Perhaps, as we mature in faith, individually, we grow from a semiconductor behavior (i.e., it takes more intentionality for us to allow Holy Spirit to flow through us) to a semimetal and eventually to a fully metallic state (i.e., Holy Spirit flows easily through us all day and every day).

Gathering together catalyzes that maturity process, incrementally shifting each of us towards greater freedom, as well as inducing a metastable superconductor state (i.e., Holy Spirit resonates among us) while we are in unity together.

Father, thank you for your loving work in transforming us into the likeness of your Son. Holy Spirit, thank you for your presence. Please help me have greater conductivity today. I love you.