In the Blink of an Eye
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, everything that can be shaken, will be shaken. Awake, awake! Fear the Lord! The shaking has only just begun. Global lockdown… a stark reminder that in the blink of an eye, things as we know it can completely change. In the blink of an eye…
I wrote the outline of this blog last night before I saw Lance Wallnau’s midnight message (see link at the end of this blog) this morning, a confirmation of what’s on my heart.
“This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and what is desired by all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘The silver is mine and the gold is mine,’ declares the Lord Almighty. ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the Lord Almighty. ‘And in this place I will grant peace,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” (Haggai 2:6-9)
Some are using this time to focus their attention on physical things, some to build spiritual muscle and move them into their breakthrough. Or both. It’s a good time to stop and ask ourselves, and the Holy Spirit, “am I doing what the Lord has asked me to do?” Or am I doing what I want to do?
You may be doing exactly what God has asked you to do, and has prepared you for. Awesome! Or perhaps, not so much. Today is always a good day to check in with Him and make sure we are living the plan He prepared for us before we were born. Are we investing in eternity or temporal things? Are we putting our faith in our ability to support ourselves, or in God to look after us? I have to challenge myself every day with these questions, it’s so easy to veer off course.
Ray and I have been checking with the Lord, “is the proposed healing and recovery centre at Arapohue - Your idea, Lord - or ours?” I was pretty sure it was His. Who in their right mind would dream up something like that on top of an already jam-packed publishing and ministry schedule? The mere thought is not for the faint-hearted, in the midnight hours. Many times over the last 2 years we have laid it down, but the Lord keeps giving it back. Time and again we’ve had confirmation upon confirmation. Although the vision has tarried, it awaits the appointed time (Habakkuk 2:3). He said it would be a “bolthole”, a sanctuary for His people. A place for the unlikely ones, the unwanted ones, the broken ones to be restored, even as the land and the buildings are restored. Together. The fantail speaks to me of the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly awaiting the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:19).
Arapohue means, “Path of the climbing plant.” My paraphrase: a pathway for a planting of the Lord to climb heavenward.
The Lord has been establishing many sanctuaries or bolt holes around New Zealand for many years. I really feel for those who on top of the lockdown, have loved ones who are in need of such a bolt hole right now to offer them the support they need in a safe environment. We have an informal extension for the end of March settlement date, which is a relief. Through the faithful and generous donations of a few, the Wild Side Charitable Trust has raised $103,781 of the $370,000 purchase price for the 22-acre property.
In Haggai 1:12, after the Lord’s call to the remnant to stop building their own houses and build His house, and rebuild the wall - the people obeyed and feared the Lord,
“Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the Lord their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the Lord their God had sent him. And the people feared the Lord.”
In the blink of an eye Jesus will return. Are we ready? Are we thinking about getting ready? Are we focusing too much on living our own lives, or are we surrendering to what He wants to use us for, which helps others? After all, He purchased them with His blood.
Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed—in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53
As the financial year draws to a close on Tuesday, can I encourage you to pray and ask the Lord, if He wants you to make a tax deductible donation towards His vision to make a way for people, where there is no way - to be a part of the historic purchase of the property for this much-needed kingdom project? (You can get one-third refunded). READ THE ARAPOHUE HEALING & RECOVERY CENTRE FUNDING PROPOSAL AND DONOR INFO HERE.
Let’s pray and decree (out loud):
Father, I come to you in Jesus mighty name. I offer my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to You—this is my true and proper worship. I will not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of my mind, so I will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will (Romans 12:1-2). I will not worry about where I will live and what I will wear, but I seek first the Kingdom of God and Your righteousness, and all these things are added to me (Matthew 6:30-33). I thank You for the blood of the Lamb which I put on my lintel and doorposts, so the destroyer will pass over my house (Exodus 12:23).
Thank you, Lord, that You are my shepherd; I shall not be in want. You make me to lie down in green pastures; You lead me beside the still waters. You restore my soul; You lead me in the paths of righteousness for Your name’s sake. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for You are with me; your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Psalm 23).
Janet xox
Lance Wallnau’s midnight message (from timecode 24:33 although it is all good)
Hear my story in podcast with Megan McChesney, Back from the Abyss
Visit janetbalcombe.com to learn more about my books, other blogs, or to connect with me. To see what else I’m up to, visit: wildsidetrust.org, wildsideministries.com and wildsidedesign.net
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! -2 Corinthians 5:17
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. -Romans 12:2
Put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. -Ephesians 4:22-24